The best hot hatches of the 2000s

The hatch had started to get a bit big and frumpy in the latter part of the 20th century. Some hot hatches had seemed to lose basically all their fun and were just slightly faster versions of small hatches. But then in the early part of the 21st century, that began to change. Renault completed its takeover from Peugeot as the French hot hatch builder of repute, Volkswagen turned the Golf GTI into a hot hatch again with the Mk5 Golf GTI and Alfa Romeo made a crazy hot hatch with a Busso V6 engine.

Then there were cars like the iconic first generation Ford Focus RS, which turned the dial up to 11 on how a hot hatch should be designed. The Focus RS featured brilliant handling, a forceful engine and a Quaife limited slip diff to keep it all in check. Then the Honda Civic Type R meant that the Japanese brands were not left out. There’s even a bonkers Mini hot hatch with no back seats included.

What is your favourite hot hatch of the 2000s?

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:47 Honda Civic Type R
02:08 Ford Focus RS
03:20 Alfa Romeo 147 GTA
04:39 Renault Clio 182 Trophy
06:03 Volkswagen Golf Mk5
07:06 Mini Cooper S Works GP
08:40 Outro

Official Website 👉 http://www.goodwood.com/grr/
Facebook 👉   / goodwoodrrc  
Instagram 👉   / goodwoodrrc  
Twitter 👉   / goodwoodrrc  

SUBSCRIBE for more racing cars, supercars, new car reviews, historic motorsport and Goodwood event coverage 👉 http://bit.ly/GoodwoodTV

Buy your Goodwood Event tickets 👉 http://bit.ly/GWBuyTickets