While Hondas were dominating the scenes for years the Big 3 have sat out and watched the import manufacturers turn profts from not only their "faster" sport compacts but tuner parts aswell. Ford's SVT division (Special Vehicles Team) was the first to jump in when they announced and delivered the Focus SVT featuring its 2.0L DOHC massaged Zetec that produces 170hp and 145lb ft torque delivered to the front wheels via a Getrag 6 speed tranaxle. The SVT though was released shortly after Chrysler's PVO (Performance Vehicle Operation) announced that it would produce a 215hp variant of the Neon featuring a 2.4L DOHC Turbo motor, heavy duty 5 speed tranaxle, 17 inch wheels/tires and a sport tuned suspension. GM wasnt standing still, they inturn created GMPD (its a no brainer..GM Performance Division) which has been wrenching away creating vehicles to play catch up to the other two american giants and the imports aswell. GMPD will introduce here shortly a tuned version of their Sport Compact hopefull the Cavalier SS. The SS will feature a 2.2L DOHC Supercharged Ecotec that is claimed to output some 180hp and 172lb ft torque to the front wheels. Exterior mods include a body kit, 17 inch wheels/tires and a "sport" tuned suspension (..sounds familiar doesnt it?). It clearly doesnt take too much research to realize that come January all three american giants will have a performance oriented Sport Compact on the market to choose from. Ford will have the upper hand though as they are currently working on a Supercharged Zetec to replace the current N/A Zetec and they also have a ZX5 type variant of the Focus SVT in the pipelines too. PVO's SRT-4 on the otherhand currently seems to be the standard that the other two must meet as far as performance, handling and value. GM is making an attempt and hopefully the Cavalier SS will be a worthy competitor to both the SVT and SRT but to the imports aswell.

Well now we have a dilema, we have plenty of worthy Sport Compacts but who will be the king of the hill? Next spring we will have choices, choices and more choices but how can we determine whats best?
Audi has been rumored to be working on a US bound S3 hatch, Acura offers the RSX Type S hatch (200hp i-Vtec 2.0L DOHC w/ 6 speed manual FWD), BMW offers the Mini Cooper S hatch (163hp Supercharged 1.6L SOHC w/ 6 speed manual FWD), Chevy has the Cavalier SS sedan ready (180hp 2.2L DOHC w/ 5 speed manual FWD), Chrysler offers the PT GT M.P.V. (215hp 2.4L DOHC w/ 5 speed manual FWD), Dodge will be offering the SRT-4 sedan shortly (215hp Turbo 2.4L DOHC w/ 5 speed manual FWD), Ford offers the SVT Focus hatch (170hp 2.0L DOHC w/ 6 speed manual FWD), Honda offers us the Civic Si hatch (160hp i-Vtec 2.0L DOHC w/ 5 speed manual FWD), Hyundai offers the Tiburon GT hatch (181hp 2.7L V6 w/ 6 speed manual FWD), Mazda offers the Mazdaspeed Protege a.k.a MP3 sedan (170hp Turbo 2.0L DOHC w/ 5 speed manual FWD), Mercedes-Benz offers the C230 hatch (now a Supercharged 1.8L DOHC w/ 5 speed manual RWD), Mitsubishi offers the Eclipse GT/GTS Coupe/Convertible (200/210hp 3.0L V6 w/ 5 speed manual FWD), Mitsubishi Japan is US certifing the Lancer Evolution for importation (250hp Turbo 2.0L DOHC w/ 5 speed manual AWD) Nissan offers the Sentra SER/SER Spec V sedans (165/175hp 2.5L DOHC with 5 speed manual & optional Auto(SER)/ 6 speed manual (Spec V) FWD), Pontiac offers the Vibe GT (180hp VVTLi 1.8L DOHC w/ 6 speed manual FWD), Subaru offers the WRX (227hp Turbo 2.0L DOHC Boxer w/ 5 speed manual AWD), Suzuki offers the Aerios (140hp 2.0L DOHC w/ 5 speed FWD/AWD), Toyota offers the Celica GTS & Matrix XRs (180hp VVTLi 1.8L DOHC w/ 6 speed manual FWD) and VW offers the Jetta VR6/GTI VR6/GTI 1.8T/Beetle 1.8T/Beetle Turbo S (200hp Narrow angle V6 or 180hp Turbo 1,8L DOHC w/ 5 speed or 6 speed (depending on application)...so there you have it...now the question still remains...who will conquer all?