GT5 Transcripts/Volkswagen Lupo GTI

As part of the lineup of Volkswagen's award-winning compact (or mini) car, the Lupo that made its debut in 2001, the GTI, was added to the line to cater the performance-oriented drivers of the segment. Powering the car was a 1.6-liter DOHC inline-4 that produced 123 HP at 6500 rpm and 15.5 kg of torque at 3000. It came with a sporty 6-speed manual gearbox. This allowed the lightweight to run to 62 mph in roughly 8.0 seconds, making it quicker than many cars costing thousands more.

But as quick as it was in a straight line, the car's specialty was handling, and the suspension system - MacPherson struts up front and trailing arms at rear - featured custom shocks and springs that gave the Lupo excellent balance through corners with less body roll than the base car.

The Lupo's interior and exterior were spiced up to conform the look and feel of Volkswagen's other GTI vehicles, which represented the sportiest version of a particular model. The Lupo GTI featured new bumpers and a dual exhaust system that gave it instant notoriety.

The Lupo GTI proved so popular that it spawned numerous one-make races, including the GTI Cup. It was a true "hot hatch", and the official successor to Europe's original hot hatch, the Golf MK1.