×
15% OFF All Season Tyres
T&C's apply
choose our fully fitted service
2,200+ local fitting partners
Tyres  /  Tyre NewsEV Tyre News  / Lancia Ypsilon HF

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

Lancia Ypsilon HF Front and side
Michelin tyres

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.

Lancia Ypsilon HF Rear
Circular LED taillights clearly mimic those found on the fabled Stratos.
Image credit: Stellantis

Need new electric vehicle tyres?

Enter your registration and postcode and we’ll show you the best tyres for your EV

and
Or enter tyre size

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.

Lancia Ypsilon HF
It might not have the boxy, angular appeal of previous Lancias, but there's no doubting the Ypsilon means business. 
Image credit:  Stellantis

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

Want exclusive motoring news?

Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest EV, Performance, SUV & 4x4 content

Join our mailing listSign up
Back to EV tyres

Join the conversation

We love to hear from our customers. Connect with us today and let’s start a conversation.

Enter tyre size
×
How to find your tyre size
Postcode
Back
PayPal
Representative Example: Purchase rate: 23.9% p.a. (variable). Representative: 23.9% APR (variable). Assumed Credit Limit: £1,200

PayPal Credit and PayPal Pay in 3 are trading names of PayPal UK Ltd, Whittaker House, Whittaker Avenue, Richmond-Upon-Thames, Surrey, United Kingdom, TW9 1EH. Terms and conditions apply. Credit subject to status and approval, 18+ UK residents only. PayPal Credit and PayPal Pay in 3 are a form of credit, so carefully consider whether the purchase is affordable and how you will make the repayments. PayPal Pay in 3 is not regulated by the FCA. See product terms for more details and FAQs. Learn more about PayPal Credit.  Learn more about PayPal Pay in 3.