We're Blaming the Wrong Cars

Why are affordable sports cars disappearing? And what if the automotive industry has been blaming the wrong problem all along? From the Ford Fiesta ST and Focus ST to the Hyundai Veloster N and Kona N, affordable performance cars and hot hatches have increasingly disappeared. But the real story isn't simply rising prices, government regulations, or a lack of enthusiast demand. In this MotoManTV clip, we examine how the rise of small SUVs and crossovers eliminated the affordable cars that once served as the foundation for performance models. We also explore why the Hyundai Kona N was such an unusual gamble, and how factory utilization, manufacturing economics, production volume, and union considerations influence which cars automakers choose to build. Did buyers abandon affordable sports cars, or did manufacturers eliminate the choices that made them possible? CHAPTERS 00:00 The Cars We Really Lost 00:29 Debunking the Affordable Sports Car Myths 00:52 The Collapse of Choice 01:15 What Happened to Affordable Performance? 01:39 Why the Ford Fiesta ST Disappeared 02:08 How Crossovers Replaced Fun Cars 02:43 Why Performance SUVs Aren't the Answer 03:09 Hyundai's Unusual Kona N Gamble 03:59 Factory Economics, Unions & Production 04:27 Why Volume Matters More Than Enthusiasts Watch the full episode @MMTVCars and subscribe for new automotive stories every Saturday. #AffordableSportsCars #HotHatch #SportsCars #HyundaiN #FordFiestaST #AutomotiveIndustry #MotoManTV Our reimagined long form interview show, the MotoManTV Podcast, where we talk to the key people shaping the car, technology and business worlds, is now live @MMTVPodcast! As well as at most podcast platforms, including: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/90b... https://open.spotify.com/show/0V4AKzL... Check out our huge library of shorts and clips @   / motomantv   https://x.com/motomantv @MMTVCarsShorts @MMTVPodcastShorts @MMTVPodcastClips Proudly shot on Sony’s Cinema line of cameras.