Rally revival: New Lancia Ypsilon Rally 4 HF spawns road-going EV hot hatch

As the most successful WRC manufacturer in history, Lancia’s return to rallying is a momentous one. Can the new competition car — and its production HF counterpart — do the legends justice?

For petrolheads of a certain vintage, the Lancia badge is about as evocative as they come. From Deltas dicing through crowds at 120 mph, to 037s going airborne on full opposite lock, the hair-raising scenes of Lancia’s Group-B ventures are eternally etched on every rally fan’s brain.  

However, in the decades since the brand’s WRC division fell silent, our hopes of a comeback were all but quashed. Until now, that is. Lancia’s back with a bang, launching not one, but two, rally machines.  

Just like the good old days, this gravel-spitting double bill is spearheaded by the racing car: the Ypsilon Rally 4 HF. Powered by a 1.2-liter turbocharged 3-pot producing 212 bhp, Lancia’s not gunning for WRC domination straight out the gates, it’s looking for victory in the R4 class instead.

Unlike their four-wheel-drive bigger brothers, Rally 4 cars sport front-wheel-drive and are typically piloted by aspiring young drivers looking to make their mark on the sport. And, while little technical data has been released, a mechanical limited slip differential and mechanical 5-speed transmission should make this the perfect platform for rookies to hone their craft.  

Excitingly, you won’t need a helmet and a racing licence to experience a flavour of Lancia’s WRC success, although the new road-going Ypsilon HF is a very different proposition to the ICE racer. Powered exclusively by a 240-bhp electric motor, the electric hot hatch looks to reinvent the brand’s iconic formula.

While the new means of propulsion might raise a few traditionalist eyebrows, buyers won’t be lacking for off-the-line punch. 0-60 mph takes just 5.8 seconds — similar to the original Integrale HF EVO. Grip shouldn’t be in short supply, either, with standard Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres paired to a wider track and lowered suspension.

Expect to see the new Ypsilon HF hitting markets in May 2025, though Lancia hasn’t specified which countries will receive their latest creation — sadly, it looks unlikely in the UK. If you are lucky enough to live somewhere Lancia exports, the marque has promised that HF high-performance variants of the Gamma and Delta are also in the works. 

Ultimately, Lancia’s return to performance motoring might not have been the one you were expecting (or wanted) but, just like the rest of the automotive industry, the brand must move with the times. The question is, will this new era of Lancia racing reignite the passion of those Group-B days? Or, perhaps, it’s another case of ‘die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain…’ 

Has the new Ypsilon HF got you revved up for Lancia’s big return, or pensive about past podiums?

Hero image credit:  Stellantis