The Lancia Ypsilon HF could be the surprise of 2025, and put a slap in the face of the Alpine a290

In May 2024, almost a year before its imminent launch, Lancia unveils the Ypsilon HFa high-performance version of its flagship city car. Now that its release is just around the corner (expected in a few weeks to a few months), it's time to analyze the reasons why this Lancia Ypsilon HF deserves your attention, especially if you're looking for a small electric car that combines performance and driving pleasure.

Figures that make you salivate

At first glance, the Lancia Ypsilon HF could well rival the best in its segment. Indeed, with its 280 hp and weight of 1.5 tons, it far outclasses the Alpine A290 GT Performance, which develops just 220 hp for an equivalent weight of 1,479 kg. In addition to a 51 kWh battery, the Ypsilon HF boasts a 0 to 100 km/h time of 5.8 seconds, far quicker than the A290 GT Performance, which struggles to break the 6.4-second barrier.

The performance gap with the Alpine is impressive, especially when price is taken into account. The Lancia Ypsilon HF could be offered, according to our estimates, at around €44,000, while the A290 GT Performance costs €41,700. This power/price ratio could well make the Ypsilon HF a formidable choice against the competition.

	Power	Weight	Battery	0 to 100 km/h	Price
Lancia Ypsilon HF	280 hp	1520kg*	51 kWh	5.8 sec* for	44 000 €*
Alpine A290 GT	180 hp	1479 kg	52 kWh	7.4 sec	38 700 €
Alpine A290 GT Performance	220 hp	1479 kg	52 kWh	6.4 sec	41 700 €

The Lancia Ypsilon HF: a performance/price ratio that makes all the difference

The Lancia Ypsilon HF could well establish itself as a more attractive, higher-performance model than the Alpine A290 GT Performance. Compared with the Alpine, the Ypsilon benefits from a more powerful engine and shorter acceleration time for a similar price. What's more, the Ypsilon HF shares some interesting technical features, such as the 280 hp Emotors M4 electric motor and a limited-slip differential.

Compared with a 280hp Junior Veloce, which shares the same technical specifications, the Ypsilon HF benefits from a low center of gravity and improved aerodynamics, thanks to its urban silhouette. As a result, it's just as efficient, if not more so. than the Junior Veloce, which we already liked a lot during our track test.. Where the Lancia Ypsilon HF could really come into its own is by offering similar performance at a more competitive price.

With a price differential of a few thousand euros between the Alpine A290 GT Performance and the Ypsilon HF, the Lancia option becomes particularly tempting.

What if the heir to the Alfa Romeo 147 GTA was the Lancia Ypsilon HF?

One of the most interesting debates for Italian sports car enthusiasts remains the question of the heir to the legendary Alfa Romeo 147 GTA. Although the Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce was seen as a worthy successor by many journalists during testing, it could be that the Lancia Ypsilon HF will take that place with flying colors.

Lighter, more dynamic and possibly faster, the Lancia Ypsilon HF could become the benchmark in its segment.

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Expectations are high as the Lancia Ypsilon HF prepares to hit the market in the near future. For Stellantis, the task will be not to be too greedy on price, as this sporty city car could well make waves in the market for small, high-performance electric cars. It has everything it takes to surpass its main competitor, the Alpine A290 GT Performance, and even dethrone it, with a price/performance ratio that could prove irresistible. In any case, time will tell whether this Ypsilon HF will be the real surprise of 2025, but one thing is certain: it has the potential to slap its rivals in the face.