Tag: hot hatch

Categories
Audi

“Internally we refer to this car as the RS1”

Audi A1 clubsport

These are the words of Audi head of design Stefan Sielaff, as reported by What Car. The car he is referring to, of course, is the bonkers A1 clubsport, complete with 370kW, revealed at Wörthersee a few days ago.

Sielaff continued the RS1 tease by saying the A1’s engine bay wouldn’t need to be modified to fit the 2.5 litre five cylinder should the car go into series production. It’s unlikely any road going model would be released sporting the full 370kW, but even the standard 250kW found in the TT RS would be most welcome.

The A1 clubsport is 400kg lighter than its production siblings, and while that may be a stretch too far if an RS1 is made, Sielaff reckons a weight saving of 200kg could be achieved.

Consider our appetite whet!

[Source: What Car]

Categories
Ford Volkswagen

VIDEO: Volkswagen Scirocco R v Ford Focus RS

Here is an old review from Autocar comparing the Scirocco R and Ford Focus RS. It first appeared on AUSmotive back in November 2009.

At the time neither car was available in Australia. However, the Focus RS has been on sale down under since late last year—don’t believe the hype, either, there’s still plenty for sale. Of course, we now know the Scirocco R will be in Australia early next year.

So, then, with renewed relevance, let’s take a look at what seasoned reviewer Steve Sutcliffe thought when he drove the two cars back to back.

Categories
Renault

Renault Clio RS 200 Australian Grand Prix Limited Edition

Renault Clio RS 200

Last week Mark Webber took time out of his busy schedule to launch the Renault Clio RS 200 Australian Grand Prix Limited Edition. Bit of a mouthful, hey!

There’ll be just 30 of these little pocket rockets sold, all in the Liquid Yellow paint shown here. At $39,990 the Limited Edition model carryies a $1000 premium over the regular Trophée version.

For the asking price you get a black painted roof and spoiler, Renault Sport Recaro front seats, Renault Sport monitor (for the first time on Clio), black Speedline Cup wheels, and shiny black exterior details. Interior trim is “Carbone” spec, as found on the Trophée.

Engine spec from the peaky naturally aspirated 2.0 litre remains 147kW/215Nm. Enough to get you to the ton in 6.9 seconds.

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Categories
Audi

Audi RS3 promo video

Audi RS3

The Audi voiceover man is back; as lifeless as ever too. This time he is talking about the RS3 hyper hatch. There’s lots of facts and fugures, but, sadly, no driving footage. No 2.5 litre barking its way through a scenic European mountain pass. A bit of a let down, really. Hopefully there is more to come.

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Categories
Volkswagen

Volkswagen Polo GTI – Australian pricing & specs

Volkswagen Polo GTI

Volkswagen Australia has just released pricing and specifications for its newest hot hatch, the Polo GTI. There’s good news, too, as the pre-delivery list pricing comes in under $30K and both 3-door ($27,790) and 5-door ($28,990) versions are available.

Standard equipment includes a 132kW twincharged 1.4 litre engine, a 7-speed DSG transmission, an XDL electronic diff, ESP with Hill Start Assist, six airbags and 17″ alloys. For the first time on a Polo model xenon headlights with LED daytime running light can be added as an option ($1600). Unfortunately, there is no option for a manual transmission at this stage.

The usual GTI colour palette is offered with two flat colours Candy White and Flash Red (pictured). While an extra $500 will get you pretty sparkles in your Shadow Blue, Reflex Silver or Deep Black Pearl Effect colour options.

Performance is both brisk and efficient, with the baby GTI matching its larger Golf GTI cousin by reaching 100km/h in 6.9 seconds. While the 6.1l/100km fuel economy rating is first class for a car in this segment.

Press statements from Volkswagen Australia are available after the break, including a gallery of 24 local images.

UPDATE: Thanks to Corey_R who has left a note in the comments section that all Polo models in Australia can be ordered with a Panoramic Glass Sunroof. This will be a $1700 option and will be available from January 2011 build. There is nothing official from VW Aus just yet, but the information comes from a credible source.

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Categories
Renault

Renault Megane RS 250 – Australian pricing & specs

Renault Megane RS 250

It’s been a while since we first saw the Renault Megane RS 250, but the wait for Australian buyers is finally over. Those wanting entry into to French quarter of the über hot hatch club will need to part with $41,990 for the RS 250 Cup, or cough up an extra $5,000 if they want the Cup Trophée model.

The extra cash for the Cup Trophée gets you 19″ alloys, flash Recaro sports seats and a few other bits and pieces like electric folding wing mirrors, plus they have even thrown in some floor mats. Bless. In addition, the Trophée is differentiated from the regular Cup by way of grey bumper inserts (pictured above), as opposed to black, and satin chrome door handles, as opposed to body colour.

Both models come standard with a 184kW (250bhp) 2.0 litre four cylinder, including twin scroll turbo. Peak torque of 340Nm is available from 3000rpm, while 80% of that figure is on tap from just 1900rpm. Fitted with a 6-speed manual box, Renault say you can reach 100km/h in 6.1 seconds.

Back in the day it was thought 200bhp was the theoretical maximum one could put through a front-driver. There are many examples of cars breaking that theory now, of course, but almost all employ some form of trickery to at least give the driver some chance of avoiding a call to the operator of a flat bed truck. The new RS 250 is no different with a standard limited slip diff and independent steering axis front suspension offering what Renault describe as “a more reassuring drive”.

After seeing the RS 250 in static mode at AIMS last month, we were quite impressed with the interior, which has taken huge steps from previous Megane offerings. So long as none of the driving pleasures of the former models have been lost, this new effort should be a crowd favourite.

More pics and Renault Australia’s very detailed press release are all yours after the break.

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Categories
Opel Vauxhall

Vauxhall GTC hot hatch concept

Vauxhall GTC Concept

Okay, the Holden Cruze hatchback is not a bad looking car. But the current model Astra looks better. As it currently stands there are no plans from Holden to bring the current Astra down under. That’s a shame, really, because it means we probably won’t get to see this new GTC hot hatch on our shores.

The pics here are of the concept model that will be revealed at the Paris Motor Show in a bit over two weeks from now. Concept model or not, this car looks almost production ready. Save, perhaps, for the 21″ wheels.

It looks quite smart, too. Vauxhall/Opel have not confirmed any specs just yet, apart from a few details on suspension and that it will be powered by a 2.0 litre turbocharged four cylinder.

More after the jump.

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Categories
Lancia

Lancia Delta Integrale voted best hot hatch ever

Lancia Delta integrale

According to Autocar readers the Lancia Delta Integrale is the hottest hatch of all. The poll opened in April and 3500 votes were registered. Following the Lancia in second was the Peugeot 205 GTi, with the Mk1 Ford Focus RS in third.

Chas Hallett, editor said “It’s no surprise Autocar readers have voted for the Lancia, when launched back in the 80’s it very quickly acquired a large and enthusiastic fan base founded on its rally success. Interestingly, it is the oldest car in the Top 10 – proving age is no barrier to desire.”

Except it wasn’t the oldest car in the top 10, because in fourth place on the poll was the 1970s Mk1 Golf GTI.

The full top 10 list is available after the jump with the Autocar press release.  In the comments section why don’t tell us which you think is the best hot hatch ever.

As a special bonus, too, there’s a bunch of Lancia Delta images to help you reminisce when it was hip to be square. Not all images are strictly HF Integrale models, but, when you have to trawl the archives beggars can’t be choosers.

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Categories
Volkswagen

2011 Volkswagen Polo GTI

Volkswagen Polo GTI

UPDATE 14 May: A new pic from Wörthersee has been added below. It shows the new Polo GTI wearing 18″ Detroit alloy wheels.

Volkswagen have published a new press release ahead of the European sales launch of its new Polo GTI. There’s nothing really new in there from the info released prior to the Geneva Motor Show. There is some extra eye candy, though, in the form of new photos in Volkswagen’s familiar Tornado Red colour. These complement the Candy White images from the Geneva info quite nicely.

Basic specs of the Polo GTI are listed below, with more detail given after the jump in the official release.

New Polo GTI

  • Engine: 1.4 litre TSI (twincharged)
  • Power/torque: 132kW/250Nm*
  • Transmission: 7-speed DSG
  • Kerb weight: 1194kg*
  • 0-100km/h: 6.9 seconds
  • Top speed: 229km/h
  • Fuel consumption: 5.9l/100km
  • CO2 emissions: 139g/km
  • Wheels: 7×17” Denver alloys, fitted with 215/40 tyres
  • Optional equipment includes: bi-xenon headlights with cornering feature, LED daytime running lights, panoramic sunroof

*The torque figure is not listed in the information below, but is available in this Technical Data PDF (64kb). Kerb weight has also increased by 10kg over previously released information.

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Categories
Volkswagen

Volkswagen Polo GTI breaks cover ahead of Geneva

Volkswagen Polo GTI

Volkswagen have released three images of its new Polo GTI ahead of next month’s Geneva Auto Salon. As expected, the latest baby GTI will be powered by a 1.4 litre twincharge engine, which has a supercharger providing low down boost before a turbo chimes in to keep the smile on your dial up to redline.

The headline stats of the TSI powerplant are, peak power of 180PS (132kW) with 184ft/lb (250Nm) of torque. Tipping the scales at a modern day lightweight 1184kg the Polo GTI can accelerate to 100km/h in 6.9 seconds. This is achieved, in part, thanks to a 7-speed DSG transmission and and electronic XDS differential, similar to the system found in the Golf GTI.

Aside from all that, the new Polo GTI looks fantastic. There’s been a huge step in interior layout and refinement over the underrated model it replaces and the new exterior styling of the regular Polo has been enahnced by LED daytime lighting and a subtle body kit.

The Polo GTI promises to be one cracker of a hot hatch. A press release from Volkswagen UK is below and when we hear from Volkswagen Australia you’ll be able to read it here.

UPDATE: Volkswagen Australia have confirmed with AUSmotive that the Polo GTI will be on sale locally before the end of 2010. No news on pricing or final specs at this stage.

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Categories
Motor Shows Renault

Geneva 2009 – Clio Renault Sport

2009 Clio Renault Sport

It’s not easy being green! At least, that’s what I imagine this poor Clio must have thought when it was revealed to the motoring world in Geneva a few days ago. It might be a great drive, it might be chock full of froggy cornering goodnessâ„¢, but there’s no escaping it has a face like a busted knee.

Most disappointingly, with the first phase of the Clio III thing were looking so good. But, the phase 2 facelift never really gave the pugnacious Clio Renault Sport much of a fighting chance really.

The new hot Clio is a bit lighter, has a couple of different variations—Luxe for general punting and the familiar Cup for more hard core hot hatch devotees—but, honestly, I’m just so disappointed in this update that I couldn’t care less. That, and the fact we’re probably not likely to see this car in Australia until the next millennium.

For the French purists I’ve no doubt you will love this car and, please, I invite you to delight over the details from the Renault press release and images after the jump. For me, I’m starting to get over it!

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Categories
Motor Shows Renault

Geneva 2009 – Renault Megane RS

Renault Megane RS

Renault, ever the ones to make something fresh and out of the box, have done it again with this new Mégane RS revealed at the Geneva Motor Show. Its coupe form is something to behold and looks fantastic.

With 184kW lurking under the bonnet it is sure to make the most of the lithe and nimble chassis le chaps at Renault Sport have no doubt bestowed on this car. The power is provided by a 2-litre turbo four, which is fitted with a twin-scroll snail providing up to 80% of its boost from 1900rpm. Peak torque of 340Nm is reached at 3000rpm.

Tres cool! More pics after the jump.

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