There have, of course, been forays into the more track-focused market before with the 340R and S1 and S2 Sport 190s. They weren't quite the success that Lotus had perhaps envisaged.
VW Golf R faces off against Cupra Leon 333 – car pictures of the week
Hot hatches are getting thin on the ground, but the VW stable is still in the game with the Cupra Leon 333 4Drive and Golf R. These are our favourite …