Miki Biasion drives Ypsilon Rally 4 HF
“Today is another big day for the Lancia brand. After committing his experience and expertise to the development of the car that marks the brand return to Rally in Italy, in 2025, Miki Biasion drove the Lancia Ypsilon Rally 4 HF in a special test. Today we also have the pleasure of welcoming Eugenio Franzetti, Lancia Corse HF Director, who will lead the return of the brand to Rally. And the news doesn’t end here! The New Lancia Ypsilon HF, the ultimate expression of the brand most competitive and high-performance spirit, will be available starting from May 2025 with an electric engine, a power output of 280 HP, and an acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.8 seconds. We are definitely warming up the engines for the next chapter in our Renaissance Plan!” stated Luca Napolitano, CEO of the Lancia brand.
“Today, I drove the Lancia Ypsilon Rally 4 HF in a special test run and I have to admit that the initial feeling was definitely brilliant! We have worked to improve the car performance by fine-tuning several parameters: engine response, trying out different mappings; ground grip and road holding, focusing on the springs and shock absorbers, perfecting the braking system; gearbox responsiveness, and testing new gear ratios. I am very honored to be able to contribute to the development of both the Ypsilon Rally 4 HF and the New Lancia Ypsilon HF, two key models in Lancia Renaissance Plan,” said Miki Biasion.
Today Miki Biasion drove in a special test, the Lancia Ypsilon Rally 4 HF as part of the tests scheduled for the fine-tuning of the car that marks the brand official return to the world of Rally in Italy, in 2025. The Lancia Corse team is conducting the technical and road testing of the model, relying precisely on the support of this former rally driver.
Miki Biasion is an icon in the history of motorsport who, between the ’80s and ’90s, inextricably linked his name to Lancia, by becoming the most successful Italian driver of all time, leading the iconic Delta of the Martini Racing team to triumph in the 1988 and 1989 World Championships, thus contributing to making Lancia the brand with the most wins of all time: fifteen World Rally Championships, three Constructors and Endurance World Championships, one 1000 Miglia, twice the Targa Florio, once the Carrera Panamericana.
Lancia Ypsilon Rally 4 HF
The Lancia Ypsilon Rally 4 HF is powered by a 1.2-liter turbocharged 3-cylinder 4-valve-per-cylinder engine that delivers 212 hp. Equipped with front-wheel drive with a 5-speed mechanical transmission and mechanical limited-slip differential, the high-performance model stands as is the ideal solution for all rally enthusiasts to enjoy but is also a serious candidate for drivers aspiring to victory in the Rally 4 category class and in the two-wheel drive championships.
Lancia has decided to return to the world of rallying, starting from the basics of competition, from Rally 4, the beating heart of Rally: a category that represents pure passion, with young drivers who will become the professionals of tomorrow. A new beginning in perfect Lancia style, characterized by ambition, pragmatism and humility, in line with the mission and DNA of the brand.
On the Lancia Ypsilon Rally 4 HF, two historic signatures of the brand return: the HF and “LANCIA CORSE HF” logos. The HF logo, introduced for the first time in 1960 by a group of Lancia car owners, founders of the “Lancia Hi-Fi” (High-Fidelity) club, has become over time a symbol of Lancia high-performance models and ‘signed off’ many of the brand victories. It then became a symbol of the HF Squadra Corse Lancia, created in 1963 by Cesare Fiorio together with some drivers and passionate owners of Lancia cars. The “LANCIA CORSE HF” logo is the legendary signature of the brand racing cars. Both brands have now been revamped, and reinterpret the logos in a modern key: the constituent elements have been simplified, made contemporary and now look ahead to the future, in line with Lancia Renaissance Plan, and always respecting the unmistakable geometries of the brand.
The new HF logo also includes the historic little elephant that was supposedly chosen as a lucky charm way back in 1953 by Gianni, son of Vincenzo Lancia and CEO of the car company from 1949 to 1955. According to legend, once they start running, elephants are unstoppable and become symbols of performance and driving pleasure. The galloping pachyderm, first depicted in blue and then in red, can be traced back to Eastern mythology, where it is a symbol of good fortune and victory if represented with its trunk stretched forward.
Miki Biasion drives New Lancia Ypsilon
“Today, I had the pleasure of driving the New Lancia Ypsilon once again: a responsive, comfortable and quiet car. Its wider wheel track makes it more stable, the specific suspension setup makes it more dynamic, without ever becoming rigid. The steering calibration ensures the right balance between agility, steering precision, and maneuverability. It is a very agile city car that really easy to handle, which also makes a rally driver like me happy when driving up the twists and turns on a hill, with great response at the traffic light. Outstanding acoustic comfort, made possible by the soundproofing package created specifically for a typically Lancia interior, always welcoming, in any condition, even on difficult roads, or even when driving at high speed,” said Miki Biasion.
