SMALL AFFORDABLE SUERCARS

We use cookies to give you the best experience on our website and bring you more relevant advertising. Learn more about cookies OK JOBS HOMES MOTORS Book an Ad Business directory Local Info Dating Exchange and Mart Register Sign in Impartial Reporter News Sport Announcements Opinion Business What's on E-Edition Jobs Classifieds 22nd April 2015 The Rise of the Small Supercar: Three Super Hot Hatches Compared When you think of a supercar, you tend to think of huge, thundering great Ferraris or Lamborghinis, but a number of far more accessible (and affordable) manufacturers have begun to pack that supercar capability into the light and seemingly innocent bodies of cars such as the innocuous Ford Fiesta. Indeed, the Fiesta ST might look much like a regular hatchback at first glance, but a closer look reveals its sports styling with a rear spoiler, accentuated side skirts and a much firmer, tougher look on the road. Inside the engine bay, the 1.6-litre turbocharged engine throws out an extraordinary 180bhp with Ford’s accredited tuners, Mountune, offering an upgrade to a whopping 217bhp for those who really want to push the boat out. The only problem is, it’ll still be a Ford Fiesta. A little more badge cachet can be had with the Mini Cooper S, which has the option of a 2-litre four-cylinder turbo engine kicking out 189bhp and 206lb/ft of torque. Again, it’s a firm ride with switchable active dampers as an option, although a limited-slip differential isn’t included. Frankly, the 2-litre engine doesn’t feel like it has the kick of the previous Mini’s 1.6, which is pretty disappointing. The Fiesta and the Mini are both credible options, but the only problem is that they both still feel like hot hatches. They’re good, make no mistake about that, but there’s something missing. Enter Fiat’s 695 Biposto, manufactured under the sporty Abarth badge. They’re pitching it as ‘the world’s smallest supercar’, and at first glance it does seem as though that may be pushing it a little bit. Frankly, it looks like a Fiat 500 with side skirts and a spoiler. But appearances can be deceiving... As soon as you open the door in the Abarth you’re greeted by having to strap yourself into racing seats with four-point harnesses. There’s an H-patterned dog ring gearbox and the whole interior seems to be just slightly beyond what you’d find in any other hot hatch, making you feel like you’re sat in a real supercar. There’s only a 1.4-litre turbo under the bonnet, but that engine has come straight from Abarth’s Formula 4 single-seater series model. In short, it has a top speed of 143mph and will get to 60 in well under 6 seconds. The Abarth is nippy through the corners and the gearbox is superbly manufactured to make driving the car a breeze. For real racers, gear changes can be done without using the clutch, but crunching can ensue if you don’t know what you’re doing. One downside to the Abarth is that it’s not cheap. Prices start at £32,955 and you’ll be shelling out upwards of £50,000 for the top model. Quite a bit for a car that’s only available in one colour. The Fiesta ST, on the other hand, can be bought for as little as £17,250, with even the top model coming in at under £20,000. The Mini is a similar price, starting at £18,650 but rising to over £30,000 if you go for all the optional extras. Frankly, though, if money is an issue you probably shouldn’t be looking at cars with ‘super’ in the class name. For this reason alone, the Abarth wins it in our eyes. Sponsored stories Toyota, Panasonic teaming to standardize electric-car batteries Toyota, Panasonic teaming to standardize electric-car batteries Nikkei Asian Review Did You Take Out a Mortgage Between 1988-2011? Did You Take Out a Mortgage Between 1988-2011? PPI Checker Extremely Brilliant Way To Check If You Had PPI Extremely Brilliant Way To Check If You Had PPI We Fight Any Claim Egg customers are being refunded thousands! Egg customers are being refunded thousands! Consumer Refunds I’m A Celebrity 2017: Joe Swash sacked amid Ant McPartlin feud? ‘No one’s job is safe’I’m A Celebrity 2017: Joe Swash sacked amid Ant McPartlin feud? ‘No one’s job is safe’ I’m A Celebrity 2017: Joe Swash sacked amid Ant McPartlin feud?… The Express Strictly Come Dancing 2017: Gemma Atkinson admits things are 'awkward' with Debbie McGee Strictly Come Dancing 2017: Gemma Atkinson admits things are… The Express Recommended by Sponsored Recommendations Ads powered by plista AD £16 per month, with 5GB 4G UK data Vodafone Jane Park offers ex-Rangers player Steven Whittaker money to retire from football news Ronkswood man banned from Worcester Cathedral news Football fans who red-carded Thatcher would be 'criminalised' under new law news Most popular 1Patients forced to abandon vehicles in parking 'bedlam' 2Teenagers caught on CCTV stealing beer 3Council to quiz firm: where are the 800 jobs? 454 year old faces jail after kick results in death of dog 5Families' heartbreak for lifeline service 6Immense sadness at the passing of 48 year old Dale Lyttle 7Devenish Island boat death: police release photo of Lu Na McKinney 8Referees’ secretary hits out at abuse of officials with one ref even spat at after a game 9Meet Your United Champion 10Blackmail accused fails in bid to get bail conditions changed 11Treacherous ice causing problems for motorists and pedestrians 12Business: Harrod's 'halo effect' for this unique dress-up brand 13Crime drama Bancroft marred by mumbling, say viewers 14Oisin McGrath manslaughter case: Playground tussle over football led to untimely and tragic death 15Mums of premature babies to help their 'lifeline' charity 16Ex-partner feared drunk man was going to hit her 17Council to seek special status for Northern Ireland in 27 EU letters 18Almost £13 million spent on looked after children services in one year 19Willowbridge School's £4m new extension is officially open 20Annual sit-out raises thousands for charity Read more Get involved with the news in your community Send your stories and photos now People who read this article also read Celebrating with family and friends Celebrating with family and friends Who owns BMW sports car which hasn't moved in four months? Who owns BMW sports car which hasn't moved in four months? Owner and tenant of site ‘not consulted’ about Enniskillen bombing memorial plan Owner and tenant of site ‘not consulted’ about Enniskillen bombing memorial plan Charlie Warmington: A trip through Fermanagh’s track and train past Charlie Warmington: A trip through Fermanagh’s track and train past Most popular 1Patients forced to abandon vehicles in parking 'bedlam' 2Teenagers caught on CCTV stealing beer 3Council to quiz firm: where are the 800 jobs? 454 year old faces jail after kick results in death of dog 5Families' heartbreak for lifeline service 6Immense sadness at the passing of 48 year old Dale Lyttle 7Devenish Island boat death: police release photo of Lu Na McKinney 8Referees’ secretary hits out at abuse of officials with one ref even spat at after a game 9Meet Your United Champion 10Blackmail accused fails in bid to get bail conditions changed 11Treacherous ice causing problems for motorists and pedestrians 12Business: Harrod's 'halo effect' for this unique dress-up brand 13Crime drama Bancroft marred by mumbling, say viewers 14Oisin McGrath manslaughter case: Playground tussle over football led to untimely and tragic death 15Mums of premature babies to help their 'lifeline' charity 16Ex-partner feared drunk man was going to hit her 17Council to seek special status for Northern Ireland in 27 EU letters 18Almost £13 million spent on looked after children services in one year 19Willowbridge School's £4m new extension is officially open 20Annual sit-out raises thousands for charity Read more Comments are closed on this article. Advertise AdChoices AdChoices Archive Topics Announcements Site Map Exchange and Mart Dating Contact Us Terms & Conditions Contributor Terms Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Newsquest Printing IPSO REGULATED This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's Editors' Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then please contact the editor here. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can contact IPSO here 0|1|0 ©Copyright 2001-2017. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. A Gannett Company. Newsquest Clyde & Forth Ltd Loudwater Mill, Station Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. HP10 9TY