I have no issues with a well setup FWD car with 250bhp +

The Focus RS is a great car and handles the power very well (I had/have friends who own them).

As long as the car is setup with a good LSD and traction control system it will be fine.

I agree that in 1st gear it can be a bit pointless, but who cares, unless you are only interested in traffic light grand prix.

Once on the move the are fine.

I have driven a 270bhp Leon Cupra R and it was great fun and very fast when moving, but you do have to be careful in the wet and with 2nd coming out of some bends.

Having said that, it's the same as some RWD cars with no TC and high BHP.

I like the challenging drive from a car like the Focus RS, same reason why I love the S so much.

If you find a well setup FWD car it can easily handle the power.

The new TT can easily cope with it's 197bhp, and IMO could handle 260bhp with no problems. The Golf GTI with it's 230bhp is an excellent drive.

It's down to driving styles, the chassis, and the how the power is delivered.

 

and weight

which is why it's less of an issue with current 'high' powered fwds

they weigh about the same as my beemer

 

Indeed, they actually NEED the power due to the weight.

Ultimately, it's down to how the car is set-up.

IMO, the best (high powered) FWDs were the Corrado VR6 and Integra Type-Rs. They both did great jobs, although somewhat differently, the ITR for instance is harder riding and stiffer at the front. The VR6 was a little softer (which, IMO made it a better all round car as it could be a more comfy ride when you're not gunning it) but very well balanced.

Actual performance on the road, I don't think these new high powered FWD have moved the game on much, if at all, from the C VR6 and the ITR of the 90s. New FWD are little, if any, faster. heavier, less involving and poorer cars for it.

 

I can only go from what I have read and from that

There is obviously a mathematical formula/physical limit for acceleration, weight and FWD.

Probably more fun to be had in some of the RWD new golfs (that sporty one-dunno what it's called) and arguably as quick round a track.

FWD cars remind me of dogs starting to run on a laminate floor.

 

the mid range acceleration on the 95 hot aero is awsome but boring.have driven one and didnt seem to be any different from the standard one.
very comfy car though .
fine for m way cruising.

but at the end of the day it is a stretched vectra.

 

The unfortunate results of EU legislation, gone are the days of 1100kg hot hatches.

Having said that, the cars are bigger and better equiped.

The Golf GTI is hardly 'lardy' in comparision to modern cars, weighing only 1328kg.

Even the Civic Type R does quite well at 1280kg.

Many people comment about hot hatches becoming 'less involving' but I would argue that the Renault Clio Cup (not driven the current model) is an excellent car.

The Mini Cooper S is also very enjoyable to drive and probably even more fun on a track.

Not sure where the less involving and 'poorer' cars really comes from

There are some great hot hatches out there at the moment, some of the cars from yesteryear were great too, and in some cases you could argue that they were better, but given the choice between a 205 GTI 1.9 and a Clio Cup, and I know where my money would go!

 

check out the weight of that clio cup

My mate had one, I've driven it. the only 'proper' hot hatch until the new one (now lardy etc.) replaced it. No ABS, no TC, just a good chassis, good engine and great handling. What hot hatches should be.

 

with Moff. A mate has the Clio 182 and it's the finest hot hatch i've ever driven. It might not be the best built, might be basic inside and look like a 1.2 shopping but it goes like stink, costs peanuts and out handles any other car in it's class.

I think things like the Focus are aiming at a different market entirely now, it's not a petrolheads car and the game has changed, noone buys a car without aircon, leather, heated this and that (ok we do on that bit ) but the 80s hot hatches had none of this

Focus ST - 162bhp/ton
Escort RS S1 - 136bhp/ton

So power-wise it is up but at 1400kg it's not going to be anywhere near as chuckable as the sub 1000kg Escrote

The old Astra GTE 16v had 156bhp/ton and the Corrado V6 was the same but 1200kg - so there's no giant leap in performance

EDIT

and to address the original query i think 300bhp is too much for a car with fwd and not great suspension. the mazda hot hatch has 250bhp ot so and the most complex traction system known to man and it's supposed to be a right handful anyway. If the car is heavy and none turbo you might get away with it more - linear power delivery would help.

 

And the S2000 is when they run up to you & don't realise they cannot stop in time!

 

The scary thing is, you're now talking about cars with the same engine set-up & mass as a Citroen CX GTi Turbo 2.

That was an excellent car, but it was never a hot hatch.

The Prelude weighs nearly 1,400 and has 200 and was never a hot hatch either.

The Corrado was the excellent MK11 Golf with a more interesting re-body and was that even entertaining as a passenger.

The Clitoris may possibly be a hot hatch, but that is most likely due to electrical fire.

Perhaps we need a more appropriate term these days.