Exactly Mr S1, that was the programme I was thinking of. Yes it may not have been the best, but it was better than the XR3i, trim, performance, looks etc.

Just thnk it is odd that they choose a lower model in the ford range to compare to VW's flagship hothatch?

Maybe it is that due to lower production runs, the mainstream are not familiar with the car and so the XR is chosen to represent as it is more commonly known.

Funny, but an S1 still turns heads, more than any other hothatch of its time, maybe again down to the rarerity.