A hot hatchback for the ages

After the muscle car post I need to write about my favourite kind of of car. And as a normal citizen of Europe my favourite kind of car is small and understated but fast and fun. I'm obviously talking about the hot hatchback. I have covered this topic before (surprisingly) with the Fiesta ST and various GTI's.

Volkswagen Golf R32 in the correct deep blue pearl colour.

Imagine my excitement when I saw a magnificent VW Golf R32 mark IV roll up behind me. Basically the R32 is a harder and faster GTI that was released in 2003. Instead of a four cylinder turbo it has one of my all time favourite engines the 3.2 litre 24 valve VR6. In the mark IV Golf it produces 240 HP which drives all the four wheels. If the engine is all you want then I should inform you that it is also found in the Audi TT. As are the same suspension components and the DSG double-clutch gearbox. So basically the R32 is a more practical Audi sports car.

May I turn your attention to those magnificent wheels.

While we are comparing it to the first Audi TT it is more handsome as well. Even though it looks very much as the basic mark IV Golf there are some features that separates it from the common road dwelling Golf. A new front bumper, skirts and rear bumper have a classically discreet Volkswagen look. But perhaps the biggest giveaway are the two modest exhausts that release the magnificent VR6 growl. The R32 that I spotted didn't really represent the modesty of a Volkswagen. The blacked out lights, wide tires and low ride height gave it a really dominant presence. Completing the makeover is the black VW badge. Even though the transformation is quite substantial one can see it has been done with style and money. I cannot help but like it.

I'm glad that it still has the stock exhaust, classy tuning indeed.

As I've mentioned many times this is one of my favourite hot hatches. A sensible German hatchback that has ripped off its buttoned up white collar shirt and put on a pair of boxing gloves and said "Come on then, let's see what you've got".

A familiar shape but still more special than most realise.

PS: The more eagle eyed of you have probably noticed a small Oettinger badge on the grille. According to the Oettinger tuning company's website they don't tune the VR6 engine which means that the tuning must have been done to the underside of the car, maybe the suspension.

Volkswagen GTI Roadster Vision Gran Turismo

The beauty with the Vision Gran Turismo concept is that the manufacturers get absolutely free hands in creating something exceptional. Granted, so far the cars have been a track focused road cars and this one is no different on that point. But they all have the specific manufacturers unique touch.

Volkswagen GTI Roadster Vision Gran Turismo

This one is, I think, the most special so far. It is the Volkswagen GTI Roadster VGT. Already from the name you know it's not going to be like any from the former Vision Gran Turismo concepts. It is indeed without a roof. It sits extremely low down and has a low-cut windshield which i think makes it look like a saucer. In truth though, all the lines and crevices have an important job of keeping the four-wheel drive roadster glued to the road. Volkswagen have kept the red GTI stripe at the front and the headlights do look very much as the ones found on the current VW Golf, although a bit squashed.

An F1-styled steering-wheel with a switch for the windscreen wipers.

Volkswagen have had to work quite hard on this car since it actually has a designed and working interior unlike the other VGT cars. It would be quite idiotic to create a roadster and then leave the interior darkened in the game. And the interior needs to work as well since this car exists in real life.

As for what powers this car. I was delightfully surprised it hasn't got an economical 2.0 litre turbo, instead they have fitted it with the - dare i say - iconic VR6. This engine, I believe, was last seen in the Mk5 Golf R32. Anyhow, the 3.0 litre VR6 produces the same kind of power as the Mitsubishi VGT, 502 horsepower aided by two turbos. And as the Mitsubishi it darts around the track as a bee hopped up on sugar.

Volkswagen may be the only German car manufacturer that could create a serious track car which feels fun. It doesn't take itself too seriously. Which, in my books, makes it a proper GTI.

VW GTI Roadster VGT at Madrid street circuit.

I can imagine a poor rear visibility with that massive rear wing.

This glowing GTI "winglet" by the wheel is something I would like to see in future GTI's

Instead of a german GTI...?

The topic on hot hatches has been running hot (no pun intended) for the whole year so far. And it's going to get even hotter with a new hot hatch from France.

VW made the initials GTI famous with the Golf GTI in 1976. And eight years later the GTI badge got even more fame with the arrival of the Peugeot 205 GTi. Every car enthusiast with a budget had to have a go in a GTI because the biword for it was FUN. And now there are two new GTI's on the market. The VW Golf GTI mark VII and the Peugeot 208 GTi.

I'm more excited about the new 208 GTi because we know there's going to be a new GTI with a new Golf but it's always exciting when Peugeot makes a GTi even more so when the last one - the 207 - didn't have a GTi version. And since the one before that - the 206 GTi - didn't really stand up to the original 205 GTi. So what about the new one then? Firstly i have to say it looks great and kind of quirky. Which is just the right look for a hot french car. As for the engine. It has a 1.6 litre turbocharged engine developing 200 hp, which is just the right amount. It sure has gone a long way from the original 1.6 litre 105 hp naturally aspirated engine of the 205 GTi.

I sure hope this car has what it takes to take on the new hot VW Polo and it's other rivals, because I think it has the charm of an underdog.

I give you the Peugeot 208 GTi

Peugeot 208 GTi rear view

It looks like you're going to hit your left knee on the bottom of the steering wheel
every time you go for a gear change. I hope that's the case.

The GTi badge placed where it was on the original 205 GTi. Nice touch.

And the newest german GTI just for formalities

Future of motoring

I saw this car today and I wondered is it a good thing to buy one instead of any other (I hate using this term) green car.

Chevrolet Volt

Yes it's a Chevrolet Volt or Holden Volt or Opel Ampera or Vauxhall Ampera depending on in which part of the world you live in. It's a hybrid. But compared to any other hybrid the batteries aren't there just for extra power. The electric motor is the primary power plant and not the 1.4 litre petrol engine. That makes it much more different to any other hybrid cars. It has a competitive range of a normal petrol car of about 500 km. But that's that about the specs. Here are some problems. It doesn't ride very well, it looks wrong somehow and for a family saloon it costs considerably more than any other cars in this size-class.
The car is innovative I'll grant that and cars like this will get better in time. But if you want a car that is economical why not buy a VW Polo BlueGT or any Ford Focus Ecoboost. I guess you buy this car not for its numbers - all though they are impressive - but for what it represents in the development of eco cars. Is this the first useable semi-electric car for today’s world?

Opel Ampera

Here are some cars that a "green" driver should consider. Cars that do exactly the same job as the Volt/Ampera but are far less expensive. And i mean, far less expensive.

VW Polo BlueGT

Ford Focus 1.0 EcoBoost

Volvo C30 DRIVe (or the entire DRIVe range)