LAP 2: Hot Hatches

Welcome back! Today I'll look at some of the best hatchbacks available in Australia over the years.

To reiterate the criteria:

1. Influence on changing, challenging, or advancing the status quo of the segment. Slightly esoteric, but important nonetheless. Therefore timing will be an interesting variable

2. Performance. My love is for performance, essentially handling and speed. I don’t care for practicality, load space, or cup holders.

3. Technological and/or mechanical advancement

Essentially this is a list of hot hatches. This market is perhaps the most contested segment by car makers today, with most offering some sort of ‘hot’ or ‘warm’ option. It could be considered the most important market today allowing everyone an entry point into the performance scene with options from budget to prestige, in different sizes, driveline options, and dynamics. With combustion engines under threat, a well-priced, practical car that offers good economy is a key ingredient for a successful hot hatch.

An important criterion is price point accessibility. For an engaging and entertaining ride, the car's performance needs to be accessible to the driver's skill as much as their wallet. I also believe a hot hatch should also be a compliant daily driver when not having its neck wrung.

Hyundai i30 N 2018

I’m starting with this car as I believe it could possibly be one of the most important cars today (along with the 86/BRZ, more on that later). Why? In an age when manufacturers are moving away from the combustion engine, and new cars become increasingly expensive, Hyundai took a chance. They developed a raucous car, with capable and engaging performance, and a raft of driver options that could be personalised. Such tech was previously only seen in the most expensive cars. It also spawned the Kona, i20, and Elantra N versions. Who would have expected Hyundai to develop a performance division? The exhaust note on this car has to be one of the best tunes ever from factory. 

Mini Cooper 1961

Firstly, whilst I appreciate the considered and sympathetic lines of the current Mini, for me, it will never be a genuine Mini. The Mini was a car for the common man, pricing made it available to everyone, the current Mini JCW runs north of $60000 on road. The interior design is also a trite rendition rather than a homage to the mini of the old. But enough pontification. Everyone knows the Mini story, a true giant killer. Not to mention its influence on car design and manufacturing, the TARDIS of the automotive world. A friend that owned once said it was 'the fastest car from A to B because (he) didn't need to use the breaks'.

Golf GTI Mk II 1985

There was always going to be a GTI on the list, and deciding which one was hard. The MkI didn’t start the hot hatch scene but did popularise it, the MkV combined luxury with performance simultaneously returning respect to the GTI badge for VW, and, well I own an Mk7.5 which many consider the best. However, the MkII refined the GTI, adding power through Bosch fuel injectors and later 16 valves. Importantly it built on the success of the MkI, further enhancing performance, refinement, and build quality. An important point in the GTI evolution. The Mk II also spawned a variety of limited editions. Sadly pricing in Australia meant it never sold in large numbers, costing more than a new, larger Commodore.

Honda Civic Type R FD2 2007

I’ll admit my favorite is the first gen EK9 Type R, the proportions and magnificent NA B16 VTEC producing 136kW blew my mind, and is one of the most coveted JDM cars. Alas, this was never offered to the Australian market, we had to wait until 2007 for the FD2. Honestly, I know the fourth and fifth-gen cars are better offerings, but the sound of a NA VTEC in full flight is hard to dismiss. The FD2 was more understated, less gaudy than most civics, came in a four-door sedan, and with 4-wheel independent suspension was an extremely well balance FWD. Australia received the watered-down version until 2011, finally getting an LSD.

Peugout 205 GTI

Somewhat of a Unicorn for me, some 25yrs ago I was heading to look at and test drive a 205 GTI with the likely result of trading in my 1984 KB Laser Turbo, when a P plater did a U-turn in my path. Consequently scuttling plans of a trade-in, later to find the Peugout sold that day. In Australia, one had to choose between air conditioning or power steering, as both could not fit under the diminutive 205 hood. Not the most spritely of cars, but an engaging drive, great handling, and reportedly enough lift-off oversteer to keep you honest. An important car in Europe and for the PSA group as emissions laws and petrol prices hampered performance car development for a time.

Nissan ET Pulsar Turbo 1984

Massively influential car in Australia with advanced tech for the time; a four-cylinder turbocharged motor running fuel injection. Many cars, like the aforementioned Laser ran Turbos with a carburettor. Not necessarily exotic, but when you sell it for just under $12000, and included four doors it becomes a compelling choice. That translates to approximately $35000 today. Still good value for a hot hatch. Furthermore, this car was built in Australia, whilst fundamentally following the Japanese design intentions, the suspension was tuned for Australian roads. In the 90s when the tuner four-cylinder scene took off, and grey imports were popular, the ET pulsar saw a renaissance and provided an entry into the world of car performance and modification. Sadly not many survived as P-platers were the primary buyers.

Renault Clio RS 200 Cup 

With a hard revving engine with 147kW and weighing just over 1200kg, this Renault was razor-sharp, well-engineered, and now represents fantastic value for money at under $20000. Amazing considering when new it was close to $40000 on road for a small, 2-door package. The RS personifies driving enjoyment, it encourages you to drive hard, setup the car precisely before a corner and enjoy the rewards on exit. It proves you don’t always need the biggest, fastest, or most expensive car for total immersion in the pleasures of driving.

Ford Focus RS 2018

It couldn't really be a list of all-time great hot hatches without a Ford RS, could it? Ford must have known this was the final hurrah for the RS earlier on in the design phase, throwing every hot hatch ingredient in one go. Outlandish body kit, screaming turbocharged engine, all-wheel drive grip, manual transmission, torque vectoring, and even a drift mode to unleash the inner hoon. Versions can now be purchased between 2016-2018 for under $50, 000 and are guaranteed to be a future classic. So much amazing tech and performance in a diminutive hatch.

Side Notes:

The Lancia Delta Integrale is a bucket list car. I love the design, engineering, and pedigree that comes with it. However, they were never sold in Australia, likewise the Renault 5 Turbo 1 & 2, 

The GR Yaris is likely to become one of the best, if not already, and probably collectible. I didn’t include it here for any other reason than its comparative newness to the market. And the so-called WRX Eater’, the GTI-R Pulsar was a popular grey import in the 90s, complete with bonnet scoop and attached inter-warmer’, but alas it was an import.

I really wanted to include the most recent Ford Fiesta ST 2 door, but alas we didn't get that in Australia. The 4 door is good, but the 2 door looks amazing. And such an amazingly well-engineered car, that proves even the smallest hot hatches can evoke pure driving pleasure.

I avoided the AMG and Audi hatches due to their prohibitive pricing, frankly, they should be amazingly engineered for what they cost. In essence, it’s all the Mercedes AMG big-boy sports car stuff in a hatch package. Wait a minute that’s the hot hatch recipe, mmmm.

Next Week Lap 3: The Sedan