When you think of American hot hatches, your mind might immediately jump to something like the Ford Focus ST. It's a solid choice, no doubt, but the Focus itself is a British-born idea, designed in Germany. And the Chevrolet Sonic RS? Well, that's just a rebadged Korean Aveo. It feels a bit unfair, doesn't it? Especially when you consider America's own rich automotive heritage – the muscle cars, the roaring V8s, and yes, even the surprisingly capable compacts.
America has a knack for building incredible trucks, legendary muscle cars, and powerful V8 engines. We've even produced sophisticated luxury vehicles like the Cadillac CT4 and made undeniable waves in the electric vehicle market with Tesla. Yet, when it comes to the quintessential hot hatch, we often look to Europe or Asia, to icons like the Volkswagen Golf GTI or the Honda Civic Type R. It’s a curious oversight, particularly for a nation that essentially invented the electric car.
This week, we're celebrating American ingenuity, its automotive masterpieces, and the profound impact the U.S. auto industry has had globally. That means shining a light on everything from muscle cars to supercars, luxury sedans to sporty compacts, and of course, the glorious V8 engines that share their name with American automotive legends.
The Birth of the Hatchback: An American Spark?
The term "hot hatch" itself is a bit of a mystery, first appearing in American print in 1985. When we started labeling cars from the 70s as "hot hatches," it was more of a modification of the term. It might have emerged in the early 80s, but it's debatable if anyone was using it when Renault was developing the 5 Alpine.
It's easy to assume that the rise of the hatchback in the 1970s was a direct response to the oil crisis. However, the first hatchbacks actually arrived in 1970, when gas prices were a stable 36 cents a gallon – a few years before the 1973 oil crisis and the subsequent economic downturn.
And that's where the AMC Gremlin enters the picture. Launched on April 1, 1970, it was proudly advertised as "America's first subcompact car." This predates the debut of the Golf GTI by several years. A few years later, as the golden age of muscle cars was drawing to a frustrating close, American automakers found a new avenue. It was a fortunate turn, especially in an era of tightening emissions regulations and a mild economic recession in 1969-1970, where the goal was to build more fuel-efficient and affordable cars.
What Made a Hot Hatch in 1970?
While the 1970 AMC Gremlin, equipped with a 3.3-liter or 3.8-liter inline-six engine, might not boast today's blistering acceleration times (think sub-10-second 0-60 mph), it represented a significant shift. The Gremlin, built on the AMC Hornet chassis and essentially a shortened AMC Javelin, dared to be different. Its distinctive styling, with a chopped-off rear end while retaining a long hood and a relatively potent engine, set it apart. It was a bold design for its time, and frankly, it still turns heads today. Driving a Gremlin is anything but ordinary.
Its arrival was remarkably well-timed, just before the 1973 oil crisis and the subsequent surge in fuel prices. The 1970 Gremlin had a designed range of about 500 miles, an impressive feat for the 1970s. This, combined with its relatively low running costs, made it a popular choice during economically challenging times. While many American drivers gravitated towards larger vehicles, the Gremlin offered a compelling alternative. It proved that small cars could be fun, economical, and possess a certain daring spirit, influencing the very image of compact and hatchback cars.
And here's where the V8 connection, albeit indirect for the Gremlin itself, becomes fascinating. While the Gremlin was initially offered with inline-six engines, its sibling, the AMC Hornet, later embraced the V8. The 1973 AMC Hornet, for instance, could be equipped with a 5.9-liter V-8. This engine, with its robust cast-iron block and heads, delivered solid torque and a sturdy build. It gave the compact Hornet a genuine muscle car soul wrapped in a smaller, more accessible package. It was a testament to the idea that you didn't need a massive car to have a powerful engine and a distinctive personality.
So, while the Gremlin might not have been a V8-powered fire-breather in its initial form, it was a crucial step in the American automotive journey towards more practical, yet still engaging, compact cars. It was a precursor, a bold experiment that, perhaps unintentionally, helped lay the groundwork for the very concept of the hot hatch, proving that even the smallest American cars could pack a punch and capture the imagination.
