Tag Archives: Hot Hatch

2021 VW Polo GTI Shows Its Sporty Face Ahead Of June Premiere

Almost three weeks after the unveiling of the facelifted Polo, Volkswagen has released the first official teaser of the 2021 Polo GTI.

The hot version of the subcompact hatchback will sit at the top of the range when it premieres at the end of June. It will follow the traditional recipe, with “high-torque front-wheel drive, dynamically tuned sports chassis and expressive design”, according to the automaker, which will help it “stand out from the crowd”.

Also Check Out: We’d Love To See A New VW Polo R Like This Render, But Ze Germans Disagree

The official sketch released by Volkswagen previews the hot Polo’s Golf GTI-inspired styling. It has a different grille pattern over the regular variants, with red trim on the lower part and a GTI emblem on the right side, and a bumper with two fog lamps flanking the central air intake. The GTI logo also adorns the front fenders, the side skirts appear to be bulkier and the roof-mounted spoiler seems to be a tad bigger. Model specific wheels and new paint finishes are expected to be introduced too.

We have yet to take a peek inside, but we know what to expect: front seats with extra side bolstering and tartan upholstery, GTI logos on the steering wheel and gear selector, and probably revised graphics for the infotainment screen and digital instrument cluster.

Promising sportier driving dynamics compared to the rest of the family, the 2021 Polo GTI will likely feature a stiffer and lower suspension and uprated brakes. The 2.0-liter turbo-four of its predecessor should soldier on. The mill develops 197 HP and 236 lb-ft (320 Nm) of torque in the outgoing car, which hits 62 mph (100 km/h) in 6.7 seconds, en route to a 147 mph (237 km/h) top speed.

The 2021 Polo GTI, which has the Ford Fiesta ST and Hyundai i20 N in its sights, will not launch in North America.

Limited-Run Ford Focus ST-3 Lands In Australia With Extra Features

Ford Australia has introduced a new flagship variant of the Focus ST hot hatch dubbed the ST-3.

Capped at 200 units for the local market, the Focus ST-3 comes loaded with standard features including a panoramic sunroof, heated and electrically-adjustable front Recaro sports seats with lumbar support, a B&O Play 10-speaker audio system with subwoofer, a Head-Up display, and a Blind Spot Information System with Cross-Traffic Alert.

Read Also: Tuned Ford Focus ST Goes For The Slammed Look, Do You Like It?

The hot hatch also sports Ford’s Advanced Front Lighting System that uses a camera to detect curves in the road and turn the headlights. The system can also adapt the beam shape of the headlights to suit the road and driving situations. Other standard features include wireless smartphone charging, keyless entry and push-button engine start, ambient LED lighting and dual-zone climate control.

No mechanical changes have been made to the Focus ST-3 from the standard car, although it is available exclusively with the seven-speed automatic transmission, rather than the six-speed manual that the standard model is also offered with. Power comes courtesy of an all-aluminum 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder pumping out 206 kW (276 HP) at 5,500 rpm and 420 Nm of torque between 3,000 rpm and 4,000 rpm.

“The Focus ST has attracted a passionate following, and the ST-3 supplements our highly popular Ford Performance portfolio that also includes the Fiesta ST, Mustang and Ranger Raptor,” Ford Australia president and chief executive Andrew Birkic said. “The premium equipment levels add an extra touch of prestige to the Focus ST’s already highly-regarded performance credentials, with the technology and innovation our enthusiast customers expect in a hot-hatch.”

Prices start at AU$47,990 (US$37,400).

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BMW’s New 128ti Hot Hatch Previewed As The Brand’s Answer To The VW Golf GTI

BMW is putting the final touches on the upcoming 128ti, the upcoming hot hatch version of the 1-Series hatchback which is set to slot underneath the range-topping M135i xDrive.

The new BMW 128ti will be powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo engine with 261 HP (265 PS), driving the front wheels via a Torsen limited-slip differential and an eight-speed automatic transmission, which will be the only option. BMW claims a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) in 6.1 seconds.

Read Also: 2022 BMW 2 Series Coupe Takes To The Nürburgring For The First Time

What’s important here is that the upcoming 128ti will not be just another fast variant in the model’s range, as BMW has put much thought and care to tune the suspension and steering specifically to this model in order to offer “extremely sporty and driver-oriented driving dynamics”.

The new BMW 128ti is basically the first BMW hot hatch with front-wheel-drive and only the third model in the brand’s history to feature the ‘Turismo Internazionale’ suffix. The production version will get a specifically tuned passive M Sport suspension that’s lower by 10mm and comes with stiffer settings than the M135i, from which it shares the same stabilizers and the M Sport brakes.

In addition, the new BMW 128ti will be around 80 kg (176 lbs) lighter than the M135i xDrive, mostly due to the lack of all-wheel-drive. BMW promises that the new hot version of the 1-Series will also feature “many differentiating exterior and interior features”, in order to stand out from its lesser siblings.

BMW is going to launch the new 128ti in November across Europe, going against traditional hot hatches like the VW Golf GTI, the Ford Focus ST and will even try to pick a fight with the more hardcore FWD performance models in the segment, including the Honda Civic Type R and the Renault Megane RS.

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