Vienna. Over The Next 20 Years

It`s hard to say exactly which is the beginning of Porsche story. It could be in 1950, when the famous Max Hoffman introduced the Porsche 356 to the United States. Or in 1948 when the first automobile to bear the name Porsche was introduced. But in order to understand Porsche鈥檚 heritage and its philosophy we need to go back to 1875, when, in September, at the home of a tinsmith in the Bohemian village of Haffersdorf, a son was born. His name was Ferdinand Porsche. Even if the 鈥淒octor鈥?is usually appended to his name, it is in essence honorary, since his only formal technical training was as a part-time engineering student in Vienna. By the age of 25, the young Ferdinand Porsche had entered the field of automotive design. His first car design was already accepted by Lohner & Co. of Vienna. Over the next 20 years, Ferdinand Porsche, the temperamental but brilliant engineer succeeded in associating with every major automobile manufacturer in Germany.

At the same time, he designed a dozen of the most technically significant cars in history. Working for Mercedes-Benz, he helped develop the most revered Mercedes-Benz cars of all time: the SSK series. For NSU, he designed Auto Union Wanderer and the Type 32, a precursor of the Volkswagen Beetle. After being dismissed from Mercedes for disagreeing with the firm's staid engineering policies, Porsche decided to establish what later became Porsche A.G.: his own engineering consulting group. The senior Dr. Porsche and his team were kept extremely busy. The consulting firm developed for Steyr (now the utility-vehicle wing of the Steyr- Daimler-Puch combine), the Austria luxury sedan, but it did not progress beyond the prototype stage. They worked a lot for Auto Union, now Audi: the company developed the Front, the world's first front-drive economy car. They astonished Auto Union with the mid-engine Grand Prix cars and their supercharged V-12 and V-16 engines which, together with Mercedes- Benz racers, dominated European auto racing for nearly a decade. After that, the firm created its best-known designs for NSU and Zundapp. The pair of prototypes was characterized by Dr. Porsche's patented torsion-bar suspension and a rear-mounted engine. Since neither company moved rapidly enough to manufacture the designs, Porsche sold the concept to the German government. Then, he oversaw the construction of a plant on Wolfsburg to manufacture the design. His drawings called the car the Type 60. The world came to know it as the Volkswagen Beetle. After the second World War, the Porsche Company started to create vehicles that beard its name, and so became knows world wide. Now, nearly a century later, Porsche became the marque and the family that created outstanding, often unique and surely lasting contributions to automotive engineering and design.

We've focused on the most popular sector of hatchbacked cars, the family hatch market, and we've picked the cars that deliver the best mix of kit, safety, running costs, fun driving and family-friendly features. Volkswagen threw down the gauntlet to its rivals with the Golf Mk7, and has since given it an update to keep it fresh - not that it was really needed. However, with new infotainment options and an improved engine range, the Golf still defines the hatchback class. From its compact dimensions and evolutionary styling to its high-quality interior and brilliant engine range, it is a car without any serious flaws. If you want something smart and stylish it ticks these boxes. Spacious and practical, too? Well, a generous interior and big 380-litre boot cover these concerns. The efficient BlueMotion model also promises excellent fuel economy. All VW Golfs come well equipped, with features such as stop-start, Electronic Stability Control (ESP), Bluetooth and iPod connectivity and curtain airbags all fitted as standard. You even get the reassurance of a space-saver spare wheel - which is increasingly rare yet very desirable for family motorists. And this is all before you drive it.

Then you can marvel at the refinement, comfort, capable handling and responsive controls of the new Golf first hand. In fact, it's one of the biggest cars in its class, coming close to models such as the Ford Mondeo and Volkswagen Passat from the class above. It's available as either a five-door hatchback or more practical estate, though both offer plenty of space and identical levels of standard equipment. The 2017 facelift gave the Octavia a fresh look and added a bit of interest to a rather ordinary looking car. While it doesn't offer the same exceptional value as Skodas of old, all current-generation Octavia models boast alloy wheels, automatic post-collision braking and DAB radio. Mid-range SE models are better still, while top-spec Elegance and L&K versions can rival sister company Audi for luxury. If having fun behind the wheel is a priority, the latest Ford Focus should be high on your hatchback list. Keeping up the tradition of previous generations, the new Focus puts driving pleasure first with sharp handling and excellent body control.

Although we鈥檒l have to wait a while for the faster ST and RS hot hatch versions, the standard Focus still manages to be a real drivers鈥?car. There鈥檚 a range of smooth and economical petrol and diesel engines on offer, and two different suspension configurations, both of which retain the car鈥檚 precise handling. ST-Line models are lowered to enhance their sporty styling, but every Focus in the range is sure to put a smile on even the most discerning enthusiast鈥檚 face. The biggest criticism of the old Focus was its lack of interior space, but while its styling is proving to be rather divisive, the longer wheelbase on the new car means the cabin space has been vastly improved. There鈥檚 plenty of room for four adults and boot space has been increased too to make this a truly capable family car. The interior quality is now up there with the VW Golf鈥檚, and the clean modern design is uncluttered and well laid-out. The 鈥榝loating tablet鈥?infotainment screen on higher spec models looks like a bit of an afterthought, but its position makes it easy to reach while driving, and Ford鈥檚 SYNC3 system is simple to use.