Most anticipated new cars for 2016 – hot hatches

Which new hot hatches are the most anticipated new cars to arrive in SA in 2016?

Ford Focus RS

The hot-hatch battle continues with the newest version of the Ford Focus RS.  It is now 4-wheel driven, so it will take on the Golf R and Audi S3.… and RS is still a manual.  This time no 3-door, but only 5-door.

The engine is a 2.3-litre EcoBoost turbo good for 236kW, and the Focus RS even has a Drift mode switch!  The Nitrous Blue is a special 4-coat paint.  Huge gaping front air intake, rear bumper diffuser and roof spoiler included.

Honda Civic Type R

The Civic Type R now uses a turbo engine for the first time, giving 228kW and 400Nm of torque.

It will take the crown as the fastest front-wheel drive hatchback, claiming both the acceleration and top speed titles, with numbers reading 5.7 seconds and 270km/h.

Opel Corsa OPC

The new Opel Corsa OPC is the hot hatch baby to look forward to in 2016. 

The most athletic little Opel will use its 1.6 turbo with 152kW and overboost torque of 280Nm to reach 100 in 6.8 sec and max of 230.  The smallest of the OPCs has big-car-tech suspension called Frequency Selective Damping.

The Corsa OPC will spearhead the Corsa range, dynamically and visually.

Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport

With such a strong fanbase of the sporty compact class Golf GTI, and a high percentage of South Africa’s Golf sales going to the GTI, the 40th birthday of this icon will be celebrated worldwide this year with the intro of the highly-anticipated VW Golf GTI Clubsport.

Power is stretched to 195kW for this anniversary model (limited numbers will be available) making it the quickest GTI – available in manual or DSG, the DSG will let it sprint to 100km/h in 5.9 seconds.

Lots of visual homage is paid to the original 1976 Golf GTI Mk1 in the GTI Clubsport, like the side stripe running along the side.  New trim strips come in Honeycomb 40 design for the instrument panel, centre console and doors.