The world would have been a much better place if they had.
Hot hatches are a special kind of vehicle, historically representing an entry to the world of performance cars in a manner that’s affordable, fun, and with enough power to exploit, but not enough to get you into trouble. While some hot hatches, though not many, follow those traits, modern equivalents are pricey things offering the performance of decade old supercars. However, some hot hatches have been relegated to the history books, having never reached production despite their crazy ambitions. We’ve selected 10 hot hatches that were never fated to be.
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Citroen Visa by Lotus
We start this list off with a golden oldie. Back in 1981, French automaker,
Citroen, decided they wanted to take on the World Rally Championship. Rivals,
Renault, had the Renault 5 Turbo which was decimating almost everything, so the
task ahead was tough. Citroen teamed up with Lotus to create the Visa by Lotus,
which was essentially the body of a hatchback from the Frenchmen, loaded atop
the chassis of a Lotus Esprit. It generated 210 horsepower from a 2.2 liter
engine, mated to a 5-speed gearbox.
![]()
Sadly, testing proved that the Visa by Lotus wasn’t sturdy enough for
competition, and the debut of the Audi Quattro ensured that the Visa By Lotus
never made production. It’s rumored that two were made, one located at the
Citroen museum, and the other residing somewhere unknown.
![]()
Renault Clio RS16 Concept
To celebrate 40 years of Renault’s Renault Sport (RS) division, the brand
released a tantalizing 2016 concept that many had hoped would reach production.
Sadly, it never did, but the Clio RS16 was based on the brand’s smallest hot
hatch, the Clio RS, and equipped with the running gear from the senior Megane RS
hot hatch that dominated the Nurburgring on many occasions. To that end, a
2.0-liter turbo 4 cylinder generated 271 horsepower, channeled to the front
wheels through a 6-speed manual gearbox.
![]()
That last bit was absolute gold, as the standard Clio RS was and still is
only available with a twin-clutch automatic. It weighed around 2600 pounds, and
rumors suggested it would be the quickest front-drive car around the ‘Ring. But
it was just a concept, never destined for anything more.
![]()
VW Golf R400
There is still hope in some circles that the Golf R400 might reach production eventually,
despite Dieselgate effectively canning development on the hyper-hatch. Based on
the all-wheel drive Golf R, the R400 turned the wick up on the EA888 engine to
develop 400 hp from its 2.0-liter capacity. It was said to be reliable too, and
when paired with the DSG dual-clutch auto ‘box and AWD, the R400 was set to
reshape the hot-hatch game forever. But 2015 wasn’t a good year for Volkswagen,
and funds had to be redirected towards crisis management after Dieselgate,
halting development on the road-going R400. Still, we silently hope for its
resurrection.
![]()
![]()
Volvo C30 Polestar Concept
At a time when Volvo was known for safety more than anything else, the C30
was the first model to inject some real style into the brand. Polestar, before
they were bought out by Volvo and went electric, handled development of Volvo’s
racing exploits, and decided to turn the C30 into something maniacal to
celebrate victory in the 2009 Swedish Touring Car Championship. The 2.5-liter
turbo 5 cylinder was tuned to develop 456 hp, mated to a Haldex all-wheel drive
system, and a six-speed manual gearbox.
![]()
0-62 mph was achieved in 4.2 seconds and a pair of Quiafe differentials were
employed to help aid agility. Nothing this manic ever reached production though,
with only the Rebel Blue paintwork reaching showroom floors
![]()
Renault TwinRun
Renault’s latest generation Twingo is a compact hatchback sharing a platform
with the Smart ForTwo and ForFour, including the rear-mounted engine (in Smarts
we no longer get here). Renault saw fit to imbibe the Twingo with the spirit of
the R5 Turbo and Clio V6, dropping in a 3.5-liter V6 between the rear wheels
that developed 320 hp. It naturally drove the rear wheels, and thanks to
fiberglass body panels, the TwinRun concept would’ve been immensely fast. It
likely would’ve been dangerous on the road, too, and as such it was limited to
the realm of concepts.
![]()
![]()
Audi A1 Clubsport Quattro
Audi may be somewhat losing its touch when it comes to performance lately,
but that doesn’t mean it can’t create an insane concept or two. The A1 Clubsport
Quattro took the compact A1, and equipped it with all-wheel drive and Audi’s
award winning 2.5-liter turbo 5-pot. It generated a mammoth 500 hp, enabling a
0-62 mph sprint of 3.7 seconds, and 0-124 mph sprint of 10.9s. All this was
managed with a 6-speed manual gearbox – but sadly it never reached the
production line, and remained a Worthersee special.
![]()
![]()
Peugeot 308 R HYbrid
The 308 is Peugeot's Golf rivaling hatch with a 308 GTI already fighting the
hot hatch battle in Europe. But the 308 R HYbrid of 2016 upped the ante
significantly. Equipped with all-wheel drive, the 308 R HYbrid utilized a
1.6-liter turbo engine developing 268 hp, mated to two 114-hp electric motors on
the rear axle to develop a total maximum output of 494 hp. An automatic 6-speed
handled shift work, enabling a four second 0-62 mph time, whilst the hybrid
drivetrain enabled a theoretical 94 mpg.
![]()
![]()
Renault ZOE e-Sport Concept
Electric cars are seemingly the future of mobility, but what’s a car without
a performance version to have some fun with? Renault decided to showcase what
electricity could do, taking the drivetrain from its Formula E racer and
dropping into a bespoke version of the ZOE e-Sport Concept. It was by no means
production ready, with virtually no sound deadening or refinement, but the 460
hp output, paired with the 3,200 lbs weight, ensured 0-62 mph took 3.2 seconds
before reaching a top speed of 130 mph in under 10 seconds. The ZOE e-Sport sure
proves the future is exciting – if anything like this ever reaches
production.
![]()
![]()
Opel Astra OPC EXTREME
Throughout the rest of the world, Opel’s Astra has rivalled the VW Golf for
generations, with the OPC version providing a hardcore alternative to the
all-rounder GTI. In 2014, an even more hardcore model was proposed. Dubbed the
Astra OPC EXTREME, the 3-door coupe hatchback boosted power outputs from its
2.0-liter turbo motor to 300 hp, while reducing weight with carbon-fiber body
panels and wheels. Six point racing harnesses, racing seats, and a roll-cage
were included too. The OPC EXTREME was once touted for production pending public
reception, but GM eventually offloaded the brand to Peugeot,
ending that possibility with it.
![]()
![]()
VW Golf W650
The Volkswagen Golf GTI W12 650 Concept reads like a cat across a keyboard,
but the 2007 concept was the definition of insanity when it debuted. Based on
the Golf 5 GTI, the show car was equipped with a 641-hp 6.0-liter twin-turbo
W12, mounted behind the front seats and delivering power to the rear axle. A
six-speed automatic gearbox handled all the power, ensuring 0-62 mph in just 3.7
seconds before topping out north of 200 mph. The insane concept was lower,
wider, and meaner than any standard GTI, but was developed purely as a show car
for the annual Worthersee show.
![]()
![]()
Hot hatches are a special kind of vehicle, historically representing an entry to the world of performance cars in a manner that’s affordable, fun, and with enough power to exploit, but not enough to get you into trouble. While some hot hatches, though not many, follow those traits, modern equivalents are pricey things offering the performance of decade old supercars. However, some hot hatches have been relegated to the history books, having never reached production despite their crazy ambitions. We’ve selected 10 hot hatches that were never fated to be.
Citroen Visa by Lotus
We start this list off with a golden oldie. Back in 1981, French automaker,
Citroen, decided they wanted to take on the World Rally Championship. Rivals,
Renault, had the Renault 5 Turbo which was decimating almost everything, so the
task ahead was tough. Citroen teamed up with Lotus to create the Visa by Lotus,
which was essentially the body of a hatchback from the Frenchmen, loaded atop
the chassis of a Lotus Esprit. It generated 210 horsepower from a 2.2 liter
engine, mated to a 5-speed gearbox.
Sadly, testing proved that the Visa by Lotus wasn’t sturdy enough for
competition, and the debut of the Audi Quattro ensured that the Visa By Lotus
never made production. It’s rumored that two were made, one located at the
Citroen museum, and the other residing somewhere unknown.
Renault Clio RS16 Concept
To celebrate 40 years of Renault’s Renault Sport (RS) division, the brand
released a tantalizing 2016 concept that many had hoped would reach production.
Sadly, it never did, but the Clio RS16 was based on the brand’s smallest hot
hatch, the Clio RS, and equipped with the running gear from the senior Megane RS
hot hatch that dominated the Nurburgring on many occasions. To that end, a
2.0-liter turbo 4 cylinder generated 271 horsepower, channeled to the front
wheels through a 6-speed manual gearbox.
That last bit was absolute gold, as the standard Clio RS was and still is
only available with a twin-clutch automatic. It weighed around 2600 pounds, and
rumors suggested it would be the quickest front-drive car around the ‘Ring. But
it was just a concept, never destined for anything more.
VW Golf R400
There is still hope in some circles that the Golf R400 might reach production eventually,
despite Dieselgate effectively canning development on the hyper-hatch. Based on
the all-wheel drive Golf R, the R400 turned the wick up on the EA888 engine to
develop 400 hp from its 2.0-liter capacity. It was said to be reliable too, and
when paired with the DSG dual-clutch auto ‘box and AWD, the R400 was set to
reshape the hot-hatch game forever. But 2015 wasn’t a good year for Volkswagen,
and funds had to be redirected towards crisis management after Dieselgate,
halting development on the road-going R400. Still, we silently hope for its
resurrection.
Volvo C30 Polestar Concept
At a time when Volvo was known for safety more than anything else, the C30
was the first model to inject some real style into the brand. Polestar, before
they were bought out by Volvo and went electric, handled development of Volvo’s
racing exploits, and decided to turn the C30 into something maniacal to
celebrate victory in the 2009 Swedish Touring Car Championship. The 2.5-liter
turbo 5 cylinder was tuned to develop 456 hp, mated to a Haldex all-wheel drive
system, and a six-speed manual gearbox.
0-62 mph was achieved in 4.2 seconds and a pair of Quiafe differentials were
employed to help aid agility. Nothing this manic ever reached production though,
with only the Rebel Blue paintwork reaching showroom floors
Renault TwinRun
Renault’s latest generation Twingo is a compact hatchback sharing a platform
with the Smart ForTwo and ForFour, including the rear-mounted engine (in Smarts
we no longer get here). Renault saw fit to imbibe the Twingo with the spirit of
the R5 Turbo and Clio V6, dropping in a 3.5-liter V6 between the rear wheels
that developed 320 hp. It naturally drove the rear wheels, and thanks to
fiberglass body panels, the TwinRun concept would’ve been immensely fast. It
likely would’ve been dangerous on the road, too, and as such it was limited to
the realm of concepts.
Audi A1 Clubsport Quattro
Audi may be somewhat losing its touch when it comes to performance lately,
but that doesn’t mean it can’t create an insane concept or two. The A1 Clubsport
Quattro took the compact A1, and equipped it with all-wheel drive and Audi’s
award winning 2.5-liter turbo 5-pot. It generated a mammoth 500 hp, enabling a
0-62 mph sprint of 3.7 seconds, and 0-124 mph sprint of 10.9s. All this was
managed with a 6-speed manual gearbox – but sadly it never reached the
production line, and remained a Worthersee special.
Peugeot 308 R HYbrid
The 308 is Peugeot's Golf rivaling hatch with a 308 GTI already fighting the
hot hatch battle in Europe. But the 308 R HYbrid of 2016 upped the ante
significantly. Equipped with all-wheel drive, the 308 R HYbrid utilized a
1.6-liter turbo engine developing 268 hp, mated to two 114-hp electric motors on
the rear axle to develop a total maximum output of 494 hp. An automatic 6-speed
handled shift work, enabling a four second 0-62 mph time, whilst the hybrid
drivetrain enabled a theoretical 94 mpg.
Renault ZOE e-Sport Concept
Electric cars are seemingly the future of mobility, but what’s a car without
a performance version to have some fun with? Renault decided to showcase what
electricity could do, taking the drivetrain from its Formula E racer and
dropping into a bespoke version of the ZOE e-Sport Concept. It was by no means
production ready, with virtually no sound deadening or refinement, but the 460
hp output, paired with the 3,200 lbs weight, ensured 0-62 mph took 3.2 seconds
before reaching a top speed of 130 mph in under 10 seconds. The ZOE e-Sport sure
proves the future is exciting – if anything like this ever reaches
production.
Opel Astra OPC EXTREME
Throughout the rest of the world, Opel’s Astra has rivalled the VW Golf for
generations, with the OPC version providing a hardcore alternative to the
all-rounder GTI. In 2014, an even more hardcore model was proposed. Dubbed the
Astra OPC EXTREME, the 3-door coupe hatchback boosted power outputs from its
2.0-liter turbo motor to 300 hp, while reducing weight with carbon-fiber body
panels and wheels. Six point racing harnesses, racing seats, and a roll-cage
were included too. The OPC EXTREME was once touted for production pending public
reception, but GM eventually offloaded the brand to Peugeot,
ending that possibility with it.
VW Golf W650
The Volkswagen Golf GTI W12 650 Concept reads like a cat across a keyboard,
but the 2007 concept was the definition of insanity when it debuted. Based on
the Golf 5 GTI, the show car was equipped with a 641-hp 6.0-liter twin-turbo
W12, mounted behind the front seats and delivering power to the rear axle. A
six-speed automatic gearbox handled all the power, ensuring 0-62 mph in just 3.7
seconds before topping out north of 200 mph. The insane concept was lower,
wider, and meaner than any standard GTI, but was developed purely as a show car
for the annual Worthersee show.
