Tråd: Modificerede hot hatch mega test

Er tuning en hot hatch intensivere sjov eller brænde det til en brandhærgede? Vi tager en tunet Focus ST, Astra VXR, Megane Renaultsport og en Mazda 3 MPS at finde udstødt dit sind tilbage en halv snes år. Den ubestridte hot hatch king - Peugeot 306 GTI-6 - har bare behændigt oversteered i den store parkeringsplads i himlen. Med en fizzing 167bhp fra dens naturligt indsugning 2. 0-liters twin-cam motor og seks fremadgående gear, der på overbevisende måde har holdt det hot hatch høj jorden.
To år senere ser 212bhp Ford fokus RS og 210bhp Seat Leon Cupra R, og en helt ny race af hyper hot hatch er født, muterer ligesom en freak organisme over tid i gigant-mordere i dag; 250bhp er blevet minimumskravet i denne klasse.
Vi har samlet nogle tunet eksempler på den nuværende race at analysere dem mod uret og langs typisk akavet B-veje.
Mk3 Ford Focus ST er fra Buckingham-baseret Superchips, et selskab, der har eksisteret i motor forvaltning tuning virksomhed siden 1980. Denne fase 2 opgradering (koster 1446) udstødning egenskaber en fuld Miltek fra turbo tilbage, herunder en høj-flow sports kat og en udskiftning luftfilter. Kortlægningen er gennemført af virksomheder almindelig håndholdt computer, som gør det muligt for kunderne at skifte mellem kortene selv og modtage opdateringer via internettet. Superchips hævder en ny magt toppen af 292bhp (op fra 247bhp) og 332lb ft på blot 2115 rpm.
Mazda 3 MPS hagler fra BBR GTI i Brackley, men fordi en BBRs demonstrant ikke er tilgængelig, weve været udlånt en kunder bil. Denne fase 2 konvertering, udstyret med en restere, high-flow udstødning nedløbsrør og sports kat og en højere-flow brændstof pumpe og inlet slanger. Det er den eneste bil her har ændringer til turbo. Kombineret med 2. 3-liters 2WD motoren stor, muskuløs karakteristika, fordringerne er 350bhp og en vild-klingende 368lb ft.
Dog denne bil var reserveret et større turbolader (og fuld suspension opgradering) efter ons drevet det og i BBRs udtalelse, den frontmonterede (i modsætning til standard top-monteret) intercooler montering af ejeren gør ondt hævdede udgange og gashåndtag svar når kombineret med en standard-størrelse turbo. Godt se. Som er, koste motor mods 2890.
K-Tec Racings Renault Megane RS 250 følger den standard rute af restere kombineret med en udskiftning luftfilter og nye cat-back udstødningssystem, men ligeledes egenskaber en ny intercooler. Påstande er 295-300bhp og 320lb ft, med så meget som 80 lb-ft mere end den standard biler på 2600 rpm. Prisen herfor, herunder montering og et års garanti, er 1691. Desværre var K-Tecs Nitron justerbar coil-over suspension-udstyret demonstrant ikke tilgængelig, så var benytter en privatejet bil med ovenstående ændringer plus 19-tommer legering hjul og Eibach sænkning fjedre.
Endelig, theres Thorney Motorsport Vauxhall Astra VXR-R, en begrænset udgave af 100, selv om tuning dele er tilgængelige separat. Motor side udstødning theres en tre-tommer med sport kat, en udskiftning panel luftfilter og en restere, giver 320bhp og 310lb ft.
Thorney har holdt de standard switchable dæmpere men forsynet sine egne kilder og sammenknebne geometri suspension skiftende fabrikken 20-tommer hjul for nogle lysere versioner. Vigtigere, er VXR-R tilgængelig fra enhver Vauxhall forhandler, med en livstidsgaranti. 3749 betaler du for privilegiet.
I en lige linje
Theres ingen tvivl en 0-60 mph lanceringen giver en universelt forstået barometer for acceleration. Men med en split mellem privatejede køretøjer og virksomheden demoer, en fedtet, nær frysepunktet bane overflade, det synes hverken fair eller særligt afslørende for at forsøge at foråret denne kvartet off linje mod uret.
Så vi har besluttet at slentre fra resten og derefter give det parti i andet gear før 20 mph. Derfra være itll flade ud gennem gearene indtil udgangen af landingsbanen væve store, forhåbentlig til omkring 150mph. Godt tilføje i gear kører over sæt intervaller (30-50mph, 40-60 km/h, 50-70mph) i tredje, fjerde og femte, at få en idé om virkelige fleksibilitet.
Første er op i fokus. Theres mere af den skæve fnys påfyldning i kabinen, men dens ikke så hæs at være irriterende. Trods en afslappet start har at indføre alle drejningsmoment i andet gear de forreste dæk på nippet af wheelspin. 30-70mph er afsendt i 4. 9 sek, et par tiendedele op på Autocars vejprøve tal, og det er næsten et halvt sekund hurtigere fra 80-100mph før blokering et ægte 150mph.
Men tallene i gear bevise den mest opsigtsvækkende. Alle intervaller i tredje gear er næsten et halvt sekund hurtigere end dem af vejprøve bilen og tal på tværs af fjerde og femte viser umatchede linearitet ST har den bredest og mest brugbare effektområde.
Efter følelse kraft af Mazdas acceleration fra drivere plads, er det et chok at opdage at det tager indtil 100 km/h at revidere fokus. Thats dels et resultat af de uforskammede vadesteder lav-revs levering men dels som, i øjeblikket konfigureret, de 3 Parlamentsmedlemmer har for meget turbo lag.
Med færre gearchanges kræves ved tre-figur hastigheder, at Mazda er slået fra som en greyhound og overstiger komfortabelt 150 mph - næsten fem sekunder før den growlende Ford. Tredje gear ryk er så hurtig som noget, men højere gear viser den laggy side af leveringen, især de gabende 30-50 mph-tid i femte.
K-Tec Renault er en barbarisk ting. F4RT motoren entydigt nasalt stemme er bragt i forgrunden her om du kan lide det eller ej. Dens den hurtigste til 100 km/h, men overraskende undlader at nå 150mph. Det også scorer lavest i gear increment tid: 2. 3 sek for 30-50mph i tredje, som oversætter som awesome og umiddelbar overhaling potentiale. Tallene i fjerde og femte viser at det har benene på Ford på fuld styrke, men ikke den samme freakishly bred vindue af svar.
På Astra VXR-Rasmussen, der, fordi stadig er i udvikling, er endnu ikke at give slags tal lovede. Dens tæt på Ford og Renault indtil 60mph, og selv holder en føring over Mazda, men derefter falder længere støt bagud, bare nåede 140mph før vores nødbremsning griber ind. Det har også de langsomste i gear gange, uanset tilvæksten. Men det helt smadrer den standard VXR weve medbragt til sammenligning.
På vej
På Leicestershires serpentine tilbage veje, i mørke og med temperaturer omkring frysepunktet, Ford er en sindssyg. Ikke-mærke dækkene at sabotere sine chancer for at yde hurtig langrend tempo. Den ønsker at wheelspin overalt, og erfaringen Centre på hvordan behændig du er med din højre fod. Den nye kortlægning giver præcise graduering af gashåndtaget, men theres ingen tvivl om, at momentet kommer i hurtigt. Om denne uregerlighed kommer fra dækkene, eller fordi den mangler Revoknuckle stivere og en begrænset slip diff er svært at sige. Ikke desto mindre, ST er et pinligt effektiv overhaling enhed, som vores i-gear gange bevist.
Mazda er ligeledes egensindige, hvis af forskellige årsager. Begrænset slip diff gør sit bedste for at indeholde drejningsmoment, men i disse betingelser dens sniffing fra randen til centrum linje og kræver en fast hånd. 3 Parlamentsmedlemmer blev aldrig vores favorit hot hatch når nye, men denne 50.000 miler føles svampet og upræcis, domineret af magt. Efter at have prøvet BBRs full-house demonstrant med Koni dæmpere, ved jeg, at det er en massiv forbedring på Mazdas offer, men som det er, det er mere om accelerative spænding.
Renault er endnu mere aggressive end normalt med denne umiddelbare grunt på tryk. At bilen håndterer det vil ikke overraske nogen bekendt med base biler talenter. Dens faste og kompromisløs, fjernet meget fra slags erfaringer, der tilbydes af en Golf GTI. Men det er også den mest sjov at køre rundt Bruntingthorpes simpelt kredsløb og meget effektiv ud på vejen.
Den største overraskelse er VXR-R. En 40mm suspension drop lyder som den sidste ting Astra behov, men de reviderede forår priser arbejde godt med spjæld og selv de fasteste indstilling er nu anvendelig oven på vej. Den nye kortlægning har fjernet standard biler gnaven gasspjæld respons. Lad det i Normal og Astra strømme, dæmpning ud værst af de pludselige dyk i vejen. Dens ikke så forfriskende som Renault, men lige her, i disse betingelser og til at komme hjem i, dens meget tiltalende.
Så hvad har vi lært? En brugt Mazda 3 MPS er en cracking grundlaget for at skabe en 160mph-plus varme luge; ikke passe naff dæk til en bil, der kan bryde 150mph med lethed; Megane RS er endnu bedre med lidt mere sprøjte; Astra VXR har potentiale.
Og alligevel, for alle deres hastighed, er denne type af varmt lugen på vej ind i en udviklingsmæssig blindgyde? A ydmygt skoet, år-2000 standard Subaru Impreza Turbo ville have løbe dem i disse betingelser, og selv om theyre hurtigere, de ikke nødvendigvis tilbyder underholdning af deres forfædre med halvdelen af strømmen.
Og nu, med ankomsten af de 30k BMW M135i – hvilket er mærkbart hurtigere end selv disse tunet biler – høj-power/high-cost hot hatch er under stort pres fra oven. Ikke desto mindre, købe brugt og tune intelligent og dens svært at matche pakken af ydeevne og funktionalitet på tilbud her.

Does tuning a hot hatch intensify the fun or burn it into a cinder? We take a tuned Focus ST, Astra VXR, Megane Renaultsport and a Mazda 3 MPS to find outCast your mind back a dozen years. The undisputed hot hatch king – the Peugeot 306 GTI-6 – has just deftly oversteered into the great car park in the sky. With a fizzing 167bhp from its naturally aspirated 2. 0-litre twin-cam engine and six forward gears, it convincingly held the hot hatch high ground.
Two years later sees the 212bhp Ford Focus RS and the 210bhp Seat Leon Cupra R, and an all-new breed of hyper hot hatch is born, mutating like a freak organism over time into the giant-killers of today; 250bhp has become the minimum requirement in this class.
Weve gathered some tuned examples of the current breed to analyse them against the clock and along typically awkward B-roads.
The Mk3 Ford Focus ST is from Buckingham-based Superchips, a company that has existed in the engine management tuning business since the 1980s. This Stage 2 upgrade (costing 1446) features a full Miltek exhaust from the turbo back, including a high-flow sports cat and a replacement air filter. The mapping is implemented by the firms Bluefin hand-held computer, which allows customers to switch between maps themselves and receive updates over the internet. Superchips claims a new power peak of 292bhp (up from 247bhp) and 332lb ft at just 2115rpm.
The Mazda 3 MPS hails from BBR GTI in Brackley, but because a BBRs demonstrator isn't available, weve been lent a customers car. This Stage 2 conversion, features a remap, high-flow exhaust downpipe and sports cat and a higher-flow fuel pump and inlet hoses. It is the only car here to have modifications to the turbo. Coupled with the 2. 3-litre MZR engine's big, brawny characteristics, the claims are 350bhp and a wild-sounding 368lb ft.
However, this car was booked in for a larger turbocharger (and full suspension upgrade) after wed driven it and, in BBRs opinion, the front-mounted (as opposed to standard top-mounted) intercooler fitted by the owner hurts the claimed outputs and throttle response when combined with a standard-sized turbo. Well see. As is, the engine mods cost 2890.
K-Tec Racings Renault Megane RS 250 follows the standard route of remap coupled with a replacement air filter and new cat-back exhaust, but also features a new intercooler. The claims are 295-300bhp and 320lb ft, with as much as 80lb ft more than the standard car at 2600rpm. The price for this, including fitting and a years warranty, is 1691. Unfortunately, K-Tecs Nitron adjustable coil-over suspension-equipped demonstrator was unavailable, so were using a privately owned car with the above modifications plus 19-inch alloy wheels and Eibach lowering springs.
Finally, theres the Thorney Motorsport Vauxhall Astra VXR-R, a limited edition of 100, although tuning parts are available separately. On the engine side, theres a three-inch exhaust with sports cat, a replacement panel air filter and a remap, giving 320bhp and 310lb ft.
Thorney has kept the standard switchable dampers but fitted its own springs and tweaked the suspension geometry, changing the factory 20-inch wheels for some lighter versions. Importantly of all, the VXR-R is available from any Vauxhall dealer, with a lifetime warranty. Youll pay 3749 for the privilege.
In a straight line
Theres no denying a 0-60mph launch provides a universally-understood barometer of acceleration. But with a split between privately owned vehicles and company demos, a greasy, near-freezing runway surface, it seems neither fair nor particularly revealing to try to spring this quartet off the line against the clock.
So weve decided to stroll away from rest and then give it the lot in second gear before 20mph. From there, itll be flat out through the gears until the end of the runway looms large, hopefully to about 150mph. Well add in-gear runs over set increments (30-50mph, 40-60mph, 50-70mph) in third, fourth and fifth, to get an idea of real-world flexibility.
First up is the Focus. Theres more of the offbeat snort filling the cabin, but its not so raucous to be irritating. Despite a leisurely launch, introducing all the torque in second gear has the front tyres on the cusp of wheelspin. 30-70mph is dispatched in 4. 9sec, a couple of tenths up on Autocar's road test figures, and it is nearly half a second quicker from 80-100mph before snagging a genuine 150mph.
However, the in-gear figures prove the most startling. All the increments in third gear are nearly half a second quicker than those of the road test car, and the unmatched linearity of the figures across fourth and fifth shows the ST has the widest and most usable powerband.
After feeling the force of the Mazdas acceleration from the drivers seat, its a shock to discover that it takes until 100mph for it to overhaul the Focus. Thats partly a result of the Fords brazen low-revs delivery but partly as, currently configured, the 3 MPS has too much turbo lag.
With fewer gearchanges required at three-figure speeds, the Mazda is off like a greyhound and comfortably exceeds 150mph - almost five seconds before the growling Ford. Third-gear increments are as quick as anything, but higher gears show the laggy side of the delivery, particularly the yawning 30-50mph time in fifth.
The K-Tec Renault is a savage thing. The F4RT engine's uniquely nasally voice is brought to the fore here whether you like it or not. Its the quickest to 100mph, but suprisingly fails to reach 150mph. It also scores the lowest in-gear increment time: 2. 3sec for 30-50mph in third, which translates as awesome and immediate overtaking potential. The figures in fourth and fifth show that it has the legs on the Ford on full boost, but not the same freakishly wide window of response.
On to the Astra VXR-R, which, because its still in development, is not yet giving the sort of figures promised. Its close to the Ford and Renault until 60mph, and even holds a lead over the Mazda, but then falls steadily further behind, just reaching 140mph before our emergency braking intervenes. It also has the slowest in-gear times, whatever the increment. However, it absolutely demolishes the standard VXR weve brought along for comparison.
On the road
On Leicestershires serpentine back roads, in the dark and with temperatures around freezing, the Ford is a maniac. Its non-brand tyres that scupper its chances of providing rapid cross-country pace. It wants to wheelspin everywhere, and the experience centres on how deft you are with your right foot. The new mapping allows accurate modulation of the throttle, but theres no denying that the torque comes in rapidly. Whether this unruliness comes from the tyres, or because it lacks Revoknuckle struts and a limited-slip diff is hard to say. Nevertheless, the ST is an embarrassingly effective overtaking device, as our in-gear times proved.
The Mazda is similarly wayward, if for different reasons. The limited-slip diff does its best to contain the torque, but in these conditions its sniffing from verge to centre line and requires a firm hand. The 3 MPS was never our favourite hot hatch when new, but this 50,000 miler feels spongy and vague, dominated by the power. Having tried BBRs full-house demonstrator with Koni dampers, I know that its a massive improvement on Mazdas offering but, as is, this is more about accelerative thrills.
The Renault is even more aggressive than usual with this immediate grunt on tap. That the car handles it wont surprise anyone familiar with the base cars talents. Its firm and uncompromising, a good deal removed from the kind of experience offered by a Golf GTI. But it's also the most fun to drive around Bruntingthorpes simple circuit and very effective out on the road.
The biggest surprise is the VXR-R. A 40mm suspension drop sounds like the last thing the Astra needs, but the revised spring rates work well with the dampers and even the firmest setting is now usable on the road. The new mapping has removed the standard cars petulant throttle response. Leave it in Normal and the Astra flows, damping out the worst of the sudden dips in the road. Its not as invigorating as the Renault, but right here, in these conditions and to get home in, its very appealing.
So what have we learnt? A used Mazda 3 MPS is a cracking basis for creating a 160mph-plus hot hatch; dont fit naff tyres to a car that can breach 150mph with ease; the Megane RS is even better with a bit more squirt; the Astra VXR has potential. . .
And yet, for all their speed, is this type of hot hatch heading into a developmental cul-de-sac? A humbly shod, year-2000 standard Subaru Impreza Turbo would have outrun them in these conditions, and although theyre faster, they dont necessarily offer the entertainment of their forefathers with half the power.
And now, with the arrival of the 30k BMW M135i – which is appreciably faster than even these tuned cars – the high-power/high-cost hot hatch is under significant pressure from above. Nevertheless, buy used and tune intelligently and its hard to match the package of performance and practicality on offer here.