Latest news with #hot hatch
Auto Express
08-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Car Deal of the Day: Hot Volkswagen Golf GTI for a cool £287 a month
Classic GTI styling 261bhp; 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds Just £286.38 a month Fifty years old and the Volkswagen Golf GTI shows no signs of retiring. The definitive hot hatchback reaches its half-century this year, and to celebrate Volkswagen has created a special GTI Edition 50 model. It's unsurprisingly powerful and loaded with goodies, but what if you want the classic GTI package on a shoestring? Luckily, you can do just that. Through the Auto Express Find a Car service, we found First Vehicle Leasing is offering the standard car for just £286.38 a month – we can't remember a time when it's been so cheap. Advertisement - Article continues below It's a two-year deal and requires a £3,786.55 initial payment to get things moving. Mileage is capped at 5,000 miles a year, but bumping this up to 8,000 a year costs just £16.68 a month. For this kind of money this is the standard GTI, but that's no bad thing. You get all of the usual GTI refinements including the red-trimmed grille, bodykit, 18-inch diamond-cut alloys, plus, of course, 'Jacara' check cloth seats. Under the bonnet lies a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine that pushes out a meaty 261bhp. The GTI has become progressively faster over the years, and this latest one dashes from 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds. It's a sharp and enjoyable car to drive, while also being hugely comfortable, plush and practical – just how a Golf GTI should be. The Car Deal of the Day selections we make are taken from our own Auto Express Find A Car deals service, which includes the best current offers from car dealers and leasing companies around the UK. Terms and conditions apply, while prices and offers are subject to change and limited availability. If this deal expires, you can find more top Volkswagen Golf GTI leasing offers from leading providers on our Volkswagen Golf GTI page. Check out the Volkswagen Golf GTI deal or take a look at our previous Car Deal of the Day selection here… Check out the Volkswagen Golf GTI deal or take a look at our previous Car Deal of the Day selection here… Find a car with the experts Car Deal of the Day: 10k miles a year in Cupra's Terramar for under £300 a month Car Deal of the Day: 10k miles a year in Cupra's Terramar for under £300 a month The Cupra Terramar is an appealing family SUV that looks stylish but offers plenty of practicality. It's our Deal of the Day for July 5 New Volvo XC60 2025 facelift review: big-selling SUV gets a new lease of life New Volvo XC60 2025 facelift review: big-selling SUV gets a new lease of life This refreshed Swedish SUV focuses on familiar areas of strength to take on BMW and Audi Car Deal of the Day: MG ZS gives a big SUV feel for a miniscule £194 a month Car Deal of the Day: MG ZS gives a big SUV feel for a miniscule £194 a month The MG ZS is an easy car to like and live with. It's our Deal of the Day for 3 July
The Sun
03-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Hugely iconic hatchback set to return next year – three decades after it was discontinued
A MOTOR beloved by petrolheads is making a triumphant return next year, 30 years after it was discontinued. The iconic Lancia Delta HF Integrale has been confirmed for a surprise comeback by the Italian brand, announced alongside the launch of the Ypsilon Rally6 HF Racing. 5 5 5 The Delta is hailed as an icon, celebrated for its rally dominance, striking design and seamless fusion of race-ready performance with everyday road appeal. In its heyday, the Delta was a true hot hatch and today it's a sought-after collector's item, often showcased at car events like the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The model's return - decades after the brand's period of decline - follows the launch of the new Ypsilon last year. Lancia have also confirmed the return of the Gamma, a luxury sedan and coupe built from 1976 to 1984. A high-performance Ypsilon HF - which stands for 'High Fidelity' - was also released last year, featuring a 278bhp electric powertrain shared with its Stellantis siblings, including the Peugeot e-208 GTi, Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce and Abarth 600e. Built on Stellantis's e-CMP platform, it is expected to share underpinnings with the Vauxhall Mokka. To that end, it's highly likely that the new Delta HF Integrale will be an electric set up, although Autocar believes the return of a combustion-engined Delta HF Integrale isn't completely off the table. The original Delta, launched in 1979, started out as a humble family hatchback and the HF and turbocharged HF 4WD didn't arrive until 1983 and 1986 respectively. The Integrale name was later applied to the road car in 1987 when it became a rallying beast. By 1993, demand had pushed Integrale production to nearly 45,000 but it was discontinued in 1994 - although many 'new' hot Deltas have been created since. A brief history of hot hatchbacks Lancia, after years in the doldrums, is also back in rallying with the Ypsilon Rally4 car and the Ypsilon HF Racing, homologated for the entry Rally6. Despite the hype, the rebirth of Lancia isn't going to plan with sales of the new Ypsilon down 72% in May to just 5,627 cars. Stellantis, in general, is facing a difficult period and recently appointed Antonio Filosa as CEO to finally replace Carlos Tavares. This adds more pressure on the upcoming Delta Integrale, with expectations WHEN IT RAINS This week it was also reported that Stellantis may have to shut down some of its factories due to the risk of hefty European Union fines for not complying with CO2 emission targets, the chief of the Franco-Italian automaker for Europe said on Tuesday. The automaker industry has successfully lobbied for more time to comply, as fines will be based on 2025-2027 emissions rather than just in 2025. Stellantis' Europe chief Jean-Philippe Imparato slammed the targets, saying they were still unreachable for automakers, Automotive News reports. He then exposed his company to fines of up to 2.5 billion euros within "two-three years." review the situation.
Auto Car
01-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Car
New Lancia Delta HF Integrale confirmed for 2026
Lancia will launch a new Delta HF Integrale next year, more than 30 years since production of the legendary hot hatch ended. As before, the Integrale name will adorn the Italian car maker's top performance models, starting from 2026. Alongside the Delta, the new DS No8-twinned Gamma flagship, also due next year, will feature the logo in its most powerful form. The news was confirmed as part of the launch of the Ypsilon Rally6 HF Racing on Tuesday, the second new rally car launched by Lancia since it returned to the motorsport with the Ypsilon Rally4 HF Racing last October. In rally spec, the Ypsilon gets up to 209bhp from a 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol engine, which is paired with a five-speed manual gearbox. It also gets a limited-slip differential. However, the road-going Ypsilon HF, launched last year, is powered by the same 278bhp, 254lb ft electric powertrain as the Peugeot e-208 GTi, Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce and Abarth 600e - which all use the Stellantis's e-CMP platform. This points to the Delta - expected to be twinned with the Vauxhall Mokka – receiving the same treatment for the HF Integrale range-topper. That electric set up includes a mechanical limited-slip diff, hydraulic bump stops and a rear anti-roll bar. The steering is also said to have been tuned for more direct responses. The return of a combustion-engined Delta HF Integrale isn't completely off the table, however, given that Peugeot boss Alain Favey has told Autocar that any decision on a new ICE Peugeot GTi model wasn't ruled out. Lancia launched the original Delta in 1979 as a humble family hatchback, with the more potent HF and turbocharged HF 4WD not arriving until 1983 and 1986. The now famous Integrale name was applied to the road car in 1987, when the Italian brand decided to take the Delta rallying. This started with the left-hand-drive-only 182bhp HF Integrale 8v, before, in 1989, the more powerful 197bhp HF Integrale 16v arrived - which could also be had in right-hand drive. As per WRC rules, 5000 homologated road cars had to be built each year to comply with regulations, but by 1993, demand had pushed Integrale production to nearly 45,000. Since it went out of production in 1994, many 'new' hot Deltas have been created. This includes the £270,000, 300bhp Futurista, a reinterpretation of the Delta Integrale from coachbuilder Automobili Amos, and the Grassi 044S, a 640bhp tribute to the Delta S4 from Grassi Scuderia Milanese.
Daily Mail
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
The classic Mini turned into a £75,000 hot hatch - and the first model built has been sold to... a model
The classic Mini has been turned into a luxury-grade hot hatch with a staggering price tag - and the first hand-built example has already been delivered to an extremely well-known face... and body. Car designer Ian Callum - the man who's penned some of the greatest modern-era British models, including the Aston Martin DB9 and Vanquish, Jaguar XJ and F-Type, and Ford's RS200 and Escort Cosworth - has teamed up with renowned coachbuilder Wood & Pickett to produce a limited run of custom-made Minis. The Wood & Pickett Mini by Callum Mini takes the last of the run of original Minis - produced up to 2021, before BMW launched the new, not-so-mini Mini - and has turned it into a modern-era performance car crammed with upgrades and tech. The engine and chassis have been completely overhauled, while the legendary vintage interior has been bestowed with a premium interior and a dashboard digital display. The cost for one of these bespoke motors is an eye-watering £75,000 - more than seven times the price at the turn of the Millennium. Who would fork out that amount of money on a Mini, you ask? Well, the first customer is confirmed - and you might well know him from various TV and billboard adverts... The classic Mini has been turned into a luxury-grade hot hatch with a staggering price tag as part of a new collaboration between legendary car design Ian Callum CBE and coachbuilding specialist Wood & Pickett Model, David Gandy, has taken delivery of the first Wood & Pickett Mini by Callum Mini. The self-confessed petrolhead is a classic British car enthusiast and brand ambassador for Jaguar. He even commissioned a full restoration of a 1965 XK120, which is now part of his collection. While his latest purchase has a heritage dating back to 1959, it is based on more modern iteration of the classic Mini. It is a modified version of the Mk5 Mini Sportspack - the last of the true Minis. This was the wide-arched version of the old-style car produced between 1997 and 2001 by Rover Group, before BMW's takeover of the Mini brand. At the end of its production run, a Cooper was just under £10,000 - meaning this new 'restomod' (a restored and modified take on a classic car) is more than seven times the price of the vehicle on which it is based. But while it captures the legendary shape and characterful look of the original, this upgraded version certainly won't drive like a car built in the late 1990s. That's because it's been overhauled with a rally-spec engine, uprated suspension and more powerful brakes. The A-Series engine capacity has been upgraded from the Cooper's 1,275cc to 1.310cc. It also has a new cylinder head, two-point fuel injection and a custom twin-pipe exhaust. The performance tweaks have resulted in a 75 per cent increase in potency, with the engine generating 110bhp, up from the standard output of 63bhp. Given its kerb weight of around 700kg, that's a notable increase in power. To cope with the additional grunt fed through the transmission, the gearbox has also been strengthened. While each car made will be different on exacting specification requested by the client, Gandy's restomod Mini has a revised front and rear valances, side sills and an updated rear design. The wheel arches are fatter, too. While this gives the Mini a wider stance, the adjustments aren't just to make it 'visually distinctive' but 'engineered for improved aerodynamics and cooling'. The lights have also been brought into the 21st century with LEDs front and rear in period-correct housings that are sympathetic to the iconic Mini's original design. On the inside, it gets a wooden dashboard fascia inspired by the walnut panels fitted to Wood & Pickett's Margrave Mini in the 1960s. The switchgear is heavy duty metal toggles, and a small touchscreen with Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring has been installed. Ian Callum CBE said: 'The Mini is one of the most important cars ever created not just for its innovative engineering, but for what it represents culturally as a symbol of British ingenuity and style. 'It's a car that broke the rules and became a global icon. To reimagine it through the lens of Callum, with Wood & Pickett's craftsmanship, has been deeply rewarding.' For Wood & Pickett, it's a long-awaited return to the fore, with the company - founded in 1947 by Bill Wood and Les Pickett - renowned in the sixties for commissioning Minis for celebrity owners including Elton John, Mick Jagger, and Paul and Linda McCartney. Having formerly been owned by British Leyland dealer the Henlys Group in the eighties, it is now in the hands of Motaclan - the firm that owns the former MG Rover parts division. Gandy - who has fronted campaigns for fashion giants including Hugo Boss, Dolce & Gabbana and Carolina Herrera, as well as high-street chains including Marks & Spencer, H&M and Zara - is said to have worked directly with the design team to tailor every aspect of his Mini. This includes the painstaking process of deciding the paint colour and interior trims. He said it 'embodies everything I love about automotive craftsmanship, bespoke, attention to detail, and, of course, performance'. He added: 'I'm proud to be the first owner of such a remarkable vehicle.'
Auto Express
24-06-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Used Abarth 500 (2009-2024) buyer's guide: fast and fun if you can find the right one
There's nothing quite like an Abarth 500, in that this is a car with character that's fun to drive, raucous and fast. But compared with most of its rivals, it's cramped, and thanks to its unyielding suspension it's also uncomfortable. Depending on which exhaust system is fitted, it can also be extremely noisy. The Abarth 500 is definitely a car for enthusiasts who are willing to accept compromise, plus it looks brilliant and is sure to be a classic in years to come. The key is to buy an example that's been cherished and specified when new with some choice options. Do this and you'll have a keeper that, as long as it's reliable, will have you grinning like the Cheshire Cat. Advertisement - Article continues below Back in the sixties, Britain's roads were teeming with Minis, and there was the Cooper for those who wanted a hot edition. In Italy it was the Fiat 500 that put the nation on wheels, and the sporting version was the Abarth, courtesy of independent tuner Carlo Abarth. A few Abarth-tuned Fiat 500s reached the UK in the Swinging Sixties, but it wasn't until Fiat had acquired the company and launched it as a separate brand in 2008 that it became truly familiar to UK buyers. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below View Ibiza View Kuga View A-Class Abarth's first cars here were the Punto and 500 hatchbacks, with the latter morphing into the 595 and much rarer 695 in subsequent years. For simplicity throughout this guide we'll simply call all Abarth 500 derivatives the '500', unless we're referring to a specific model. The Abarth 500 reached the UK in spring 2009, with a 135bhp turbocharged 1.4-litre engine. Initially only a hatchback was available, but from July 2008 the 500C convertible went on sale, with a roll-back cloth roof and the same 135bhp 1.4-litre powerplant as the hard-top version. At first all 500Cs came with a semi-automatic gearbox, but from June 2011 a five-speed manual transmission was available (a common bugbear with owners is that it's not a six-speed transmission). Then the 160bhp 1.4-litre 595 Turismo and Competizione arrived in August 2012, with manual or automatic transmissions. The 595 Competizione was given a power boost to 178bhp in May 2015. Advertisement - Article continues below Fresh instrumentation was introduced in June 2014, while a standard touchscreen improved connectivity from spring 2019. The range was streamlined from December 2022, with buyers picking from the 163bhp 595 Turismo or Competizione versions, or the 178bhp 695 Competizione. These were offered in hatchback or convertible forms. Despite an incredibly long production run, there have been no major developments in the range. All models have a turbocharged 1.4-litre petrol engine, so it's a question of choosing your preferred bodystyle, colour, power output and equipment levels. But your choices are still bewildering because there were so many limited-run models, options and iterations that pinning down the detail of anything other than a standard car can be tricky. That also goes for kit levels, technical specification and power output, yet in most cases there will be either 160bhp or 178bhp on tap, although a 138bhp engine was available. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below The Turismo is less hardcore than the Competizione, but neither version is especially comfortable on UK roads, due to the firm suspension. This can be really unyielding if combined with big wheels. You can find your perfect used Abarth 595 or used Abarth 695 with our Find A Car service. If you're looking for a pint-sized hot hatch that isn't an Abarth, the Volkswagen up! GTi should be at the top of your list, because it's brilliant to drive. But with prices starting at a hefty £13,000 for a 2020 example, you'll need deep pockets to buy one. Bigger and consequently a bit more practical is the MINI Cooper S, which (uniquely in this group) is also available in full convertible form. Advertisement - Article continues below The Ford Fiesta ST is another brilliant small hatch that is plentiful on the used market and is cheap to buy; it's also more usable than the Abarth because it's bigger. The Suzuki Swift Sport is a low-key model that's fun to drive and reliable, while the Hyundai i20 N is another great hot hatch, but strong residuals make it pricey. Suspension Tired suspension is common; dampers, lower front ball joints and bushes wear quickly. Repairs aren't costly. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Packs At launch the Esseesse pack offered 160bhp, better brakes and modified suspension. A 178bhp Esseesse joined the range in 2019. Breakages One of the biggest gripes is with the build quality, so check for loose or missing fittings, plus rattles that can't be tracked down. Hardcore option The 187bhp hardcore two-seat 695 Biposto from 2014 wasn't a limited edition, but with a £32k-£50k price tag when new, it's very rare. Reliability Abarth-specific reliability data is hard to come by, but the Fiat 500's is easier to track down. Last year the 500 came 49th out of 50 cars in our Driver Power survey, and 48th for reliability. It previously came 54th out of 75 for reliability, in our 2021 poll. That's not too reassuring, but using a good specialist can make all the difference. As soon as you sit inside an Abarth you know that it's not just a humdrum small hatch. The seats are the most obvious clue to the 500's sporting intentions, and (depending on model) there are also aluminium pedals, Alcantara and brushed alloy trim. Advertisement - Article continues below But the seats are set too high to feel truly sporting, and the lack of reach adjustment for the steering wheel is a bugbear. Also, for a halo model, the quality of some of the materials is disappointing. There's not a lot of rear-seat legroom and that isn't because there's a decent amount of boot capacity. Just 185 litres can be stowed, with the 500C getting an incredibly tight oven door-like opening. There's no shortage of Abarths available via a private sale. The 595 is by far the most common derivative, in its various forms, while the 595C is much rarer. Prices rise for the rare and sought-after specials, such as the Biposto, Maserati and Tributo Ferrari. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Check the price of an Abarth 500 with our free car valuation tool... The interval for the Abarth 500 is every 12 months or 9,000 miles, with services alternating between Minor and Major, at £199 and £304 respectively. You'll have to fork out another £70 every two years for fresh brake fluid, but the really big bill comes every six years or 75,000 miles, when the cambelt has to be replaced. All Abarths have one of these, and a fresh water pump has to be fitted at the same time, pushing the bill up to £850 or so. It's also recommended that the air-con is regassed every three years, at around £75. Maintenance plans are available for all Abarths apart from the 695 Biposto. The standard warranty lasts for three years, but this can be extended for an extra cost. Eleven recalls over such a long production span isn't as worrying as you might think, especially because many campaigns affected just a few cars. But some glitches were potentially serious, including the first in September 2010, where a bolt in the steering column could work loose, leading to steering failure. The next recall came a month later, because the wrong airbag could go off in the event of a crash. Recall three was also because of steering failure, then came two campaigns due to wiring chafing, another because the door panels could cause injury in the event of a side impact, while seatbelt glitches led to a seventh action. Other potential problems included lighting failure, seats breaking loose in a collision, automatic-gearbox glitches and more steering issues. Abarth doesn't sell many cars in the UK, so it doesn't figure in our Driver Power surveys, not even the Brands poll. But Fiat is listed, and this year it came a disappointing 31st out of 32 makers. More encouraging are the owners' opinions featured on Of the eight reviews posted, seven have five stars, but the eighth has just one star, thanks to disappointing reliability and poor customer care. Did you know you can sell your car with Auto Express? Get the highest bid from our network of over 5,500 dealers and we'll do the rest. Click here to try Auto Express Sell My Car now ... Citroen recall sees owners told to stop driving 'immediately' Citroen recall sees owners told to stop driving 'immediately' A 'Stop-drive' order has been issued by Citroen following a fatality that may have been caused by a faulty Takata airbag Car Deal of the Day: a potent 335bhp Volkswagen ID.7 GTX for a rock bottom price Car Deal of the Day: a potent 335bhp Volkswagen ID.7 GTX for a rock bottom price GTX Plus gives some extra punch to an already excellent electric saloon. It's our Deal of the Day for 20 June. New Skoda L&K 130 shows us what a Superb pick-up truck looks like New Skoda L&K 130 shows us what a Superb pick-up truck looks like Skoda's 10th 'Student Car' is a plug-in hybrid that would be an ideal support vehicle for the Tour de France
