Lancia accelerates with the new Ypsilon HF. How the 280 HP electric and hybrid are doing

BALOCCO — The Red Elephant is back racing. And it's doing it right at home: on the legendary Stellantis facility in Balocco, one of the most technical tracks in Europe, the development “theater” of all historic racing Lancias. It is here, on the occasion of the inauguration of the Pista Lancia HF (an acronym for “High-Fidelity”, coined by a group of loyal customers in 1960), that we had the opportunity to test the new 100% electric 280 HP Ypsilon HF, the first compact battery-powered sports car by Lancia, in an exclusive preview; alongside it, the new 110 HP Ypsilon HF Line mild-hybrid combines racing style with comfort, ease of driving and low fuel consumption, while the “race-ready” 212 HP Rally4 HF (already seen at the Targa Florio) brings the brand back to motorsport.

The two cars represent a crucial step in Lancia's "Renaissance", while waiting for the flagship Gamma - produced in Melfi on the STLA Medium platform and due for release in 2026 - and the global relaunch of the brand, with a dealer network that will reach 70 in Europe from next year. Aesthetically, the "peppery" electric expresses sportiness from the first glance, with dedicated bumpers, 18-inch wheels, a large rear diffuser, blue and orange interiors and fins on the front fenders on which the historic elephant logo stands out, testimony to the glorious past. It is no coincidence that the dynamic development was handled by Lancia Corse technicians in collaboration with Miki Biasion, the most successful Italian driver of all time, with test and tuning sessions that exceeded 100 thousand km and 1,500 hours.

Equipped with a 280 hp (207 kW) front electric motor and a whopping 345 Nm of torque, the small sports car from Turin accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds and reaches a top speed of 180 km/h. Power comes from a 54 kWh, 400-volt lithium battery that guarantees up to 370 km of autonomy (WLTP), with rapid charging up to 100 km in 10 minutes. Values ​​that are best reflected behind the wheel: the driving dynamics are surprising. Thanks to a 20 mm lowered ride height, 30 mm widened track, increased chassis rigidity and Torsen self-locking differential, the Ypsilon HF is glued to the asphalt. The Alcon braking system with 355 mm front discs ensures short stopping distances – as long as you press the brake pedal firmly: the travel is quite long – and high resistance to fatigue.

The feeling at the wheel, precise and direct, is that of a pure sports car: especially on the Misto Alfa at the Balocco plant we appreciated very rapid insertions, traction at will even when exiting curves and load transfers reduced to a minimum. Despite the performance, the car maintains a surprising ease of driving, even for the less experienced, thanks to a perfect calibration of the electronic controls and a direct and communicative steering. Three colors are available: Black Ardesia, White Quartz and Orange Lava, a tribute to the historic Fulvia and Stratos. Marketing will begin after the summer, with prices starting from 39,200 euros (or 299 euros per month).

Moving on to the HF Line, the 48V mild hybrid utility vehicle combines the efficiency of the light hybrid powertrain – the engine is a 1.2 turbo three-cylinder 110 hp combined with an automatic transmission, for a top speed of 190 km/h – with styling shared with the “real” HF. The set-up, obviously, favors urban driving, with 17-inch wheels that maximize the absorption of bumps and a suite of latest-generation active driving aids. Already available in dealerships, the price list starts at 22,450 euros (with the possibility of having it through financing from 129 euros per month).