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Yeah, so crazy, right!? NEW CATEGORIES! STRAIGHT-UP LOONY!

I find it equally weird that such serious machines would be compared to something as silly as the Veloster. But it is what it is. Rather than coming up with new terms, we as humans tend to expand the definitions of old ones. This is why Ford is releasing an electric crossover they’re calling a “Mustang.” 

Within the context of this topic, with everyone gushing about the turbo, you might understand how I could make that leap. 

You've clearly never used a whole-dumpster trash compactor. 

If power equated to hotness, every car would be "hot" just by virtue of being new. Hot hatches offer a unique experience. This is a commuter, just like most turbo cars on the road. 

Everything these days has more power. A turbo doesn't make a car special to drive anymore. There's a decent chance most of the people who buy these won't even know what a turbo is. There are clearly some boxes left unchecked, and one of them is the manual experience.

I agree. 

And yet, most Miatas and Mustangs sold are still manuals. 

An AMG hot hatch? Those are luxury cars. Hot hatches are made by the likes of Ford and Honda. They’re affordable. The A45s are definitely in a different category from something like the Focus ST.

And why not make a new category? If something doesn’t fit in the previous category, that’s what we do. That’s how the hot…

Many, many economy cars come with turbos these days. Doesn’t make them hot.

As to your other point about “sporty” automatics, that all comes down to tastes. Even the automatic C7 I drove was mostly just frustrating to me. It was distracting. I felt like the car wasn’t giving me the opportunity to enjoy it. Automatics…

Power does not equal hotness. 

I drove one. It was quick, but that’s about all I can say about it. I felt like I wasn’t really needed. Much more of a rider’s car, in my view.

Yes, and all Sis ever since have come with manuals. Because Honda understands that it’s key to the hot hatch experience. 

It sounds like you’ve had some bad experiences in BMWs and Civics. If manual drivers drove like you’re describing every day, we’d wreck our cars in no time. But yeah, we’re not looking to replicate the experience of driving an automatic semi tractor, which sounds like an exercise in stress. We like driving. It’s…

You’re forgetting the massive cost of crash-testing the manual to meet USDOT standards. Since it’s usually a structural element of the car, the car with the different part has to be crash-tested separately. Producing a second transmission option is pricey, and automakers are looking for any excuse they can find to…

Yes, a very long way. Now our cars weigh 3500 lbs and make 250 hp. And they decide when to use it.

And I’m not arguing that you can’t have a good time in an automatic. I’m saying that a manual hot hatch offers a distinct experience that should be preserved. Adding a turbo to an automatic economy car does not produce that experience. 

I mean, it sounds pretty serious. A German automatic Mini with 300 hp? I can think of several words for it. Stern. Powerful. Impressive. Hot? Nah. 

Sorry about your leg, but don't you have about 1.6 billion options for turbo automatics in this era?