Lancia Ypsilon HF: The automotive world is witnessing a remarkable renaissance as Lancia prepares to unleash its most powerful small car in decades. The 2025 Lancia Ypsilon HF represents a bold step forward for the storied Italian brand, delivering an impressive 280 horsepower from its fully electric drivetrain—a significant upgrade from the initially announced 237hp figure.
Set to launch in May 2025, this electrified hot hatch signals Lancia’s serious commitment to reclaiming its position in the performance car segment while honoring its illustrious rally heritage.
Power and Performance Revolution
The Ypsilon HF’s heart beats with an eMotors M4 electric motor that produces 280 horsepower and 345 Nm of torque, matching the output of the Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce with which it shares technical DNA. This substantial power increase over the standard Ypsilon’s 154hp represents a quantum leap in performance capability. The impressive acceleration figures tell the story—0-100km/h in just 5.8 seconds, with some sources claiming an even quicker 5.6-second sprint, making it one of the fastest cars in the B-segment regardless of powertrain type.
The performance figures position the Ypsilon HF as a genuine competitor to established hot hatches, delivering power that was unimaginable in small city cars just a few years ago. Remarkably, there is no other car in the B segment with this much power, whether ICE or EV, meaning this car has no direct competitors in its specific category.
Technical Innovation
Electric Drivetrain Excellence
The M4 motor, manufactured at the Stellantis plant in Trémery, represents the latest addition to the Franco-Japanese eMotors brand collaboration between Stellantis and Nidec. This sophisticated unit can deliver power ranging from 210hp to 285hp, with the Ypsilon HF utilizing the motor near its maximum potential. A 54kWh battery pack provides an estimated range of 370km according to WLTP standards, ensuring that performance doesn’t come at the expense of practicality.
The charging capabilities are equally impressive, with the battery able to charge from 20-80% in approximately 25 minutes using rapid charging infrastructure, making it suitable for longer journeys despite its city car dimensions.
Chassis and Handling Enhancements
Built on the evolved CMP2 platform, an optimization of the original CMP designed specifically for dynamic driving, the Ypsilon HF features wider tracks, lowered suspension, and other adjustments designed to improve performance and handling. Track width has grown by 30mm while the HF sits 20mm lower than the regular Ypsilon, creating a more planted stance and improved aerodynamics.
The mechanical changes are accompanied by a full suite of skirts, splitters, and HF badging, with the relatively clutter-free design of the Ypsilon’s lower sections providing room for Lancia to make bold styling statements. Larger 18-inch wheels and an upgraded braking system complete the performance package.
Design and Heritage
HF Legacy Returns
The HF logo, first used in 1960, became synonymous with Lancia’s racing success, initially serving as a symbol for a club of Lancia owners before evolving into the HF Lancia Racing Team in 1963. Legendary models like the Fulvia Coupe HF, Stratos HF, and Delta HF Integrale Evolution carried this emblem during Lancia’s golden rallying era.
The newly redesigned logo maintains the colors of the original—white, red, and black—without adding graphic elements, but simplifying them and making them purer while respecting the unmistakable geometries of the Lancia brand. The little elephant logo, a good luck charm chosen by Gianni Lancia, continues to signify performance and driving pleasure.
Modern Styling Approach
The interior features beautiful bucket seats that provide excellent support, enhanced by reminders of the Lancia HF sports world, including the brand’s emblematic elephant as a fine nod to history. The design philosophy balances contemporary aesthetics with heritage elements, creating a unique identity in the crowded small car segment.
Market Positioning
Competition Analysis
The Ypsilon HF could establish itself as a more attractive, higher-performance model than competitors like the Alpine A290 GT Performance, benefiting from a more powerful engine and shorter acceleration time for a similar price. The competitive landscape in the electric hot hatch segment is rapidly evolving, but Lancia’s unique combination of power, heritage, and Italian flair positions it favorably.
Compared with the 280hp Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce, which shares the same technical specifications, the Ypsilon HF benefits from a lower center of gravity and improved aerodynamics thanks to its urban silhouette, potentially making it even more efficient than its platform sibling.
Rally Heritage Revival
Ypsilon Rally 4 HF
Lancia’s return to rallying is underscored by the Ypsilon Rally 4 HF, a competition version powered by a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 156kW, combined with a five-speed gearbox and mechanical limited-slip differential. This rally variant represents Lancia’s commitment to motorsport after years of absence from competitive racing.
The brand’s illustrious rally history includes 15 World Rally Championships and numerous other prestigious victories, making this return particularly significant for enthusiasts and the brand’s credibility in performance circles.
Future Outlook
Beyond the Ypsilon, Lancia plans to launch a revived Gamma model in 2026 and an all-new Delta in 2028, with HF badges attached to the range-topping versions of both. This comprehensive strategy demonstrates Stellantis’s commitment to the Lancia brand and its performance heritage.
After launching in Italy in 2024, the brand will return to Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain, France, and Germany in 2025, marking a significant expansion of Lancia’s European presence after years of limited availability.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Power Output | 280 hp (eMotors M4) |
| Torque | 345 Nm |
| 0-100km/h | 5.8 seconds |
| Battery Capacity | 54 kWh |
| Range (WLTP) | 370 km |
| Charging (20-80%) | 25 minutes |
| Platform | CMP2 (evolved) |
| Track Width | +30mm vs standard |
| Ride Height | -20mm vs standard |
| Launch Date | May 2025 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much more powerful is the Ypsilon HF compared to the standard model? A: The HF produces 280hp versus 154hp in the standard electric Ypsilon, representing an 82% power increase.
Q: Will the Ypsilon HF be available outside Europe? A: Currently announced for European markets only, with no confirmed plans for right-hand drive markets like the UK or Australia.
Q: What makes the Ypsilon HF different from other Stellantis performance EVs? A: While sharing the eMotors M4 with Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce, the Ypsilon HF benefits from lower center of gravity and improved aerodynamics.
