Lancia is a brand that was lusted after by motorsport fans the world over.
This was mostly down to the brand’s exploits in world rallying.
Lancia remains the most successful brand of all time in the world of rallying, with 15 World Rally Championships and three Constructors’ Championships.
But those days are long gone and Lancia has been floundering over the past few decades.
However, there seems to be a bit of a resurgence taking place in Italy. Among the good news is that Lancia heads back to rallying with its newest release, called the Ypsilon.
“Lancia has always been in people’s hearts, also thanks to its competitive soul represented by some iconic models from a past that made of the brand the most successful one of all time in the rally world.
“And that sporty heart is starting to beat again today! And those same fans will be the new customers of Lancia of the future,” states Luca Napolitano, Lancia brand CEO.
The powertrain is a 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder with 215bhp. Just 22 shy of the range-topping Ypsilon HF, there’s also a five-speed sequential transmission and limited-slip differential.
Lancia has thrown on a new roof scoop, vented bonnet, all-white straight-cut alloys and a more defined front grille. But most importantly, these additions have been knitted together by that livery. Various blue streaks run the length of the flanks and are centred by a single red line, while an estimated 348 HF logos are dotted across.
Don’t get too excited yet at the possibility that this could be an eardrum-busting successor to the legendary Integrale, because the Rally 4 HF will purely be used to compete in the ‘R4’ entry-level rallying class.
Unless it’s wildly successful of course, then who knows…
