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A blue 2019 Volkswagen Golf R next to a gray 2021 Mazda3 Turbo next to a blue 2020 Subaru WRX
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Does the 2021 Mazda3 Turbo Speed Past the Volkswagen Golf R?

While a Mazdaspeed version isn’t happening, Mazda is still giving the 2021 Mazda3 a bit of zoom-zoom. Specifically, in the form of a new turbocharged powertrain. However, the Mazda3 Turbo’s luxury aspirations put it in competition with another turbocharged fast hatchback: the Volkswagen Golf R. But which one is really faster? That’s what YouTube team …
by Matthew Skwarczek
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A red 2021 Toyota GR Yaris slides on a track
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Let’s Hope the Corolla Hot Hatch Is as Cool as the Toyota GR Yaris

Here in the US, the Yaris hatchback serves—or rather, served—as Toyota’s cheapest car. But its strengths don’t include performance. So Gazoo Racing, the Japanese automaker’s performance division, stepped in to correct that. In doing so, it created the Toyota GR Yaris, an all-wheel-drive throwback to the brand’s rally days. It’s not coming to the US—but …
by Matthew Skwarczek
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The red Sbarro Super Eight by a green hedge
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There’s a Swiss Ferrari 308 Hot Hatch by Sbarro up for Sale

While its newest models come with quite a few restrictions, many older Ferraris find themselves being used for all sorts of projects. Some builds, like Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera’s Aero 3, give the donor Ferrari a full re-skin. Others, though, focus on transplanting the Italian powertrain into more mundane cars. And one of these builds, the …
by Matthew Skwarczek
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A photo of the Mercedes-AMG A 45 S utilizing its drift mode on track.
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Drift Mode Is a Pointless Hot Hatch Feature We Actually Love

The recent unveiling of the 2022 Volkswagen Golf R brought along the announcement of a unique new feature. The Golf R now features a new drift mode, which in theory, should allow its owners to do wonderful skids on the track. The VW isn’t even the only hot hatchback to offer it. So far, only …
by Gabriel Vega
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A silver 2002 Renault Sport Clio V6 drives down the road
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The Renault Sport Clio V6 Is a Mid-Engine Hatchback Supercar

For performance with daily practicality, the usual answer is a hot hatch. And some of the best modern ones, like the Honda Civic Type R, can even embarrass classic supercars. But some hatches went beyond ‘hot’ and went straight to ‘super’ thanks to some drastic changes. And YouTube team The Straight Pipes recently spent time …
by Matthew Skwarczek
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An orange 2014 Ford Fiesta ST parked on desert asphalt
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A Used Ford Fiesta ST Is a Budget Pocket Rocket

It’s not just sedans that Ford’s cut from its US lineup, but hot hatches too. Up until fairly recently, you could walk into a Blue Oval dealership and take your pick from 3 different models. There was the all-wheel-drive rally-inspired Focus RS, as well as the more ‘traditional hot hatch’-style FWD Focus ST. And then …
by Matthew Skwarczek
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Trends

The 2021 Toyota Corolla Might Surprise You

The Toyota Corolla is a benchmark Toyota car. Now, we have the 2021 Toyota Corolla presenting with some new trims, or ‘grades,’ as the Toyota press videos call them. There is an all-new special edition called the Apex, as well as the spunky hot hatch Corolla. In fact, with a reputation for being a basic …
by Jordan Almond
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A gray 2020 Honda Civic Type R parked on the street by some shops
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The 2020 Honda Civic Type R Lives up To the Hype

The Integra Type R never wore a Honda badge in the US. But along with Fast and Furious, it helped create a wave of JDM love that’s never really gone away. We could only watch and envy the markets which received the early Civic Type R models. However, eventually, as with the Nissan GT-R, Honda’s …
by Matthew Skwarczek
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The side view of a gray 2020 Honda Civic Type R on a city street
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The 3 Things That Make the 2020 Honda Civic Type R Feel Special

That the Ferrari F40-beating 2021 limited-edition Honda Civic Type R sold out in minutes should be proof enough of the hot hatch’s credentials. But if you missed out, the 2020 Civic Type R is by no means a consolation prize. And it’s not a pretender to the Integra Type R’s name, nor is it hanging …
by Matthew Skwarczek
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A blue 2016 Ford Focus RS on a tree-lined misty road
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Does the Ford Focus RS Deserve the Hype?

With the death of the Fusion, Ford only has one passenger car remaining that isn’t a crossover or supercar: the Mustang. And while the pony car offers impressive speed, the automaker used to offer a wider performance selection. Only a few short years ago, Ford offered several hot hatches, like the Fiesta ST and Focus …
by Matthew Skwarczek
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A blue 1983 Honda City Turbo II with a yellow unfolded Honda Motocompo scooter on a brick driveway
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Everyone’s Going Gaga Over This ’80s Honda Scooter

Classic styles aren’t limited to the 60s and 70s anymore, both for cars and motorcycles. As the rise of Radwood and the continuation of Hot Import Nights shows, the 80s and 90s are in, man. JDM vehicles are especially popular, and not just performance stars like the Skyline GT-R. Obscure models like the Autozam AZ-1 …
by Matthew Skwarczek
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The rear view of the blue 2004 Volkswagen Golf R32 that sold for $62,000 on Bring a Trailer
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Was This 2004 Volkswagen Golf R32 Really Worth $62,000?

To many enthusiasts, ‘R32’ refers to Nissan Skyline GTRs. But it’s also the name of a Volkswagen: the Golf R32. Previewed by the Beetle RSi, the Volkswagen Golf R32 was a step up in performance from the GTI hot hatch. But does that justify spending $62,000 on a used one? 2004 Volkswagen Golf R32: background, …
by Matthew Skwarczek
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A red 2021 Euro-spec Volkswagen Golf GTI
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Is the 2022 Volkswagen GTI Worth Waiting For?

Even among the high-power hot hatches, the Volkswagen Golf GTI is still a segment benchmark. Which makes sense, given that it did establish it in the 80s. And it’s so popular in the US that although we’re not getting the next-gen Golf, the GTI and Golf R are coming here. But is the 2022 Volkswagen …
by Matthew Skwarczek
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2020 Hyundai Veloster N speeding on pavement
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The 2021 Hyundai Veloster N Has More Standard Performance

It’s not just the Genesis brand and the Telluride that are fueling Hyundai’s rise. The Korean automaker’s hot hatch, the Veloster N, can compete with segment leaders like the Volkswagen GTI. But to keep up with models like the Honda Civic Type R, it still needs a bit more performance. Luckily, for 2021, Hyundai is …
by Matthew Skwarczek
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