Fiesta ST Set to Rattle the Gti [Sydney Morning Herald]

[Buller_Scott]

If the Polo Gti has done one thing, it's created a new market for pint-sized hot hatches. No longer is it acceptable to whack on a silly spoiler and some alloy wheels a declare it a 'sports model', whilst it still does 0-100 in 14 seconds.

im not sure if the polo "created" anything new...

cars like the RS clio II, mk3 vr6, swift gti, pulsar SSS, focus st170 etc were all "hot hatches" in australia a while ago...

the only reason that the current climate sees any interest surround cars like the polo gti, mini cooper S (if you like spending $76k on a hatchback, i've seen new 'drive away' examples on carsales recently), audi a1 sport, swift sport, etc etc is probably partially due to word of mouth, proliferation of more niche car knowledge thanks to the internet (and the fact that you can tune them with results), and the fact that in backwater australia, people are just starting to realise that yes, you CAN have a zippy car that's chuckable, practical, easy to drive in the city, and doesnt penalise you $140 every week at the fuel pump.

i remember when people would tell me how fast their V6 magnas were, and there are still plenty of people who would extoll the virtues of owning an SV6 or XR6 as "sports cars" simply because of their mediocre straight line ability (although they often omit the cornering inability).

as far as im concerned, the market has always been there.... it's just growing a little larger in australia now (given that most of australia is a couple of decades behind europe - im sure back then, and even now, most people here would choose a 6cyl VN commodore over a Renault Clio Williams, which is like choosing a 7 hour old roast beef roll from a truck stop, over a perfectly cooked rib eye steak, but that's just my opinion).

the proposed fiesta ST would be very welcome here, i'd hope (and i've always had a thing for ford hatches too)... sure, the front fascia looks like the snout on my black & decker portable handheld vacuum cleaner, but if it helps competition, and helps drive prices down in the "hot hatch" markets (does a clio RS really need to cost $38,000?!?!?!?!?!), then i say bring it on.

[Molotov]

im not sure if the polo "created" anything new...

Nice analysis Scott. Very true. By "new" I was referring to 'Micro-hatches (is there official term?) in Australia'. I always think of the certified "hot hatches" as being the likes of the Golf Gti, WRX, Megane RS 250 etc.

As there seems to be more and more demand for smaller and smaller cars, the Polo Gti seems to be the first of its kind in Australia that has genuine performance attributes at a sub-30k price. You're right, prior to this there was the Clio RS and the Mini but both of these strike me more as enthusiast and/or yuppy toys.

[goodfella]

+1 from me!

I think its alway been a massive Marketing undertaking to try pitch these hot hatched variants at the Aussie market due to the solid brainwashing common motorists have received from the local (goverment funded) manufacturers. With more and more kids staying home longer vs the shrinking aussie dream of 1/4 acre blocks, I think 6/8 cyl Falcodores are destined for the history books. Even GM sees the potential/future here in Aust due to their decision to trade OPEL branded small/medium sector cars here, even then thats most prob a counter attack on Fords Euro-brigade entering the wire!

I dont want the few thousand workers in Adel or Melb to lose their livelihoods, but the sooner the Government cans the dole payouts to Fold'en and Hoard, then a hopeful by-product might be that our local motorsports will regain some excitement with real multi marque racing, in turn reinvigorating the smaller car segment.

Ok, flame suit readied

im not sure if the polo "created" anything new...

cars like the RS clio II, mk3 vr6, swift gti, pulsar SSS, focus st170 etc were all "hot hatches" in australia a while ago...

the only reason that the current climate sees any interest surround cars like the polo gti, mini cooper S (if you like spending $76k on a hatchback, i've seen new 'drive away' examples on carsales recently), audi a1 sport, swift sport, etc etc is probably partially due to word of mouth, proliferation of more niche car knowledge thanks to the internet (and the fact that you can tune them with results), and the fact that in backwater australia, people are just starting to realise that yes, you CAN have a zippy car that's chuckable, practical, easy to drive in the city, and doesnt penalise you $140 every week at the fuel pump.

i remember when people would tell me how fast their V6 magnas were, and there are still plenty of people who would extoll the virtues of owning an SV6 or XR6 as "sports cars" simply because of their mediocre straight line ability (although they often omit the cornering inability).

as far as im concerned, the market has always been there.... it's just growing a little larger in australia now (given that most of australia is a couple of decades behind europe - im sure back then, and even now, most people here would choose a 6cyl VN commodore over a Renault Clio Williams, which is like choosing a 7 hour old roast beef roll from a truck stop, over a perfectly cooked rib eye steak, but that's just my opinion).

the proposed fiesta ST would be very welcome here, i'd hope (and i've always had a thing for ford hatches too)... sure, the front fascia looks like the snout on my black & decker portable handheld vacuum cleaner, but if it helps competition, and helps drive prices down in the "hot hatch" markets (does a clio RS really need to cost $38,000?!?!?!?!?!), then i say bring it on.

[pologti18t]

GM Holden can see the writing on the wall... that's why they are building the Cruze here (underneath it is essentially the astra). As such it can house all the engines that the Astra can as well as Volt derived drivetrains.
The new Barina can also house any of the GM worldwide drivetrains (1.8 ecotec, 1.4 turbo etc etc).
The commodore will see incremental fuel economy improvements in the next few years.

Over the years I have had a few hot hatches - N14 SSS, 306 XSi and GTI6 (one of the best ever) and a few warm ones - Astra SRi 2.2 and Polo GTI.

[sabloke]

Nice analysis Scott. Very true. By "new" I was referring to 'Micro-hatches (is there official term?) in Australia'. I always think of the certified "hot hatches" as being the likes of the Golf Gti, WRX, Megane RS 250 etc.

As there seems to be more and more demand for smaller and smaller cars, the Polo Gti seems to be the first of its kind in Australia that has genuine performance attributes at a sub-30k price. You're right, prior to this there was the Clio RS and the Mini but both of these strike me more as enthusiast and/or yuppy toys.

You're right, the Clio and Mini are not hot hatches. I'd rather call them "racing hatches" Wish there were more of these puppies to chose from... Not bad the Fiesta I guess but not nearly hardcore enough for my liking.

[Mi16 Man]

.....the Clio RS and the Mini but both of these strike me more as enthusiast and/or yuppy toys.

RSC 172/182/197/200 are not yuppy cars....they are true enthusiast cars.

Mini however appeals to the mainstream 'style' crowd. Make mine a JCW Works however but, at double the price of a 6N GTI....

[Buller_Scott]

our local motorsports will regain some excitement with real multi marque racing

i cant believe you just uttered the "words that must not be said"!!!

i dont think australia has the manpower nor resources to clean up the trillions of hairballs covering each race venue, after all the for'den fans have torn their hair out whilst watching their favorite fleet / taxi / family cars being beaten by other marques...

surely our beloved v8 racing scene has proudly proven to the world just how redneck we really are! we can't renege on that!

[Corey_R]

Even NASCAR let Toyota in....
... and the fans got over it and even embrace it. Australian V8 Supercars need a change in administration so that they stop penalising and/or putting drivers on probation for sneezing! It don't have to get to "boys have at it" or even "rubbing is racing", but geez, sometimes cars touch... deal with it. lol

[Hail22]

Just let a DTM Audi/Merc Vs the V8s muhahah it will be like when the R32 Godzilla chewed up the ford and holdens each race xD

[Buller_Scott]

Australian V8 Supercars need a change in administration so that they stop penalising and/or putting drivers on probation for sneezing! It don't have to get to "boys have at it" or even "rubbing is racing", but geez, sometimes cars touch... deal with it. lol

then again, we ARE a nation which has cities that are trying to introduce fines for texting whilst walking, as well as swearing in public (with the exception of the word "bloody", which the media will have us believe is a word that should bolster nationalistic pride and empowerment of some sort) lol