It was the VW Golf that started it over 25 years ago. That's how long the Golf GTi has been around and it spawned other go-faster hot hatches. Andrew Hamilton reports
Hot hatch GTi models make sound marketing sense for manufacturers. They boost the image of their everyday cars. For those who want a little sporty performance, life isn't so easy. Insurance companies mostly quote prohibitive premiums. Still, a surprising number of motorists seem able to attach themselves to interesting wheels.
With that in mind, we thought a quick canter around the hot little numbers might be in order.
The GTi lives on in the latest Golf range. It has a 1.8 litre turbocharged engine delivering 150 bhp with a top speed of 134 mph and 0 to 60mph time of 8.5 seconds. It costs €26,525 ex-works - more or less the same money as standard 1.8 litre family and fleet cars.
For over €5,000 more, you could leave the Golf standing. The hot small car that's "in" these days is the Honda Civic Type-R. A car that packs almost 200 bhp, a top speed nudging 150mph and acceleration of around 6.8 seconds, sounds enticing.
The ex-works price is €31,709, which didn't put off at least 20 buyers here, with orders for a further 16. Honda here has been backward in discussing it. We learned about it from a man in Mitsubishi.
For a little more money and a little less performance, there's the Ford Focus ST 170. It's from €34,133 ex-works, delivers 170 bhp, a top speed of 134 mph, and acceleration from 0 to 60 in 7.9 seconds. Don't be fooled by these bald statistics. In reality, the Ford is at least as thrilling to drive as its rival, thanks to a chassis that has a fluency rare at any price. It steers, rides, grips and responds better than most of the competition.
We have to mention another new arrival, the MINI Cooper S. That one little letter means a supercharged engine giving 163 bhp which gets to 60 mph in just over seven seconds. Last month Autocar tested 12 hot hatches, the Civic and the Focus among them, and the Cooper S beat the lot, providing the most fun for less money than all bar the Peugeot 206GTi. Peugeot has been in the GTi business for a long time too. We remember with affection their wonderful 205 version. In the latest 206 manifestation, there's a 2.0 litre with 135 bhp, a top speed of 130 mph and a 0 to 60 mph time of 8.4 seconds.
Performance-wise there's not much to choose between it and the Golf counterpart, but the Peugeot's pricing is more attractive at €22,595 ex-works. Something a little different from the GTi ilk? Here's a car that will cover the ground, not at hot hatch pace but more in the manner of a Ferrari.
The Subaru Impreza WRX STi has four doors, four-wheel-drive, a big boot and enough cross-country speed to make it at least the equal of sports and supercars costing tens of thousands of euros more. There's a €53,950 ex-works price which is the most expensive in our brief listing.
It doesn't look too attractive but otherwise it is refined and comfortable. Its performance statistics beat all the aforementioned, hitting 60 mph from rest in 4.9 seconds. That's just three-tenths of a second shy of Ferrari's flagship 356 Maranello. Bhp is a stunning 262 and top speed is just under 150 mph.
Before that Golf, badged GTi, it wasn't possible to drive a car that offered the space and value we needed with the fun we craved. It's all changed and the cars listed are but a small selection that bring a mix of everyday practicality and sporting pleasure to the motoring scene.