GAME, SET AND HATCH
The cult of the hot hatch has been inspiring enthusiasts and spurring them on for generations. Ever since the genre first broke into the mainstream in the 1970s, the idea of having a sensible shopping hatchback that can also dominate a B-road and embarrass your posh neighbour’s wide-hipped sports car has held a perennial appeal.
Hot hatches democratised performance; they meant the ability to go fast and enjoy yourself in a car wasn’t just limited to the moneyed classes – these perky little hatchbacks knocked down social barriers (and also, frequently, actual barriers. Torque-steer is a harsh mistress).
The Ford badge has been inextricably intertwined with the concept for almost as long as it’s existed, with assorted XR, RS and ST models transitioning from bedroom poster to driveway project
