The 6 Best Classic Hot Hatches We Worship Most
Words by Christian Parodi
We will repeat ad repeat that: you often find the finest answer where you were not supposed to look and hot hatches have such a good flavor because we can enjoy ‘em 365 days a year, not having to give up the convenience and usability of their daily side, always having available the horses and the right chassis to stretch our way back home and turn it into a little adventure. Over the years hot hatches have evolved to the point of putting into serious difficulties far expensive sports cars, with performance that until a few years ago seemed unthinkable and always retaining the ability to be the only car in our driveway. Today we want to pay an homage to 6 of the most exciting all pepper dailies that have ever been produced, before the industry became a real jungle with the eye constantly fixed on the stopwatch. These six are very different from each other but they all share the same strong and never filtered emotions that too often we’re struggling to find today. These are cars that have amazed and are able to surprise you and leave you mouth wide open and do not worry if we had (of course) leave out your favorite one, there will be room for a second section and a third, a fourth … provided they are pure as the 6 that we chose for this article!
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTI MARK I (1976-1983)
It is rightly regarded as the mother of all hot hatches. Born by chance and put on the market a couple of years after the basic version of the Golf was introduced, it has quickly become a model sought after by those who would never have given up to a better acceleration, those details that characterize the sporting nature like the red line along the front grille and the “squared” seats. Powered by a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder outputting 110hp, the Golf GTI was able to perfectly combine the practicality of a family car with a large tailgate, while thanks to a weight below the ton, performance was remarkable and remain highly respected even today, 40 years and 6 generations later.
LANCIA DELTA INTEGRALE (1979-1983)
It is known as the “Queen” thanks to its unremitting success in rallying and has thus consecrated its own myth, also valorizing the street legal version that only differed for the less spartan interior and the ability to use it regularly on road. The even more squared and muscular body of the last series and its 2.0cc turbo with 200hp are the ultimate signature of a sports car that is idolized by any cars enthusiast, regardless of the favorite brand. It’s hard to find some flaw in here, grip is endless, but you may not think of being the master of the situation, because in that precise moment it could give a flick of the tail and bite painfully. A rally car for the road that goes pampered properly in order not to run into expensive and endless repairs.
PEUGEOT 205 GTI (1984-1994)
Readers with a few more years on their driving license remember it perfectly, I have no doubt. How many of us have experienced the adrenaline of their first experiences behind the wheel of a 205 GTI! Produced from the ‘84 to ’94 and available with either a 1.6cc and a 1.9cc, respectively powering 105 and 131hp, it has overwhelmingly found a way to enter our garage thanks to the many thrills and last meter braking it was able to give. With that torque delay, you were always feeling that violent kick able to upset the rear and the balance through corners – a trap you’d say and for this it still can offer strong emotions. Many prefer the 1.6, considered more communicative than the 1.9, but the fact remains that it was the best driving school we could ever been asking for.
FORD ESCORT RS COSWORTH (1993-1996)
Just like the Delta Integrale, the love that the Escort Cosworth has achieved is retraceable in large part thanks to the fact that it has been protagonist in numerous rallies. Impossible not to recognize it, although in the midst of thousands of other cars, thanks to that rear spoiler that overlooked a smaller one which was connected by a central bracket. Sitting at the wheel it could almost seem like a normal Escort, but it was enough to take a look in the rearview mirror to remember to be careful with the throttle. Traction was distributed on all four wheels and this gave a very good stability, while the engine prepared by Cosworth was a supercharged 4-cylinder 2.0cc 220hp, able to offer almost infinite possibilities of tuning and enhancement. It replaced the Sierra Cosworth and anticipated the more modern Focus RS, but still retains the most insane look of the family.
HONDA CIVIC TYPE-R (2001-2005)
It arrived in 2001 and marks a clear step forward for Honda, that with the Type-R wants to hit the hearts of fans. It weighs just over a ton, it has a shorter wheelbase thanks to the 3-doors and has the brand new i-VTEC engine, here a 2,000cc with 200 horses able to scream (literally) up to 7400 rpm. Everything talks about sportiness here, like the virtually straight and close gear lever, while you can easily feel its dual nature shown by the engine ability that makes it a hot hatch at ease in any situation. Drive it with a light foot and it will surprise for being deeply user friendly, go heavy on the throttle and the only chance to stop will be to empty the fuel tank.
RENAULT CLIO V6 (2003-2005)
Including the Clio V6 we can’t avoid mentioning the R5 Maxi Turbo, from which it takes inspiration. In this case the practicality of a family hatchback in the most classical sense of the term is somewhat undermined by the fact of not having the rear seats: in fact, in place of a pair of passengers more you sit in front of a 3.0-liter V6-cylinder and its 254 horses that power to the ground their desire to oversteer thanks to the rear wheel drive system. The shape of your aunt’s Clio is a distant memory, in fact the widened wheel arches talks clear, the dual exhaust makes it even more strongly, and the handling is just what you are imagining as you slide your eyes on the voluptuous lines of the Clio V6.