Diesel Super Hatch

[Shambler]

When it comes to diesel hot hatches you have the usual GTD offerings but why has no manufacturer released a high power diesel hatch? For example a Diesel S3 with the biturbo engine or a 135d surely there would be a decent enough market. In fact is there a hotter diesel hatch out there than the 125d?

[ChrisNic]

I was about to answer with a comment about problems having the weight of a big Diesel engine in the front of a small, "light" car.

A manual F30 335i appears to weigh more than an automatic 330d which is surprising.

[aspirated]

I've always wondered what a tuned VAG 2.0 BiTDI found in the commercial vans would be like in a Golf/A3 etc, maybe a conversion might be possible.

[Patrick Bateman]

A hot hatch is meant to be fun, no?

Edited by Patrick Bateman on Monday 3rd February 19:01

[Baryonyx]

Patrick Bateman said:

A hit hatch is meant to be fun, no?

This.

[wemorgan]

speculation:

larger engines might not package in smaller body
sales too small to warrant development investment
sales might be at the expense of sale of larger car from same OEM

[aspirated]

Baryonyx said:

Patrick Bateman said:

A hit hatch is meant to be fun, no?

This.

I agree, although I think the mk1 Fabia VRS proved a diesel warm/hot hatch doesn't have to be boring/soulless

[Jonny_]

Patrick Bateman said:

A hot hatch is meant to be fun, no?

Edited by Patrick Bateman on Monday 3rd February 19:01

Immense low- and mid-rpm torque in a (theoretically) small, light and nimble vehicle doesn't sound good for a giggle?

[Escy]

Toyota Auris SR180?

[Patrick Bateman]

Jonny_ said:

Immense low- and mid-rpm torque in a (theoretically) small, light and nimble vehicle doesn't sound good for a giggle?

Revving the nuts off a petrol engine is fun, low down grunt that diminishes towards the redline is not.

[jimbop1]

I always thought the 123d used its turbos well for a Diesel engine. It had the large turbo for low down grunt (like any other T Diesel) and then a second smaller turbo to help take all the power to the red line.

[Jonny_]

Patrick Bateman said:

Revving the nuts off a petrol engine is fun, low down grunt that diminishes towards the redline is not.

Not quite that clear cut IMO. Depends on the engine in question, good and bad examples around both in petrol and diesel form.

Might just be me, but drop, for example, the 170bhp TDi engine out of the Passat into a Polo and I reckon it'd be a riot to drive. Wheelspin and torque steer aplenty, laggy "nothing, nothing, nothing... WHOOOSH" power delivery... Frantically change up before it falls off and repeat. Sounds like an 80s turbo hatch to me!

[Disco_Biscuit]

jimbop1 said:

I always thought the 123d used its turbos well for a Diesel engine. It had the large turbo for low down grunt (like any other T Diesel) and then a second smaller turbo to help take all the power to the red line.

It's the other way around

[FRMATT]

The Mk4 Seat Ibiza Cupra diesel has 160bhp as standard. It's not really been replaced in the latest version though. The slightly less powerful PD130 engine in the FR and Mk1 Fabia VRS was/is very popular and a stage 1 remap takes them to 160-170bhp and 300lbsft. PD130 was available in 9n3 Polos, but they are quite rare.

[decadent]

Astra has the Bi Turbo, cira 192hp. BUT it doesn't seem to be that much quicker than the GTD/Leon FR Tdi 170.

I had the FR CR 170 TDi and that was pretty decent tbf. Power delivery was more linear than the old PD units and it actually pulled up to the higher end of the (low) rev range.

[NadiR]

Wasn't there a diesel Renaultsport Megane a few years ago?

[C.A.R.]

I think the closest thing is the Leon FR TDi as already mentioned. There's the Toyota Auris T180 which seems like a bit of a sleeper, kind of like a fast school-run-mums car!

Matter of time though, what with the current obsession with diesel power.

[JamesD1]

i love diesel cars and think that it would be nice to see a super diesel but to be fair when you start upping the power on a diesel you start knocking out its mpg and making lots of black smoke. i know its not very ph to worry about fuel consumption but surely thats why we like dervs?

i think there have been a few deisel's that have offered big power 123d as an example.

[Alfahorn]

C.A.R. said:

I think the closest thing is the Leon FR TDi as already mentioned. There's the Toyota Auris T180 which seems like a bit of a sleeper, kind of like a fast school-run-mums car!

Matter of time though, what with the current obsession with diesel power.

My car is faster than the Leon.

[JustADay]

Escy said:

Toyota Auris SR180?

Is the first term you think of to describe a diesel Auris really diesel super hatch?