The hot hatches are the choice for people these days who want mental performance but on a budget. And these souped-up hatches of the new era guarantee unadulterated performance which, in most cases, the supercar owners can only dream of. So even as the testing season is in full swing, our spy sleuths have captured three such hot hatches undergoing intensive testing. The Renault Megane RS Trophy and the Hyundai i30 N-Line were spotted attacking the ‘Ring, whereas the Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG took to the Swiss Alps for some high altitude testing.
Renault Megane RS Trophy
The Trophy adds a hardcore nature to the already-crazy Megane RS. It is expected to produce 300bhp – a 20bhp increase over the RS – with subtraction of unnecessary weight. There will be some cosmetic changes as well to show that the hot hatch means business, but the camouflage test mule showed no aesthetic changes. However, the test mule was riding slightly lower than the standard car. The previous RS Trophy had adjustable Ohlins suspensions and we expect the new one to use the same set-up for an uncompromised handling.
Mercedes-AMG A45
Hiding the aggressive fascia under the scanty camo, the A45 already looks menacing. The older A45 was a benchmark for the hot hatches, and the new one won’t be any different. It is expected to punch out more than 400bhp of raw power in its newest avatar. The test mule had minimalistic camo which fails to hide the aggressive rear bumpers flanked by integrated quad-exhaust set-up. The lowered ride-height adds to the sporty appeal of the A45. Even though it looks production ready, the next-gen A45 AMG will hit the streets only in 2020.
Hyundai i30 N-Line
Hyundai went ballistic with the i30 N with it’s over-the-top performance and engineering. But for those who want the hot hatch without all the hullabaloo of extreme performance, the Korean carmaker is working on a new N-Line. It will have the same design package of the full-fledged N but without the potent motor under the hood. The i30 N-Line mule spotted sans any camouflage had exhaust tips sticking out at the back. Rest of the styling remains unchanged from the i30 N. The N-Line might have a modest 200bhp output when it arrives in a few months.
