The 2022 Toyota GR Corolla is the latest and most anticipated hot hatchback to come out. We know it has a 300-horsepower version of the 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-three from the GR Yaris and shares the same GR-Four all-wheel-drive system. While we don’t have official performance figures, we know that the smaller, less powerful Toyota GR Yaris can reach from 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) in as little as 4.6 seconds. This means that Toyota’s new hot-hatch will be able to keep up with the following iconic performance cars, we enthusiasts lust after.

RELATED: 10 Reasons Why The 2023 Toyota GR Corolla Is The Hottest Hatch Today

BMW M3 E46

The BMW M3 E46 has not only aged well, but it’s still considered one of the best driver’s cars ever made. It’s also the last M3 to feature a high-revving, naturally-aspirated inline-six engine. The 3.2-liter S54B32 unit, which was also used in the E85 Z4 M, packs 343 horsepower at 7,900 RPM and 269 pound-feet (365 Nm) at 4,900 RPM. Ideally, the engine is mated to a six-speed manual (not the dreaded SMG unit), which sends power to the rear, resulting in a 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) time of 4.9 seconds. The E46 M3 also has one of the best-sorted chassis and an incredible soundtrack, which to this day, make it a desirable, European performance car.

Toyota Celica GT-Four

Over 20 years ago, Toyota made another all-wheel-drive sports car with rally-car credentials – the Toyota Celica GT-Four. When it came out it packed a 3S-GE engine, which powered other performance models of the brand, including the SW20 MR-2 and Toyota Supra A70. The 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four was good for 242 horsepower at 6,000 RPM and 223 pound-feet (305 Nm) at 4,000 RPM. Power went to all four wheels and a close-ratio five-speed manual transmission, resulting in a 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) time of 5.8 seconds. The Celica GT-Four also featured an aggressive body kit, with a front hood scoop and a big rear wing. The car enjoyed a successful career in rallying until a scandal, which revealed Toyota was cheating by installing a flexible plate on the boost restrictor.

RELATED: The 12 Fastest Cars in the World Ranked

Honda Civic Type-R

The Honda Civic Type-R is considered, by many, to be one of the greatest hot hatchbacks ever made. The latest generation packs a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four with reverse VTEC (only on the exhaust valves). The engine is good for 306 horsepower at 6,500 RPM and 295 pound-feet (400 Nm) at 2,500 to 4,500 RPM. Power goes to the front, exclusively, through a six-speed manual (as it should be) and is managed by a helical, limited-slip differential. While not the easiest car to launch, the 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) takes as little as 5.4 seconds. The lack of a top-speed limiter allows the Civic Type R to reach speeds of up to 169 mph (272 km/h). Even more impressive is that, despite the performance car credentials, the Type R is very practical, providing a cargo space of 25.7 to 46.2 cubic feet (738 – 1,308 liters).

Nissan Skyline GT-R

Including the legendary Godzilla on this list will, most likely, provoke some hate from die-hard Nissan Skyline fans, but the GR Corolla will give even a Nissan R34 GT-R a run for its (nowadays, insane) money. The legendary RB26 DETT was rated at 280 horsepower at 6,800 RPM and, depending on the version, up to 295 pound-feet (400 Nm). The horsepower is known to be at the wheels instead of the crankshaft, resulting in 327, actual, horsepower at the crankshaft. Mated to a Getrag, six-speed manual with a first-gear lockout, the Skyline GT-R could sprint from 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 4.9 seconds. The GT-R was a homologation special and both its inline-six engine and chassis were designed for competition. Because of this, the Skyline GT-R has immense potential and is considered the “Emperor of JDM tuner cars”, which makes the fact that there is a modern, inline-three hot hatch able to keep up with it even more amusing.

RELATED: Top 10 American Performance Cars

BMW M5 E39

The BMW M5 E39 was the fastest performance sedan when it came out in 1998. To this day, it is considered one of the most reliable M-cars, BMW has ever made, as well as the M5 to have. Its S62B50, 4.9-liter naturally-aspirated V-8 is good for 400 horsepower at 6,600 RPM and 369 pound-feet (500 Nm) at 3,800 RPM, which are sent to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual. The classic, bi-engine, rear-wheel drive, manual transmission formula results in a 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) time of 5.0 seconds. At the same time, this is considered to be one of the last old-school M-cars. Moreover, it offers plenty of space and luxury for four, while being relatively under the radar.

Honda S2000

For many years, the Honda S2000 was, and still is, one of the ultimate back-to-basics driver’s machines . To this day, Honda’s small sports car is considered the ultimate interpretation of the classic, front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sports car. Its 2.0-liter engine, later enlarged to 2.2 liters produces up to 242 horsepower at 8,300 RPM and 7,800 RPM 2.2-liter models. Peak torque was rated at 153 pound-feet (208 Nm) at 7,500 RPM and 163 pound-feet (221 Nm) at 6,500 to 7,500 RPM for facelift models. Power goes to the rear through a six-speed manual gearbox and a mechanical, limited-slip differential. The 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) discipline is dealt with in 5.8 seconds, as the engine screams to 9,000 RPM. To this day, the S2000 remains the car with one of the highest specific outputs for a naturally-aspirated engine.

RELATED: These Are The Coolest V-10 Cars Ever Made

Chevrolet Corvette C4 ZR-1

The C4 may not be the finest hour of America’s sports car, but towards the end of its production run, it got one of the coolest versions – the Corvette C4 ZR-1. It happened in 1990 and was a joint project between GM and Lotus, the latter of which took the 5.7-liter L98 V-8 and almost completely redesigned it. The end result was a DOHC, 32-valve 5.7-liter V-8, dubbed the LT5. It was rated at 375 horsepower at 5,800 RPM and 370 pound-feet (502 Nm) at 4,800 RPM. In 1993, through further development of the LT5 engine, those numbers were bumped up to 405 horsepower and 385 pound-feet (522 Nm). Power was sent to the rear through a ZF six-speed manual and 3.33 gears, resulting in a 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) of 4.4 seconds on to a top speed of 180 mph (290 km/h).

Mazda RX-7

Mazda’s lightweight rotary rocket is one of the most well-balanced performance cars to ever come out of Japan. The gentlemen’s agreement, according to which no car should exceed 276 horsepower, prompted engineers to think of other ways to extract performance, and Mazda definitely delivered with the RX-7. The Mazda RX-7 may have only a 1.3-liter, twin-rotary, twin-turbo engine, but from the factory, it packs 239 to 280 horsepower at 6,500 RPM and up to 232 pound-feet (314 Nm) at 5,500 RPM, depending on the market and model year. Power went to the rear wheels through a five-speed manual transmission, which was the only option. The 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) took as little as 4.7 seconds, thanks in no small part to the curb weight of just over 2,800 pounds (1,270 kg).

RELATED: Top 10 Best Practical Sports Cars Under $30,000

Honda NSX

Honda NSX (Acura NSX in North America) is the car that proved you can have a reliable and usable supercar. When it came out, it not only outperformed the Ferrari 348 but was also much better built. Honda’s best engineers worked with the legendary racing driver, Ayrton Senna who helped turn the NSX into a proper track-conquering supercar. With a mid-engine V-6 ranging from 3.0 to 3.2 liters, depending on the model year, the Honda NSX packed up to 290 horsepower at 7,300 RPM and 224 pound-feet (304 Nm) at 5,300 RPM. Depending on the version, the NSX could sprint to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 5.7 to 4.3 seconds and reach a top speed of up to 174 mph (280 km/h). Power from the mod-mounted V-6 goes to the rear wheels through a five or six-speed manual.

Toyota Supra A80

The Mk IV Toyota Supra does not need an introduction. It’s the car no one wanted to buy until they saw it humiliate a Ferrari F355 in the original Fast & Furious movie. Like the Skyline GT-R from earlier, it has an insanely potent inline-six, which from the factory makes 326 horsepower at 5,500 RPM and 325 pound-feet (440 Nm) at 4,800 RPM. We don’t need to tell you it can go much higher with the right parts. Power goes, exclusively to the rear through either a four-speed automatic (yuck) or a six-speed Getrag V160 manual, which is just as robust as the 2JZ-GTE engine. In stock form, the Mk IV Supra can sprint from 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 4.8 seconds. Sadly, current prices are almost as insane as those of the Skyline R34 GT-Rs. Thank you, fanboys, that’s why we can’t have nice things anymore!