Although it indeed wasn’t the first beautiful hatchback, the Volkswagen Tennis GTI popularised the latest breed and you can took it aside regarding the realms of your own homologation special. The fresh GTI began once the a great skunkworks opportunity, top for the a limited collection, then a full design design, and in the long run right-hand push towards British markets.
six litre motor taken from the new impending Audi 80GTE project. The initial model had been depending up to a Scirocco, and the model was given recognition in the 1975. Just 5000 were to end up being based initially, however, demand are so great they inserted the typical creation variety – for instance the today really-recognized golf ball gearknob, reddish stripe within grille and you may plaid furniture. To own 1982 the fresh motor turned into step one.8 litres, as MKII Golf away from 1983 situated upon the earlier auto that have a more impressive plus subtle bodyshell.
From 1986 a beneficial 16 valve version is offered today giving 137bhp – available with both about three and five doorways, that is perhaps the very best of early gorgeous Golfs actually in the event your Mk1 is far more rewarding today. Best value Should you want to work at you to definitely each and every day are an 8v MKII 5 home, but that’s and since it’s the minimum fashionable. Should your hatchback isn’t really vital (Regardless of if one does overcome the object of an attractive hatch) the newest Jetta GTi offers the exact same advantages having about three package feeling.
Vauxhall Astra GTE
Vauxhall’s first Astra GTE try a knock. Based on the MK1, it had been among the most recent of one’s very first cadre out of hot hatches. While the MK2 off 1984 centered about it – starting with a 1.8 litre 115bhp engine, when you look at the 2987 they expanded to help you a 2.0 130bhp product distributed to the brand new Cavalier SRi130 -and two decades later an excellent 150bhp 16 device design was provided. Every had been ended up selling just for the around three doorway means, though Belmont SRi and you may LXi estate patterns considering so much more bootspace having an identical system while the first version.
The fresh new 16v form of the fresh new yellow-best ended up being produced by Cosworth, giving a sexy hatchback about organization some 36 months ahead of your own rally-derived Companion Cosworth model. Having 60 in just 7 moments, absolutely nothing that it side of a great Maestro Turbo will keep rate within the a straight line. When finished in white that have light rims and you may digital dashboard, pair autos spoke of mid-eighties more strongly compared to Astra GTE MK2, and beliefs – whilst not as much as the Ford equivalent – provides sprang over the last a decade thus.
Best value of GTEs now ‘s the early 1.8, regardless if having 115bhp in a little shell will still be powerful enough in order to prompt particular humorous grins. And even though this is the cost effective additionally, it is the most tractable – the fresh new 16v patterns in particular got extreme energy into body and provided terrible traction and you can traction on the dry help alone the fresh moist.
Peugeot 205 GTi
Truly the only sexy hatch that driving push noticed you will definitely wrest the newest crown about Golf throughout the eighties is new Peugeot 205 GTi. It actually was effortlessly a petrol injected types of brand new XS – in itself a good three-doorway style of the 5-home GT. The earliest trucks had good 104bhp step 1.6 litre form of the fresh new XU motor, current to possess 1987 so you can 115bhp. 1986 perform see the launch of the new 130bhp 1.9GTi, using the same engine as the huge 309GTi but in the brand new 205’s compact shell. This is the auto that really lighted new blue contact papers to have Peugeot; a tiny, little vehicle with Peugeot’s classification-leading approaching services, twinned which have a wholesome level of power. Unsurprisingly teenage boys flocked to your car, just as unsurprisingly multiple was indeed written from, and – this doesn’t become a surprise – insurance costs experienced the fresh new roof. The newest 1.6 is deserted to own 1992 amid emissions factors, since the step 1.9 try suitable having a beneficial catalytic converter. Electricity fell right down to 120bhp, it was adequate to escort in Overland Park contain the vehicles when you look at the manufacturing to own a few far more many years.