Skip advert
Advertisement

Hot hatch special

Chris Harris's Renaultsport Megane 250 v Ford Focus RS video kicks off evo's hot hatch celebration

Everyone loves a good hot hatch, and 2009 has been a particularly good year for class heroes. From the Fiat Panda 100HP and Renaultsport Twingo 133 at the bottom of the scale through Renault’s corking Clio 200 and the mad Mini JCW to the ultimate iterations - Ford’s Focus RS being the most potent - we've driven tonnes of 'em. We’re celebrating the best we’ve come across recently with a gallery from 2009’s evo hot hatch tests a mere scroll down the page away. There’s also a list of links to our best hot hatch content below. Enjoy, and tell us about your favourites (or the ones you hate) on the evo Forum.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Video: Chris Harris pits the Megane against Focus part 1 and part 2 In detail: Ford Focus RS, VW Golf GTI, Leon Cupra R, Megane 250

On track video: Hot hatches at Bedford Autodrome Group test: Twingo Cup v Panda 100HP v Abarth v Swift + more Car of the Year: Renault Clio 200 Cup and Ford Focus RS in detail Video: Renault’s Megane R26.R tackles Corsica’s rallying roads Group test: New Mugen Civic takes on its Honda Type-R siblings Video: Gabrielle Tarquini goes for hot lap in the SEAT Cupra R

Group test: Ford Focus RS takes on its dad, the Escort Cosworth

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Why this 300,000-mile Ford Mondeo felt more revolutionary than a Lamborghini
Ford Mondeo
Opinion

Why this 300,000-mile Ford Mondeo felt more revolutionary than a Lamborghini

With one of the development parameters being the ‘perfection feeling’, the Mondeo was always going to be something special
22 Oct 2026
Petrol v electric: Alpine's A290 faces the Mazda MX-5
Mazda MX-5 v Alpine A290
Group tests

Petrol v electric: Alpine's A290 faces the Mazda MX-5

Alpine’s A290 is under consideration by evo contributor Peter Tomalin as a replacement for his MX-5. A comparison is in order…
25 Oct 2026
£50k off a Corvette Z06 – Ferrari 458-inspired supercar available with 30% discount
Corvette Z06
News

£50k off a Corvette Z06 – Ferrari 458-inspired supercar available with 30% discount

The biggest problem with the Corvette Z06 was arguably its steep price in the UK. The market is correcting that…
22 Oct 2026