It might come as a surprise to Americans that, in Europe, hatchbacks are considered cool. That’s hardly the case in the United States where many auto enthusiasts view hatches merely as practical commuters. How do you explain the differing viewpoints as to whether hot hatches are indeed hot?
eBay Motors put that question to Toyota product planners at the recent introduction of the all-new Corolla Hatchback. The Japanese automaker is credited as one of the inventors of drift racing with hatchbacks—with a heritage dating to the Corolla Levins of the mid-1980s. The Levin, also called the AE86, was the car of choice for race car driver Keiichi Tsuchiya, who co-organized the first drifting grand prix in the late 1980s. (Tsuchiya fans, take note: a signed JDM-competition bomber jacket is now available on eBay.)
Toyota’s Formula Drift Hot Hatch Debuts at NYIAS 2018
Thirty-five years later, Toyota is rekindling some of the early drifting magic with the all-new 2019 Corolla hatchback—by producing a 1,000-horsepower drift car built by Stephan Papadakis and driven by Fredric Aasbo. Toyota unveiled their blisteringly hot hatch at the recent New York International Auto Show (NYIAS).
Obviously, there are major differences between the production model and the race car—which earlier this month won first Formula Drift series race in Long Beach. The race car is rear-wheel drive, powered by a turbocharged and nitrous-blown engine and four-speed GForce Dogbox transmission. The production version is front-wheel drive with a naturally-aspirated two-liter engine and six-speed manual (or dynamic CVT). But changing it up for racing is nothing new. Just look at NASCAR.
The point is made: The image of the Corolla, right out of the gate, is a hot hatch. It’s an inspiration for enthusiasts who buy the car with the intent of modifying it for their own purposes.
Born to Mod
But the question remains: What makes a hatchback hot? According to Jordan Pauly, vehicle marketing for Toyota, it’s a combination of styling, powertrain technology, infotainment, and most important, the ability to customize. “No one vehicle fits all the needs of our buyers,” said Pauly. Hatchbacks have one of the most diverse audiences of all car segments. Customers are multicultural, equally male and female, and range in age from 18 to 35 years. Across the board, the ability to personalize the car is key.
2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback
Hot Hatch Bolt-Ons
Interested in modifying your hatchback? Consider the following tips.
- Exterior modifications such as custom lighting and aero kits that turn heads and could add some competitive advantage on the track.
- Simple mechanical enhancements such as cat back exhaust, cold air intake, strut tower brace, and bigger wheels and tires that boost performance without impacting fuel economy and keeping the car street legal.
- Modified interior trim, including a custom steering wheel, shift levers and knobs, pedals, and seating. If you’re planning to take your car to the track, consider downloading some apps to your smartphone that add onboard telemetry, or aftermarket gauges with data acquisition systems.
- Connectivity features on the 2019 Corolla hatchback include Qi wireless charging, WiFi, Amazon Alexa, USB ports, and Siri Eyes Free. The aftermarket is full of products that upgrade audio and add enhanced navigation, Bluetooth, satellite radio, and smartphone interface.
In this era of personal branding, the key to heating up a hatch is mixing and matching these features in combinations beyond the mundane hatchback econobox. Originality wins the day.
See Hatchback Cars & Trucks for sale on eBay.
