While it certainly wasn’t the initial sexy hatchback, the Volkswagen Tennis GTI popularised the newest reproduce and you can grabbed they away regarding realms of your own homologation special. The latest GTI began since the good skunkworks project, top on the a limited show, after that a full design design, right after which in the long run right hand push on Uk industry.

six litre engine extracted from new certain Audi 80GTE project. The initial model is dependent as much as a good Scirocco, and the design was given approval when you look at the 1975. Merely 5000 was to getting founded 1st, however, consult try brilliant they joined the regular production diversity – including the now really-understood baseball gearknob, yellow stripe inside the grille and plaid upholstery. Having 1982 new motor turned into step one.8 litres, because the MKII Golf out of 1983 based up on the earlier vehicle having a more impressive plus refined bodyshell.

Out of 1986 an effective 16 device variant is actually offered now giving 137bhp – provided with both about three and you can four gates, this can be perhaps the best of early sensuous Golfs also when your Mk1 is more valuable today. Cost effective If you wish to manage you to every single day was an enthusiastic 8v MKII 5 home, but that is and since it is the least common. In case the hatchback is not important (No matter if one does beat the thing out-of an attractive hatch) the fresh Jetta GTi provides the same experts which have around three container feeling.

Vauxhall Astra GTE

Vauxhall’s very first Astra GTE was a knock. In accordance with the MK1, it was one of many most recent of one’s earliest cadre away from hot hatches. And MK2 from 1984 situated on it – beginning with a 1.8 litre 115bhp motor, inside the 2987 they expanded to a 2.0 130bhp unit distributed to the Cavalier SRi130 -as well as 2 age afterwards a great 150bhp 16 valve model was offered. The had been sold just for the around three doorway function, in the event Belmont SRi and you may LXi house designs offered much more bootspace with an identical system while the very first version.

The brand new 16v types of the fresh new red-greatest was developed by Cosworth, providing an attractive hatchback from the providers certain 3 years to come of your own rally-derived Escort Cosworth model. Which have sixty within 7 mere seconds, absolutely nothing that it edge of a Maestro Turbo helps to keep speed when you look at the a straight-line. When completed in light that have white rims and you may digital dash, few cars talked of 1980s a whole lot more firmly as compared to Astra GTE MK2, and you will values – without of up to the fresh new Ford similar – provides sprang in the last ten years thus.

Affordable of your own GTEs now is the very early step one.8, no matter if with 115bhp during the a tiny cover will still be effective enough to help you quick certain amusing grins. And while simple fact is that affordable also, it is many tractable – the latest 16v habits specifically got excess strength toward chassis and you may provided bad traction and you will traction on the inactive assist alone brand new damp.

Peugeot 205 GTi

Truly the only hot hatch that driving push felt you will definitely wrest new crown on the Tennis in the eighties try the new Peugeot 205 GTi. It was effectively a gas inserted version of the latest XS – alone an excellent about three-door form of the 5-home GT. The first automobiles got an excellent 104bhp 1.6 litre version of the newest XU system, updated having 1987 in order to 115bhp. 1986 manage understand the launch of the latest 130bhp step one.9GTi, utilizing the same engine given that large 309GTi but in the 205’s compact shell. This was the car that truly lighted the fresh bluish reach paper for Peugeot; a tiny, lightweight vehicle which have Peugeot’s class-leading approaching qualities, twinned that have an excellent level of energy. Not surprisingly teenagers flocked on automobile, just as not surprisingly multiple were created of, and you may – this doesn’t be a shock – insurance premiums experienced the fresh roof. The newest step 1.six try discontinued getting 1992 in the midst of emissions situations, since the 1.nine is installing having a great catalytic converter. Fuel decrease down to 120bhp, but it try adequate to secure the vehicles from inside the development for two a lot more ages.