Latest news with #performanceCars
Motor 1
2 hours ago
- Automotive
- Motor 1
Weird Elantra N Sales Surge Likely Isn't a Sport Sedan Comeback
Popularity for the humble sedan has faltered over the years, as buyers turn to more practical, higher-riding crossovers. Likewise, affordable performance cars aren't nearly as popular as they were, say, 20 years ago. That's why we're so surprised to hear the Hyundai Elantra N , a sporty sedan, just had its best sales month ever. Sadly, it's likely not a big a deal as you think. Hyundai reported May sales numbers this week, highlighting a massive 141-percent increase in Elantra N sales—the best single month for the trim since its introduction in 2021. While the company doesn't break down units sold by trim, the N's sales milestone comes as part of a 24-percent increase in sales for the Elantra overall, with 15,741 units sold. Don't get us wrong, the Elantra N is an excellent car. It punches above its weight, offering similar performance and smiles to cars that cost five figures more . But a 141-percent jump is an anomaly to big to be explained by enthusiast demand. The real reason behind the spike? It's likely due to the car's refresh, which occurred in early 2024 . When a car is replaced or refreshed, its assembly plant has to be shut down to retool for new body panels and other updates. The pause in production means dealers aren't receiving as many units, which leads to a temporary sales slump. That's what likely happened here. Dealers probably weren't able to sell many Elantra Ns last May simply because they didn't have any in stock. So comparatively, sales jumped in 2025, when inventory normalized. The addition of an automatic transmission also likely helped. That's just a theory, of course. We've reached out to Hyundai for a more concrete explanation. We'll be sure to update this article when we hear back. Either way, for the Elantra N to have its best sales month ever in 2025, four years after it went on sale, is impressive. Enthusiast-focused cars usually have the opposite occur, with the biggest sales happening at the beginning of the lifecycle. This milestone is further proof people still want affordable, fun sedans. More on the Elantra N Hyundai Slaps a Big Wing on the Elantra N The Hyundai Elantra N Nearly Dethroned the Civic Type R in a Race Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Auto Express
3 hours ago
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Help! I need a £23k hot hatch that's practical and well-equipped
Dear Auto Express, I'm looking for a hot family hatchback with plenty of performance and kit for around £23,000. What are my options? - David Wallis, E-mail Great hot hatchbacks seamlessly blend into your daily life, then deliver a thrilling driving experience at the right moment, on the right road. Investing in a used hot hatch can be a great move, too, as you can enjoy loads of thrills for a bargain price, all while being able to ferry the family about at the same time. Advertisement - Article continues below The Volkswagen Golf GTI has always leaned a touch more towards the sensible side, but for most drivers that's no bad thing. Adding a dose of power and athleticism to the standard Golf is a recipe that has produced some of the greatest hot hatchbacks of the past 50 years or so, with the seventh generation of this motoring icon being one of the best. By contrast, the Ford Focus ST has always been more playful, and with production of the Focus winding down, these cars are hot property on the used market. Then there's the Hyundai i30 N. This was the Korean brand's first performance car, but it absolutely nails the hot hatch brief, with a range of talents to worry its established rivals – and not many 155mph cars have a five-year warranty. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Here's our expert pick of the three best used hot hatches available for £23,000, together with links to buy them through our Find a Car service … For: Straight-line punch, exciting handling, spacious cabin Straight-line punch, exciting handling, spacious cabin Against: Firm ride, limited choice on the used market Fast Fords have always been exuberant cars, and the fourth-generation Focus ST is no exception. It's quicker than the Volkswagen and Hyundai, and it really shines in the corners. Quick, positive steering and a grippy front end encourage you to get stuck in, although the trade-off is a firm ride around town. Advertisement - Article continues below The Mk4 Ford Focus ST was launched in 2019, so there should be a good selection of cars that are now within this budget. For around £20,000 it's now possible to find a 2019 Focus ST that's covered roughly 16,000 miles. The Focus ST's interior might be borrowed from lesser Ford Focus models, but Ford has distinguished it in key areas. The ST gets a thicker, flat-bottom steering wheel and excellent Recaro bucket seats to hold you in place in the bends, plus sporty red stitching. Build quality is good, if not quite as solid as the Golf's, and the Ford has an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and a DAB radio. The ST gets an upgraded B&O stereo, too, and the cabin is roomy; there's plenty of space for rear-seat passengers, with more legroom than in the Hyundai, and a respectable 375-litre boot. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below See our used Ford Focus ST deals For: Strong pace, involving chassis, five-year warranty Strong pace, involving chassis, five-year warranty Against: Bland cabin, hard ride Hyundai played a real blinder with its first hot hatch. The i30 N offers genuine excitement in a racy body that's as practical as the regular i30's. It's the most aggressive-looking car of this trio, but the i30 N backs up those looks on the move. In optional Performance trim, it outguns the Golf GTI, and the chassis is engaging, but as with the Ford, the price you pay is a harder ride. Advertisement - Article continues below You can pick up a 2019, 33,000-mile i30 N Performance for around £22,500. If your budget stretches a bit further, it should be possible to find a car under five years old which will have some of the original manufacturer's warranty left. Inside, the i30 N struggles to shake off its humble underpinnings. Some of the plastics aren't all that premium, but there are at least a pair of supportive seats and a chunkier steering wheel. There's plenty of scope to adjust the driving position, too, so it's easy to get comfortable. Being Hyundai's flagship performance hatch, the i30 N is well appointed, with an eight-inch touchscreen, nav, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as standard. And although the i30 N isn't the most spacious hot hatch, there is enough room in the rear for most adults. The 381-litre boot is on par with what its competitors offer. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below See our used Hyundai I30 N deals For: Classy looks, well built, slick dynamics Classy looks, well built, slick dynamics Against: Not the most exciting, rivals are more powerful The Volkswagen Golf GTI has long been the jack of all trades among hot hatches. It's not outstanding in any one area, but its broad spread of abilities is undeniably appealing. The iconic hatch arguably reached its peak with this Mk7 model and it involves a classier approach than some rivals. Advertisement - Article continues below The VW takes a similar approach on the road. The Performance Pack version is certainly no slouch, but it's never truly hair-raising. It doesn't come alive like the Focus ST does, with the Volkswagen preferring a neat and tidy approach. For around £22,000, you can get your hands on a facelifted 2019 model with the Performance Pack and 32,000 miles on the clock. The GTI's interior is largely carried over from the standard Golf, but with fantastic build quality, heavily bolstered tartan cloth seats and a sports steering wheel, it feels every bit the premium hot hatch. Admittedly, the VW's cabin design isn't particularly adventurous, but the switchgear feels tight and the GTI is well equipped. An eight-inch touchscreen and DAB radio are standard fit, and later models receive Volkswagen's Active Info Display, which replaces the conventional gauge cluster with a 12.3-inch digital screen. In the back, the GTI is just as accommodating as a standard Golf, with plenty of leg and headroom for a couple of adults, while the 380-litre boot capacity is comparable to what these rivals offer. See our used Volkswagen Golf GTI deals Our dealer network has 1,000s of great value new cars in stock and available now right across the UK. Find your new car… Find a car with the experts Three-car garage: Mercedes CLS, Ford Focus ST and Renault Zoe for the price of a C-Class A brand-new Mercedes C-Class will set you back a minimum of £46,175, or you could have this three-car garage for less… New electric Volkswagen Golf GTI: incoming hot hatch will be a 'monster' The iconic Golf GTI is making the transition to electric power, and here's everything we know about it so far Used Car Hunter: pretty and premium two-door coupes for £25,000 Our Car Hunter has £25,000 to buy a good-looking and upmarket used coupe for £25,000, but which is the best buy? Used Car Hunter: rugged off-road 4x4s for £25,000 Our Car Hunter has £25,000 to find a 4x4 estate or SUV that your dog will comfortably fit in Car Deal of the Day: Super sci-fi Kia EV6 for an exceptional £260 per month Car Deal of the Day: Super sci-fi Kia EV6 for an exceptional £260 per month Our Deal of the Day for 31 May is an extremely attractive price for this extremely capable electric family car Car Deal of the Day: new Omoda 5, with all the kit you might need, for less than £200 per month Car Deal of the Day: new Omoda 5, with all the kit you might need, for less than £200 per month The Omoda 5 is one of the newest arrivals to the family SUV market, and now it's our Deal of the Day for 1 June Audi A3 Sportback 35 TFSI long term test: premium hatch is a joy to live with Audi A3 Sportback 35 TFSI long term test: premium hatch is a joy to live with First report: premium hatch joins our fleet, and its bright metallic paint has already earned it a nickname Long-term tests 1 Jun 2025
Car and Driver
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
View Interior Photos of the 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
Our test car was loaded with performance options, but its interior was the base 1LZ, which is bare-bones by the flashy standards of the C8.
Motor 1
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
2026 BMW M2 CS Revealed: More Power, Less Weight, and Rear-Drive Only
After showing, but not revealing any specifics on the 2026 M2 CS last week, BMW finally released all the juicy details on its hottest baby M Car to date. The story? More power, less weight, two driven wheels, and an MSRP of nearly $100,000. The typical formula for CS cars involves turning up the turbo boost, stripping weight, and stiffening the chassis. For the M2 CS , BMW bumped the twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter straight-six's output to 523 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. That's 50 more hp over the standard, automatic-transmission M2, and an additional 36 lb-ft. As with the other CS models, BMW's eight-speed automatic transmission comes standard. Sorry, no manual. But unlike the M3 , M4, and M5 CS models, this is a pure rear-wheel drive affair. BMW claims a 97-pound weight savings for the M2 CS compared to the regular automatic model. That's thanks mainly to carbon-fiber body panels—including that excellent duck-tail trunk lid—standard forged wheels, and standard carbon-back bucket seats. The M2 CS has a curb weight of 3,770 pounds, which is lighter even than the regular 3,814-pound manual M2. Not exactly light, but BMW M is very good at making cars feel lighter than they actually are, and this is the lightest M car out today by a decent margin. Plus, you can make it lighter still with the optional $8,500 carbon-ceramic brakes. Photo by: BMW Photo by: BMW To accommodate the higher power and lower weight, BMW M increased spring stiffness and retuned the adaptive dampers, electric locking differential, ABS, and traction/stability control systems. Which seems like a good thing when you've got all that power and torque going to the rear wheels only. BMW says the M2 CS hits 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and runs up to a top speed of 188 miles per hour. Big numbers, as is the price, $99,775. While BMW hasn't yet released pricing for the 2026 M2, the 2025 M2 starts at $69,375, so the CS is basically a $30,000 upgrade. On the flip side, it's about $25,000 less than the 2025 M4 CS, which carries a $124,675 MSRP. Production is set to begin at BMW's San Luis Potosí, Mexico plant this August, with deliveries following shortly thereafter. 90 Source: BMW More on BMW- The 2025 BMW M3 Competition Is a German GT-R: Video Review Why BMW's B58 Is a True Successor to the Toyota 2JZ Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Associated Press
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- Associated Press
Edmunds: Five great budget performance cars for under $35,000
New car prices continue to rise for the latest high-performance sports cars. Even a new Chevrolet Corvette, long considered a performance bargain compared to the likes of the Porsche 911, has a starting price of almost $70,000. But that doesn't mean driving enthusiasts on a budget can't find a car that's both fulfilling to drive and genuinely capable. The auto experts at Edmunds have come up with their five favorite performance vehicles for under $35,000. True, you won't be able to buy anything with a V8. The same applies to electric power — the best-value electric performers cost more. But the vehicles listed here have other distinct advantages. All of the following prices include destination fees. Dodge Hornet GT There's some irony in the first vehicle in a list of budget-performance cars not being a car at all. But Dodge's Hornet isn't your usual small SUV. First off, it has an Italian heritage. Though you wouldn't know it by its styling, the Hornet shares much of its mechanical design with the Alfa Romeo Tonale small luxury SUV. Second, it's genuinely powerful for a pint-size SUV. The GT version has a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that cranks out 268 horsepower and is good enough to get you from 0 to 60 mph in about 6.5 seconds. Another bonus: It has standard all-wheel drive for all-season driving and more cargo space than the typical performance car. 2025 Hornet starting price: $31,590 Ford Mustang EcoBoost A Ford Mustang GT with its rumbly V8 is well beyond our $35,000 price cap. But the less expensive Ford Mustang EcoBoost is a viable substitute. Having a turbocharged four-cylinder under the hood might seem like heresy, but you can't argue with the output of 315 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque. With its 10-speed automatic spinning the rear wheels, the Mustang EcoBoost can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in a quick 5.6 seconds. The newest Mustang provides a classic American driving experience while being comfortable, stylish and well equipped with the latest technology features. 2025 Mustang coupe starting price: $33,515 Mazda MX-5 Miata You're as likely to see a Mazda MX-5 Miata roadster in the hands of a cool-headed retiree on lonesome canyon roads as you are spotting one ripping through cones at an autocross. In both cases, the Miata's appeal comes down to the fun-to-drive fundamentals. A four-cylinder engine directs 181 horsepower to the rear wheels through either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. That's not much, but you don't need much when the car is as light as the Miata. A manual-equipped Miata went from 0 to 60 mph in 6.4 seconds at the Edmunds test track. Beyond the numbers, the Miata is all about playfulness. Quick steering, nimble handling and an easy-to-lower top combine to make any drive worthwhile. 2025 MX-5 Miata starting price: $30,715 Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86 The Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86 are mechanically related. Both use a four-cylinder rated at 228 horsepower that sends its power to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission. Edmunds found these cars can sprint to 60 mph in about 6 seconds when equipped with the manual. There's enough power to be entertaining but not enough to get a new driver in too much trouble, making these fantastic beginner's sports cars. And there's a low center of gravity and classic rear-wheel-drive balance to help drivers enjoyably learn about car control. But the Toyabaru twins don't stop being fun once you master them. 2025 Toyota GR86 starting price: $31,135; 2025 Subaru BRZ starting price: $32,380 Volkswagen GTI The Volkswagen GTI is the quintessential budget performance hatchback. It's fun and engaging to drive yet practical and comfortable day to day. Few cars can do as many things as well as the GTI. Its turbocharged four-cylinder engine produces 241 horsepower. For 2025, every GTI has a seven-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. Edmunds has found it's good for a 5.9-second 0-60 mph sprint. Besides performance, the GTI has a spacious cabin and a generous cargo area for its size. The original hot hatch that traces its American lineage all the way back to 1983 is a solid performance value. Starting manufacturer's suggested retail price: $33,640 Edmunds says Spending less than $35,000 can get you a fun vehicle to drive in 2025. Each model here has distinct advantages. You'll likely prefer the Hornet or Golf GTI if space and practicality are priorities. The Miata, BRZ and GR86 all provide a great feel and connection to the road; picking one of these comes down to whether you want a convertible top or the extra security of a coupe. The Mustang can't be beat for its classic pony car styling and heritage. ____ This story was provided to The Associated Press by the automotive website Edmunds . Josh Jacquot is a contributor at Edmunds.
