The most exciting news of the week almost certainly comes from Lancia, which today has confirmed that the hot HF brand will be making a comeback, revealing the leaping elephant logo along with some details of what to expect.
Lancia finally re‑heats with 240PS Ypsilon HF for 2025
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The badge will first grace the back of a new hot Lancia Ypsilon, the marque’s small hatchback based on the same underpinnings as the current Peugeot e208. All-electric, the car will feature lowered suspension, a wider track and 240PS from its electric motor, for 0-62mph in 5.8 seconds. A proper little pocket rocket, then.
Even the standard Ypsilon has been getting some love lately thanks to its Stratos-inspired looks. The hot HF treatment should only serve to enhance that aesthetic, though painfully, there’s no confirmation of it reaching our shores just yet.
“I am delighted to unveil the new HF logo, which will make its debut on the New Lancia Ypsilon HF, before being used on the future high-performance versions of the brand,” said Luca Napolitano, Lancia brand CEO.
“After the presentation of the New Lancia Ypsilon, the first car of the brand new era, today we take another step ahead in the path to Renaissance, to emphasize the brand most brutal and radical soul and its commitment to focusing on performance models.”
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The HF logo carries an enormous legacy of motorsport and sporting excellence, last gracing the stunning Delta Integrales of the 1990s but with history going back to the Lancia Hi-Fi club of 1960s, starting out as a private owner’s club. It quickly became a symbol for performance at Lancia, debuting on the Fulvia Coupe HF of 1966.
Perhaps most exciting is that Napolitano has confirmed Lancia is “working” on a return to motorsport. After confirming HF is set to grace the boots of other future models, he said “Will we return to the Rally? We are working on it.”
The little elephant symbol, in case you’re wondering, represents how an elephant should be unstoppable once it’s off on a gallop. It’s also a symbol of good luck and victory in Eastern mythology.
From the Fulvia, through the Stratos, to the Delta and now into the future with the Ypsilon, it’s surely one of the coolest boot badges in motoring. Let’s hope Lancia’s EV hot hatch has substance to match the style.
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