Tag Archives: hot hatch

We test the performance version of the Alfa Romeo Junior Elettrica – on track and UK roads for the first time… At the end of last year, I spent an entertaining week with the entry-level Alfa Romeo Junior – the first electric car from the iconic Italian brand. I concluded: …

We get behind the wheel of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N – the first proper hot hatch of the EV age Once in a while a car comes along that doesn’t just stand out from the crowd, it sets a new benchmark. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is one of …

We take the Mercedes-AMG A45 S – the most powerful hot hatch on the market – for a spin… It could be argued that the concept of the ‘hot hatch’ – in the traditional sense – is now in its dying days. After all, we live in an era where …

Is the Abarth 500e a proper electric pocket rocket? We get behind the wheel to find out… If you’ve ever driven or heard one of the Abarth-tuned Fiat 500s over the years, you’ll know that they are cars that bombard the senses. Not only do they look suitably sporty, they …

Alpine has unveiled its first ‘lifestyle’ model – the concept for the much-anticipated A290. The exciting new car made its debut at an historic hangar in Bristol – birthplace of Concorde, the Anglo-French supersonic airliner. Alpine’s Formula one drivers, Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, who are helping to develop the …

We put the latest incarnation of Honda’s hot hatch through its paces – on the road and on track… There are a handful of new cars worthy of a genuine fanbase, and the Honda Civic Type R is one of them. With a pedigree stretching back to 1997, it’s become …

We drive the Volkswagen ID.3’s stylish Spanish cousin, named after the cool El Born district of Barcelona… I have to be honest, this is a painful article for me to write because I really like the Cupra Born – I just don’t think I could live with it. Let’s start …

Honda’s next-generation Civic Type R has set a new lap record for a front-wheel drive car at the iconic Suzuka Circuit in Japan. The hot hatch lapped the 5.8km track in 2 minutes 23.120 seconds, 0.873 seconds faster than its predecessor, the stripped back 2021 Honda Civic Type R Limited …

Is this rally-bred pocket rocket as good as everyone says it is? I don’t know about you, but I’m always a bit suspicious of a new car when it’s universally acclaimed and wins major awards before it’s even hit the roads. The Toyota GR Yaris is one such vehicle, but …

When Ford launched the fourth generation of its best-selling Focus in 2018 it was immediately clear that this was a superbly engineered package with huge potential. Now, the sporty ST version is proof positive that the Focus is back in the hot hatch game, ready to do battle with the …