Hot hatch heroes

GTI, ST, Type R, GR: just some of the hallowed names that crop up in any discussion about hot hatch greats of the modern era, and deservedly so. But there’s one oft-overlooked contender that could hav

Picture Ford’s Group A homologation specials from the 1980s and it’s no wonder the Sierra RS Cosworth springs to mind, especially given the RS500’s dominance in Touring Car racing. The Escort Mk3 gets

Perhaps the defining automotive rivalry of the 21st century came in 2013 with the arrival of a ‘Holy Trinity’ of hybrid hypercars – the Ferrari LaFerrari, McLaren P1 and Porsche 918 Spyder – when thre

R eports of the manual gearbox’s death are greatly exaggerated. Or at least they appear to be. While Mini no longer sells a manual and the retirement of attainable heroes such as the Ford Fiesta and F

Price new: £32,140 Price used: From £14,000 Engine: 2.0-litre turbo petrol Gearbox: Seven-speed auto Power/torque: 296bhp/400Nm 0-60mph: 5.7 seconds Top speed: 155mph IF one hot hatch literally flies

FIAT GRANDE PANDA PRICE: £20,975–£23,975 The Panda was distinctly endangered for a while there (though you can still buy the old petrol one in Italy), but it’s been given a new lease of life with an e