THE LANCIA YPSILON RALLY 4 HF BRINGS BACK OLD SCHOOL RACING MEMORIES.
Lancia is one of those Italian car brands that everyone has heard of but actually knows nothing about. Thoroughbred car guys over 40, when you say the word Lancia there are immediate flashbacks to Group B rally highlights that always included the iconic Lancia Sratos doing proper rally things. An equally well-known car from this automaker is the Lancia Delta HF Integrale which competed in Group A and is possibly one of the coolest cars of the era, it remains one of the most iconic racecars from the late 80s to the early 90s. While it’s one good-looking car that had a great run, the automaker had issues that saw the brand being close to disappearing. Lancia has had a storied history, founded in 1906 by Vincenzo Lancia and Claudio Fogolin, the company was renowned for its innovative engineering and distinctive designs. It was innovative too, the Lancia Lambda was the first production car with a complete electrical system, and it even featured a monocoque chassis - in the 1920s! In the ‘70s and '80s, Lancia's reputation for technical prowess and stylish design was cemented with its dominance in motorsport, particularly in rally racing. The Delta Integrale became a rally legend by securing six consecutive World Rally Championships between 1987 to 1992. Even with great success over the years, in 1969 it was bought by Fiat and the racing success didn’t translate to sales and the company struggled to maintain its identity. By the early 2000s, Lancia's market presence was reduced to a few models sold in Europe, and in the 2010s when Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) decided to scale back Lancia's operations drastically, it limited the product offerings to the Ypsilon, a small city car sold only in Italy. This effectively marked the end of Lancia as a significant player in the industry, leaving behind a legacy of innovation and racing glory that continues to be celebrated by car enthusiasts and collectors. Things are looking up for the small company now; “Today, Lancia is taking another step forward in its Renaissance journey. In late May, we previewed two major new models, to be launched officially in 2025: the New Lancia Ypsilon HF, the high-performance version in the first car of the brand's new era; and the Lancia Ypsilon Rally 4 HF, the model that will mark Lancia’s official return to the world of rallying, in line with its legendary sporting history. The natural ‘spokesperson’ for this dual comeback could only be Miki Biasion, the most successful Italian rally driver of all time, who contributed to making Lancia the brand that won more than any other in the sport's history. His many years of experience with the Lancia Corse team will be fundamental to the development of both cars. It is the beginning of a new chapter in the history of the brand’s Renaissance, characterized by ambition, pragmatism and humility, fully in line with the brand's DNA.” stated Lancia brand CEO Luca Napolitano.
Next year things will be changing for Lancia, the planned launch of the Lancia Ypsilon HF, a high-performance version of the first car in the brand's new era. As you can see from the pics, the car already looks properly impressive by adding in the iconic red and blue Martini Racing livery that the automaker is known for. To help this idea gain traction, Lancia roped in Miki Baision. Biasion is an icon in the history of motorsport, having contributed to making Lancia the most successful brand of all time, with 15 World Rally Championships, three Constructors’ and Endurance World Championships, one 1000 Miglia, two Targa Florio, and one Carrera Panamericana win to his credit. Biasion made his debut in Lancia colours at the wheel of the Rally 037 Gr. B. In 1983 he won the Italian and European championships, and from 1986, he only raced in rallies that were part of the world championship. In his first year, he took the Delta S4 to victory in Argentina, and for the 1988 season had five victories including his first world title with the Delta Integrale Gr. A. In 1989, Biasion joined the ranks of two-time world champions, and in both years also won the Safari Rally in Africa, the only Italian ever to have done so. “I’m highly honoured to be able to support the Lancia Product Team in the adjustment of the setup and handling of the Ypsilon HF, offering genuine sporty driving pleasure to its drivers. I’m also delighted to work with the Stellantis Motorsport Team on refining the performance of the Ypsilon Rally 4 HF: setup, braking, and engine calibration. I hope I can inspire all the young drivers making their way with our Lancia Ypsilon Rally 4 HF, towards becoming the professionals and champions of the future. The Lancia of victories and races is back, and I’m more than glad to be part of that!” stated Miki Biasion. The Lancia Ypsilon Rally 4 HF will be a fully electric car that has a nice and compact size, and seeing as it’s going to be used in competition, it makes more power than the regular street version. In that showroom guise, there’s 115 kW of power on tap, and in race spec that power is rated at a smudge under 180 kW. It’ll also be lighter thanks to chucking all the unnecessary components, so it should be quick. While there are no details about the powertrain, at all, with Biasion putting his expertise and extensive racing experience into the project, the end result must surely be something impressive. It need to be if Lancia is going to survive.
Take a look at the YouTube video from the mad crew over at Donut as they delve into the history of al things Lancia, which will give a good idea of why this refreshed Lancia is making most guys over 40 smile: LANCIA - Everything You Need to Know | Up to Speed | Donut
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