There are types of cars that make the heart beat faster than others. Supercars, luxury sedans, off-road vehicles. For many people, however, there is a type of car that most of all fuels the passion for cars. Hot Hatch, compact sports cars, "little bombs": by any name, this type of car thrills millions of fans around the world. Welcome to Auto For Dummies, the column that explains the car galaxy in a simple way. Here, however, we also deal with the "Glossary", explaining the most common terms of the automotive world, starting with the iconic and beloved Hot Hatch. Are you ready? Turn the key, you erase!
Let's start with the basics: what is a Hatchback, or Hatch
To understand what a Hot Hatch is, we need to start from the term from which this name originated in England but now known by motor enthusiasts all over the world: Hatchback. For those who are a regular at English-speaking forums or English-language reviews on YouTube it will be a familiar word, similar to Arabic for others. Its meaning, however, is really simple.
In English, in fact, the term Hatch exists both in the form of a verb, with the meaning of unfolding, to open up, and in the form of a noun, with the meaning of hatch, hatch. Hatch is in fact a term derived from boating, which is used to define the large openings that allow access to the various rooms. Much more than a simple door, but an opening that takes up the entire perimeter of the hull, or in any case the room in which it is mounted.
And from here, the English who are always very imaginative with names have adapted the "hatch" to the world of cars. In automotive jargonin fact, Hatch is not a hatch, but a hatch the tailgate of hatchback cars. So let's talk about those cars called in Italy "5 doors" or "two volumes", the rear of which can be fully opened to access the luggage compartment. From the name of their tailgate, Hatch, the expression "Hatchback“, Which can be translated into Italian literally with "Rear hatch car". In a figurative sense, however, it represents above all compact cars with 3 or 5 doors, known in English-speaking countries just like Hatchback.
When was the term Hot Hatch born?
We then understood what Hatchbacks are: compact cars, traditionally of Segment B or C. Machines like FIAT Punto, Renault Clio, MINI, FIAT 500 or the largest Volkswagen Golf, Alfa Romeo Giulietta, Ford Focus and so on. For decades this type of car has been a simple city or family car, with no big sporting pretensions. The first very compact sports cars were the first MINI Cooper and the FIAT 500 Abarths in the 60s. However, both cannot be considered Hatchack, as neither of them has a tailgate. After them, however, the first ones began to be born Hot hatch. With Hot we therefore mean “hot” 2-volume cars, therefore with a lot of power and capable of warming the hearts of enthusiasts.
To see the first sports cars equipped with a tailgate we have to wait for the 1976, with the birth of what is considered the first successful Hot Hatch: Volkswagen Golf GTI. In reality, the first Hot Hatch prize goes to the 1100 Simca 1972Ti. While the Renault 5 Alpine, launched in the same months of 1976, plays with the Golf GTI over the months. popular the Hot Hatch segment.
From her they were born then other rivals, smaller like the Ford Fiesta XR2i, more powerful, like the Peugeot 205 GTI, even rear-wheel drive like the unforgettable Talbot Sunbeam Lotus. The term "Hot Hatchback", however, only began to be seen in the English specialized press from 1983, with the already thriving market of alternatives. In 1984 it was shortened to "Hot Hatch", and in 1985 it was completely cleared of customs in common and formal use, after the appearance on the pages of the Times.
What Makes a Car a Hot Hatch?
We have therefore already seen some famous Hot Hatches from the dawn of this incredible segment. A type of car that does not make exorbitant powers and noble prices its strong point. The real added value of a Hot Hatch is the driving fun. In England, the home of choice for this type of car, they say that on country roads, le celebri B-Roads, there aren't many more fun cars than a well-made Hot Hatch.
But what makes a Hot Hatchback “Hot”? Not all 2-volume cars with so much power can be called that. There are some fondamentali requisiti that there must be for the car under review to be considered a Hot Hatch. First of all, a sporty compact must be compact.
There are in fact cars with a very large and sporty tailgate, such as for example Porsche 944 and 928, or the latest Audi A5, Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake, or even Ferrari GT4Lusso or Porsche Panamera. These are to all intents and purposes equipped with a tailgate, so in a sense they can be considered Hatchback. In terms of power, cost and size, however, they are not real Hatchbacks, but rather considered Coupé or sedan-coupé. Their sporty versions, therefore, cannot be called Hot Hatch, even though they are undoubtedly Hot.
The vademecum of a good sporty compact
A Hot Hatch so I usually am models with a maximum length of 4,50 meters, with exceptions that exceed this limit such as Honda Civic Type R. Hot Hatches then usually are derived from more modest models, playing the role of the “sports versions” of a model. Abarth 500, for example, is the sporty version of FIAT 500, or Ford Fiesta and Focus ST are the vitaminized versions of the respective “normal” Fiesta and Focus.
Furthermore, Hot Hatchbacks have powerful but not overwhelming engines. There are very few exceptions of compact sports cars equipped with 5 or 6 cylinder engines: usually, Hot Hatches rely on good old 3 or 4 cylinder engines, now almost all equipped with turbochargers. The performances are therefore not exaggerated. The traction is usually front, like the cars from which they derive. There are Hot Hatches with all-wheel drive, and some with rear-wheel drive: the real sporty compact, however, remains front-wheel drive, the quietest of settings, but capable of giving a lot of fun if well done.
In recent years, the Hot Hatches were born even "hotter" versions, often equipped with four-wheel drive e powers well over 350 hp. Cars such as Ford Focus RS, Audi RS3 or similar are only part of the Hot Hatch family by body type. For them, capable of accelerations frighteningly close to 4 seconds in the 0-100 km / h, another term has been coined: "Hyper Hatch“, The hyper-sporty compact.
Returning to our beloved "little bombs", many Hot Hatches are slower than regular turbodiesel family sedans. An example? Suzuki Swift Sport or Volkswagen Up! GTI, both with less than 130 hp and a 0-100 over 8 seconds, but appreciated by many petrolheads. Why? Because the real value of the Hot Hatch does not lie in pure performance, albeit important, nor in incredible powers: lies in agility and driving pleasure.
A sporty compact with all the trimmings is a car that is able to do without too many compromises the same things that the starting compacts do, but giving a 32-tooth smile at every turn. Precise steering, possibly manual gearboxes, rigid frames and structures that maybe even make the driver play a little while cornering, including harmless hand brakes and oversteer in release.
In fact, some of the best hot hatches ever are not the most luxurious of their time, nor the most powerful, or even the most expensive. The real "magic" of a Hot Hatchback is the ability to have an engine-gearbox-steering-frame-size union that makes the car fun for every occasion.. Going shopping, traveling, going to work or college, taking the kids to school, or looking for a mountain pass.
This "penta-angle”Equates expensive and powerful models with small subcompacts with a hundred horsepower, such as BMW M140 F20 e FIAT Panda 100 HP. Two models with 240 HP of difference, with the Bavarian at the limit for power and rear-wheel drive to be considered a Hot Hatch, while the Pandino was for years the cheapest sports car on the market.
Two cars that cannot be more different, but which are considered by the international press to be two of the best hot hatches of recent years. Power, traction, or the presence or absence of sophisticated and hyper-technological solutions does not matter. The compact sports car of your dreams is the one that always keeps you entertained, in every situation.
Most Popular Hot Hatches Ever
So what are the best Hot Hatches? From next week we will start a journey through the history of compact sports cars, with 5 “highlights” for each decade. Hot Hatches are among the most popular cars in the world, the only ones capable of uniting everyone, young and old, rich and not so rich, newbies and drivers with decades of experience, under one roof. A world that deserves to be known by those who, as I hope many of you, are taking their first steps towards passion for the car. But it is also a way to revive the passion in those who have been a true enthusiast for all their life, and are excited just to see legendary and immortal cars like the ones we will see in the coming weeks.
See you then at the next episode of Auto For Dummies, where we will know the first Hot Hatch ever, starting from Years' 70. What's your favorite Hot Hatch? Let us know in the comments! We see you every Friday, always here on technologicfans. Hi!
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