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Hot hatches

Hot Hatch of the Year 2024: Honda Civic Type R
Honda Civic Type R - Hot Hatch of the Year 2024

Hot Hatch of the Year 2024: Honda Civic Type R

The Honda Civic Type R is the 2024 Auto Express Hot Hatch of the Year, with the Ford Focus ST Track Pack and Mercedes-AMG A 45 S commended
Awards
3 Jul 2024
Suzuki Swift Sport, Ignis, Swace and Jimny van all axed to clear way for EVs
Suzuki Swift Sport ZC33S - front cornering

Suzuki Swift Sport, Ignis, Swace and Jimny van all axed to clear way for EVs

Suzuki plans to launch its first electric car in 2025, with more due to arrive by 2030
News
1 Jul 2024
New Volkswagen Golf R gets more power to help slay its hot hatch rivals
Volkswagen Golf R - front static

New Volkswagen Golf R gets more power to help slay its hot hatch rivals

The updated Volkswagen Golf R is here, with more power and an all-new Black Edition trim
News
25 Jun 2024
First look: new Audi RS 3 facelift does Nurburgring hot lap before August reveal
Audi RS 3 facelift disguised 2024

First look: new Audi RS 3 facelift does Nurburgring hot lap before August reveal

Audi’s updated hyper hatchback and saloon still features a 395bhp five-cylinder engine, and goes on sale at the end of August
News
21 Jun 2024
New Volkswagen Golf GTI gets cheaper, plug-in hybrid Golf GTE gets 82-mile electric range
New Volkswagen Golf GTI front 3/4

New Volkswagen Golf GTI gets cheaper, plug-in hybrid Golf GTE gets 82-mile electric range

The facelifted Golf GTI goes on sale on 20 June, while plug-in hybrid versions of VW’s family hatchback are available from 27 June
News
18 Jun 2024
New 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport revealed on eve of 50th anniversary
Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport - front

New 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport revealed on eve of 50th anniversary

Volkswagen’s hottest front-wheel drive Golf gets an update, but no more power
News
31 May 2024
New 237bhp Lancia Ypsilon HF hot hatch ready to hunt down MINI JCW
Lancia Ypsilon HF - front

New 237bhp Lancia Ypsilon HF hot hatch ready to hunt down MINI JCW

The all-electric hot hatch lands in Europe in May 2025, but there’s no word yet on a UK launch
News
28 May 2024
New Cupra Born VZ 2024 review: a great stride for the EV hot hatch genre
New Cupra Born VZ - front

New Cupra Born VZ 2024 review: a great stride for the EV hot hatch genre

The Cupra Born VZ delivers a driving experience that was wholly unexpected given the shortcomings of other cars using the same tech.
Road tests
17 May 2024
New 416bhp BYD Seal X hot hatch targets MG4 XPower and Cupra Born
BYD Seal X

New 416bhp BYD Seal X hot hatch targets MG4 XPower and Cupra Born

The all-electric family hatchback produces between 215 and 416bhp, and is likely to make it to the UK
News
13 May 2024
New Cupra Leon hatchback and Estate arrives with 328bhp and Drift mode
Cupra Leon facelift - front

New Cupra Leon hatchback and Estate arrives with 328bhp and Drift mode

Also part of the mid-life refresh are a revised infotainment system and new plug-in hybrid with 62-mile EV range
News
30 Apr 2024
BYD Ocean-M could be a Golf GTI-rivalling EV hot hatchback
BYD Ocean-M on display at Beijing Motor Show - front static

BYD Ocean-M could be a Golf GTI-rivalling EV hot hatchback

Chinese maker looks to fill every available niche, revealing a hot electric hatchback at the Beijing Motor Show
News
26 Apr 2024
New Cupra Leon hatchback and estate reveal set for 29 April
Cupra Leon Teaser

New Cupra Leon hatchback and estate reveal set for 29 April

The wraps will come off the high-performance Cupra Leon alongside an updated Formentor next week
News
23 Apr 2024
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New Ford Focus ST Edition is Ford’s “most complete” hot hatch ever
2024 Ford Focus ST Edition - front tracking

New Ford Focus ST Edition is Ford’s “most complete” hot hatch ever

Ford is making big claims about its latest fast family car, which adds exclusive equipment but no more power
News
10 Apr 2024
MG4 EV XPower vs Cupra Leon 2024 twin test: can electric beat petrol?
MG4 Xpower and Cupra Leon - front tracking

MG4 EV XPower vs Cupra Leon 2024 twin test: can electric beat petrol?

Is an electric hot hatch a match for a petrol one?
Car group tests
6 Apr 2024
Best cheap hot hatchbacks
Best cheap hot hatches - four way header image

Best cheap hot hatchbacks

Need an affordable car which delivers on both power and practicality? These cheap hot hatches fit the bill
Best cars & vans
2 Apr 2024
New Alpine A290 electric hot hatch will be revealed at 24 Hours of Le Mans 2024
Alpine A290 testing - front

New Alpine A290 electric hot hatch will be revealed at 24 Hours of Le Mans 2024

Alpine is broadening its range with a new Renault 5-based model
News
2 Apr 2024
Coming in hot! First look inside new Abarth 600e smokin’ hot electric SUV
Abarth 600e - front

Coming in hot! First look inside new Abarth 600e smokin’ hot electric SUV

The 600e will be Abarth’s most powerful car ever, and benefit from traditional hot hatch technology
News
31 Mar 2024
Fiery hot Genesis GV60 Magma Concept launches new name in EV performance
Genesis GV60 Magma Concept - front reveal

Fiery hot Genesis GV60 Magma Concept launches new name in EV performance

The GV60 Magma Concept will spawn a hot production car that will come to the UK
News
26 Mar 2024
New Mercedes-AMG A45 S Limited Edition goes green, and yellow
Mercedes-AMG A45 S Limited Edition - front quarter

New Mercedes-AMG A45 S Limited Edition goes green, and yellow

AMG’s distinctive Green Hell Magno paintwork has been applied to an A45 S with some yellow highlights alongside
News
13 Feb 2024
Limited edition Abarth 695 75° Anniversario celebrates outlandish performance brand’s birthday
 Abarth 695 75° Anniversario - front tracking

Limited edition Abarth 695 75° Anniversario celebrates outlandish performance brand’s birthday

A celebration of Abarth’s 75th anniversary and its 1.4-litre T-Jet engine, just 1,368 examples of limited-run hot hatch will be made
News
12 Feb 2024
New Volkswagen Golf R facelift: four-wheel-drive hot hatch looks cool in the snow
Volkswagen Golf R facelift - front

New Volkswagen Golf R facelift: four-wheel-drive hot hatch looks cool in the snow

The hottest Golf has been spotted trying to cool off
News
29 Jan 2024
New Volkswagen Golf GTI facelift is hotter than ever with 261bhp
Volkswagen Golf GTI facelift - front studio

New Volkswagen Golf GTI facelift is hotter than ever with 261bhp

In a bid to trump rivals in the hot hatch market, the Volkswagen Golf GTI has been given more power to go with its new look
News
23 Jan 2024
New Hyundai Ioniq 5 N NPX1 concept shows hot hatch’s true potential
 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N NPX1 concept - front

New Hyundai Ioniq 5 N NPX1 concept shows hot hatch’s true potential

The NPX1 previews a selection of N Performance Parts that’ll be offered on Hyundai’s EV hot hatch
News
12 Jan 2024
Deal of the Day: spice up your life with an Abarth 695 hot hatch for £169 per month
Abarth 695 Competizione - front cornering

Deal of the Day: spice up your life with an Abarth 695 hot hatch for £169 per month

Our Deal of the Day for 8 January is this fiery Italian hot hatch in top-flight Competizione trim
News
8 Jan 2024
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Honda Civic Type R gets more extreme with Mugen makeover
 Mugen Honda Civic Type R Group B

Honda Civic Type R gets more extreme with Mugen makeover

The tuning company from Japan has a rich history of tweaking Honda Civic Type Rs and is at it again
News
8 Jan 2024
Skoda Octavia vRS megatest: every model driven
Skoda Octavia vRS header

Skoda Octavia vRS megatest: every model driven

From the original in 1998 to today's Mk4, we hit the road in all four Skoda Octavia vRS models...
Features
30 Dec 2023
The Alpine A290 electric hot hatch is edging ever closer
Alpine A290 B concept - front

The Alpine A290 electric hot hatch is edging ever closer

The production version of the Alpine A290 has been confirmed for “mid-2024”, and will wear bespoke Michelin tyres
News
21 Dec 2023
New 2024 Audi RS 3 Saloon spied: Mercedes-AMG A 45 S rival is set to get a refresh
Audi RS 3 saloon (camouflaged) - front cornering

New 2024 Audi RS 3 Saloon spied: Mercedes-AMG A 45 S rival is set to get a refresh

Subtle changes are due for Audi’s hyper hatchback and saloon
News
21 Nov 2023
Mk8.5 Volkswagen Golf R let loose on the Nurburgring
Volkswagen Golf R hatchback Mk8.5 test car - front cornering

Mk8.5 Volkswagen Golf R let loose on the Nurburgring

VW’s hottest Golf hatchback is about to be updated with new tech and styling elements
News
14 Nov 2023
Hot all-electric Vauxhall Corsa GSe targets EV buyers who just wanna have fun
Vauxhall Corsa GSe exclusive image

Hot all-electric Vauxhall Corsa GSe targets EV buyers who just wanna have fun

The new Corsa GSe hatch will be first all-electric model in Vauxhall’s sub-brand
News
30 Oct 2023
Abarth 500e vs MINI Electric: 2023 twin test review
MINI Electric chasing Abarth 500e

Abarth 500e vs MINI Electric: 2023 twin test review

The Abarth 500e launches the Italian brand into the world of electric hot hatches – but is it more fun than a MINI Electric?
Car group tests
14 Oct 2023
The greatest hot hatchbacks of all time
Greatest hot hatchbacks - header image

The greatest hot hatchbacks of all time

What are the best hot hatchbacks ever? We’ve picked our top 10s from the 80s, 90s, 2000s and 2010s to settle the argument…
Best cars & vans
11 Oct 2023
MG EX4 concept car gets a BTCC examination
MG EX4 concept car - front action

MG EX4 concept car gets a BTCC examination

Does MG’s new EX4 Concept have what it takes to excite an experienced BTCC driver? We ask Daniel Rowbottom
Features
10 Oct 2023
Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk8.5 ready to ring the changes
2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI testing at the Nurburgring - front action

Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk8.5 ready to ring the changes

VW is hoping to claw back ground against hot hatch rivals with a new and improved Mk8.5 GTI
News
10 Oct 2023
New Skoda vRS hot hatch on the way: a VW ID.2 GTI for less?
Skoda baby vRS - exclusive image

New Skoda vRS hot hatch on the way: a VW ID.2 GTI for less?

A hot version of Skoda's upcoming small EV could wear the vRS badge, and our exclusive image previews how it could look
News
2 Oct 2023
Cupra Leon line up revised with new Design Edition trims
Cupra Leon 242bhp

Cupra Leon line up revised with new Design Edition trims

With the addition of new Design Edition models, Cupra’s hot hatch now starts from £30,455
News
13 Sep 2023
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