An article about the 7 coolest and most presentable sports hatchbacks: their interesting features, important characteristics. rubles.
The content of the article:
- What is a hatchback
- Hatchback vs sedan
- Seven best
Many people dream of a sports car, but only a few people drive them through the streets. This is not surprising - a car focused on fast dynamic driving consumes a lot of fuel and requires timely maintenance. For every day, such a car will not be a very convenient solution, and few motorists can afford to have two cars in the garage. A sports hatchback could be a compromise solution.
What is a hatchback
In translation, "hatchback" means "rear hatch", which reflects its design feature. It is a popular type of car body, a three- or five-door vehicle with one or two rows of seats. It features a sloping roof that merges into the luggage compartment lid and a short rear overhang.
These vehicles are very popular with young car enthusiasts. The first models were assembled before World War II, but they gained fame after Citroën presented its hatchback model in the forties of the last century.
The idea seemed promising to the designers of the American Kaiser Mоters, who soon after Citroёn also started producing models with this body type.
The hatchback gained real fame after Japanese automakers became interested in this form of car.... They not only adopted the idea, but managed to give the overall shape of the model dynamic lines and an elegant silhouette. From that moment on, the hatchback became really popular.
The hatchback lines are very attractive for young car enthusiasts who do not yet feel the need for a voluminous "family" car and want to drive a sports car, but they do not have enough financial resources for this.
The designers and marketers of automobile concerns very accurately calculated this category of consumers and specially emphasized the audacity, dynamism and aggression in the exterior of the hatchback models, hoping that they could partially act as a replacement for full-fledged sports cars.
Hatchback vs sedan
Experts love to compare different types of car bodies. The hatchback is often compared to the sedan, calling this model a worthy rival to the "classic". More compact dimensions of the hatchback provide it with ease of parking and a high degree of maneuverability. In urban conditions, in a confined space, this is a considerable advantage. At the same time, the luggage compartment of the model is quite large, there are also no problems with the transportation of bulky items.
Of the minuses of the hatchback, the first thing that comes to mind is the absence of a partition separating the luggage compartment from the passenger compartment. These are the extra costs for heating or air conditioning the cabin, and the presence of noise and odors from the trunk. But, perhaps, this is where the minuses of hatchbacks dry up.
Seven best
Since hatchbacks are positioned as a replacement for sports cars, the most dynamic models are considered the best.
Mercedes-AMG A45
In the "sports" sector of Mercedes-Benz production, this model was the first four-cylinder car. The designers offered a two-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a declared power of 360 hp.
The model turned out to be perfectly adapted to the urban driving cycle: the motor (by the way, has a torque of 450 Nm), is distinguished by its amazing economy. On the urban combined cycle, it only needs 7 liters of gasoline.
It is also worth adding to the advantages of this model its high environmental friendliness: the Mercedes-AMG A45 fully complies with the European environmental standard Euro 6.
The electronic "stuffing" of the car is also "on top": The original 4-wheel drive system 4 MATIC from Mercedes-Benz is still at the forefront in the ranking of similar systems. Even in the basic configuration, the Mercedes-AMG A45 is distinguished by a high level of comfort and an abundance of electronic control systems. This model is a worthy replacement for a sports car in urban environments.
Honda Civis Tour R
It also has a two-liter turbocharged four-cylinder VTEC model under the hood. In the combined cycle, the engine consumes up to 7.3 liters of fuel.
The six-speed manual transmission allows acceleration from standstill to 100 km / h in 5.7 seconds. Engine power is 310 hp, which is only slightly inferior to the "champion" in this category. The front suspension is equipped with steering knuckles that halve the power steering. The maximum speed of the Civis Toure R is 270 km / h, which also puts this model in the first place among its fellows - front-wheel drive hatchbacks.
Hunda manufacturers claim that this model is practically the only sports hatchback in the world with unique aerodynamic characteristics: the contours of its body are such that they not only reduce road roll, but generate downforce.
Audi A3
This model is available with three types of engines:
- 1.4 l, 122 hp, gasoline;
- 1.8 l, 180 hp, gasoline;
- 2 l, 150 hp, turbodiesel.
Of the gearboxes, the designers offer customers a seven-speed automatic transmission or a six-speed "mechanics".
Audi is distinguished by excellent dynamics and a well-tuned suspension. The use of light steel in the body structure provides excellent dynamics and high handling.
ВМW М135i
In this model BMW embodied the ideas implemented in the sporting past of the concern and victories in the rally. Here and the characteristic aerodynamics of the body, and external air intakes with three-dimensional flaps.
The volume of the six-cylinder engine is 3 liters, the power is 326 hp. This version of the car has the best acceleration characteristic - 4.7 seconds. Fuel consumption is higher than that of other hatchbacks - up to 8 liters in the combined urban cycle.
GTI Gоlf
Golf is a combination of practicality and economy. The four-cylinder turbocharged engine with a volume of 2 liters develops a top speed of 246 km / h. Mixed mode requires up to 6.4 liters of fuel.
This model also differs in that it is equipped with a stabilization system with imitation of differential lock and control of brake impulses on all four wheels.
Two years ago, the ClubSport modification received the title of the fastest front-wheel drive serial.
Ford Focus RS
An all-wheel drive hatchback featuring a high torque motor with very dynamic handling. Ecobost engine with a volume of 2.3 liters and 350 hp. has four cylinders. Like most hatchbacks in this class, the model is equipped with a six-speed manual transmission.
An interesting design feature of this model is no intermediate muffler... This became possible thanks to the installation of a special double air filter.
Seat Leon Сupra
Experts characterize the engine of this model as a perfect piece of technical art. It accelerates to a test 100 km / h in 5.8 seconds. The motor is very powerful, its torque is 250 Nm.
Another "feature" of this model is its amazing efficiency.... In mixed mode, the car requires only six and a half liters of fuel per 100 kilometers.
Conclusion
It is not for nothing that experts of the auto world call hatchbacks "revolutionary cars". Thanks to the efforts of the designers, an ordinary urban model of a vehicle has turned into a real sports car, while maintaining accessibility for wide classes of consumers and practicality, without which it is difficult to use a car in the city.This is an almost ideal choice for those who value speed and power, but do not yet “reach” the original sports cars.
