Hot hatches

The first ever Hyundai i30 Fastback N has arrived on sale in Australia, and it carries a small premium over its hatchback sibling.

The highly anticipated dual-clutch auto version of the Hyundai i30 N is still on schedule to make its debut in 2019, Hyundai Australia has confirmed.

The worst-kept secret in the automotive world has at last been confirmed, with Toyota executives finally confirming work on a Corolla GRMN hot hatch is underway.

Peugeot Australia has introduced a limited-edition variant of its 308 GTi hot hatch, with the aptly named Sport now on sale from $42,990 plus on-road costs – $3000 less than the full-time model.

Ford has revealed its fourth generation Focus ST, scheduled to go on sale in Australia in early 2020.

Volkswagen Australia has introduced revised drive-away pricing for the 2019 model year Golf GTI.

BMW has announced pricing and specification for its M140i Finale Edition hot hatch, which is expected to farewell the most potent version of the current-generation 1 Series small hatchback.

Mini has teased the third generation of the John Cooper Works GP, which is due to be fully revealed later in the year.Confirmed to feature the same 220kW 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine as the BMW X2 M35i, the GP will be the fastest and most powerful Mini ever produced and will closely follow the design direction of the 2017 GP Concept.With only 3000 units set to be produced, the John Cooper Works GP will follow the same formula as the previous editions of the GP badge with an intense diet removing the rear seats and sound deadening, a mechanical limited-slip differential, a more powerful engine and significant suspension and chassis updates to turn the standard John Cooper Works into a track weapon. Mini is yet to fully reveal the car, but has released three teaser images giving clues its styling direction.Large four-spoke wheels continue from the previous GP models, as does the huge rear wing that's said to aid aerodynamics.Finally, the large dual exhaust tips are likely to emit a juicier note than the already-fruity Cooper S JCW and the company is reportedly targeting a sub-eight minute lap time around the Nurburgring in Germany, which would cement the car as a serious rival to the Honda Civic Type R, Renault Megane R.S. and Volkswagen Golf R.“The fastest Mini in our brand history – which now goes back 60 years – is an expression of pure racing passion,” says Thomas Giuliani, Mini's vice president product and launch management. “We are well aware of the enormous fascination exercised by the Mini John Cooper Works GP, not just from the euphoric reactions to the concept vehicle but also from past experience: after all, every one of its predecessors was completely sold out even before the official market launch.”Originally launched in 2006 (first-generation) and 2012 (second-gen), Mini's GP editions celebrated the life cycle of their respective models right before the next generation cars arrived. Both featured extreme weight loss compared with the variants they were based on, and featured more power than the standard models as well.

Hyundai's i30 SR was the hidden gem of the i30 range until the range was updated late in 2018. Capitalising on the roaring critical and sales success of the rip-snorting i30 N, the SR is now known as the N-Line and is the first of a new range of warmed-up Hyundais.

News that the next member of the N family could be a performance-flavoured version of the i20 has Hyundai Australia interested, with executives confirming a N-stamped city car in go-fast-guise would be an appealing proposition, if one was to become availa