The Return of the Red Elephant: The Lancia HF Races into the Future

Legendary curves, snow-covered starts, and applause that lingers amidst the hairpin bends. Lancia, the Italian brand that has written some of the most epic chapters in motorsports history, is shining a spotlight on its boldest and most passionate soul. And it does so with a return that feels like a rebirth: the HF acronym.

HF isn't just a badge. It's a declaration of intent, a profound connection to the Turin-based manufacturer's sporting identity. This is a turning point: Lancia is relaunching the emblem on a new range of road and racing cars. The Lancia Ypsilon HF, the 280-horsepower electric model, the Ypsilon HF Line, the Ypsilon Rally4 HF, and the Ypsilon HF Racing racing school car. A winning combination that brings Italian pride back to the streets and rally stages, updated with technology, safety, and sustainability.

Fulvia HF: the spark of an epic

Sixty years ago, at the 1965 Geneva Motor Show, the Fulvia Coupé was born, one of the most elegant and dynamic cars ever designed in Italy. The following year, that very model became the first Lancia to bear the HF badge. A decade of triumphs followed: from the legendary Monte Carlo won in 1972 by Munari and Mannucci, to the countless battles won on roads around the world. Fulvia, Stratos, Delta: names that still stir emotions in the hearts of enthusiasts today. And always accompanied by a small, tireless red elephant.

A symbol that evolves, but does not forget

The new HF era is not a nostalgic recollection, but a respectful and ambitious reinterpretation. The HF logo has been redesigned with sobriety and balance, preserving the original colors of red, black, and white and the iconic elephant, reinterpreted with a more essential yet equally powerful graphic. The HF letters, angled to suggest movement and speed, embody Lancia's "Progressive Classic" identity: a forward-looking approach that never forgets its origins.

And this is precisely where the new compact sports flagship comes from : the Lancia Ypsilon HF. Featuring a 280 hp electric motor, 0-100 km/h in 5.6 seconds, a lowered ride height, and a Torsen differential, it proves that an electric car can have an uncompromising sporty soul, and that the future of mobility can run fast, with style and grit.

Rally4 and HF Racing: the passion roars again

But HF isn't just about driving, it's also about racing. Thus was born the Ypsilon Rally4 HF, the spiritual heir to the Fulvia of the 1960s, developed with Stellantis Motorsport and tested by Miki Biasion, a living rally legend. Featuring a 212 hp 1.2-liter turbo engine, racing brakes, Ohlins suspension, and true racing car components, it marks Lancia's return to the special stages, bringing with it the experience of its glorious past and the desire to teach young people something.

And it's precisely these people who are addressed by the Ypsilon HF Racing, a 145 hp "school" version, designed for those who want to start racing seriously, with a safe, affordable, and highly educational car. A democratic motorsport concept that maintains a high technical level while reducing costs, to train the next generation of HF drivers.

HF Line: everyday grit

For those who want to bring a bit of racing spirit into their daily lives, Lancia offers the Ypsilon HF Line. It features a 110 hp mild-hybrid engine, 17-inch wheels, an aggressive livery, and a sporty interior inspired by icons of the past. It's not a podium-winning car, but it has the soul of someone who doesn't want to go unnoticed. With it, even city driving becomes an exercise in style and passion.

The race continues

With the return of HF, Lancia isn't dusting off a museum piece. It's rekindling an idea, an emotion, a race. The return of the little red elephant isn't just a marketing ploy, but a promise: to bring back to the streets and rallies that unmistakable blend of technology, aesthetics, and passion that made the Turin brand a legend. Today, more than ever, Lancia's future lies where it has always been strongest: where the heart beats fastest, and the roar of the engine becomes a pulse of pride. HF hasn't returned. HF has started again. And it has every intention of going far.