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A surprising outcome, the modern hatchbacks are as fast as the highly appreciated Honda S2000 in stock form. The quickest of the modern hatchbacks, the Mini Cooper produced by BMW. Not surprising, the Mini Cooper builds on BMW's legendary suspension and powerful engines to capture the lead. Racing around Tsukuba, the Mini Cooper holds the lead all the way through! The fastest lap of the Honda S2000 was 1'10"36 while the Mini Cooper pulled in 1'11"39. The Honda S2000 has a faster lap time, but not by much. Considering the size and shape of the vehicles, most would expect the Honda S2000 to be laps ahead and not only seconds.
The benefit the hatchback has is weight distribution. Subaru uses this to it's advantage with the late model Impreza WRX STi. By placing the weight high on the vehicle, through turns the weight can be properly placed to increase traction. As the vehicle sways from side to side, increased pressure on the tires needing traction occurs. Surprisingly, the added weight and reduced aerodynamics doesn't slow the vehicle down. The most famous hatchback, the Honda CRX was using this technology back in the 1990's and is now a tuner favorite around the world. Cheap cost and ample room make the hatchbacks a wise choice for enthusiasts needing more than just a race car.
More intense racing battles!
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- Night touge battle: Evo X vs Jetta MK3
- JDM racing at Tsukuba
- Honda S2000 touge setup
- Impreza WRX vs dirt bike
- Touge battle: AWD vs RWD
- Touge battle: Honda S2000 vs RX7
Through out the race below, you can see how the weight displacement advantage helps the hatchback as it sways and squeals through the corners. The lightest and tightest of them all comes out on top to no surprise of BMW fans. If you've ever driven the Mini Cooper, you know how rigid and responsive the steering and handling can be. Swift acceleration and properly placed gearing allow this little bugger to zoom past competition directly to the checkered flag. After all, the checkered flag is a key design in the Mini Cooper's scheme. Enjoy the following footage as we are proven that speed doesn't always come from sports cars.
Who knew that hatchbacks were popular? Read "Why Hatchbacks Are Back" on AOL!
Video content: Hatchbacks race against Honda S2000
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Comments
Looks like a lot of fun. I'll take the S2000
Nice:)
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