Quickest front drive ever
 

Mini isn't waiting on anyone. They're all chasing.

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...ign=nl22523355

If you are going to rip the rear seats out you put the engine behind the driver; then you have a really fast car. Like the Metro 6R4.

I guess the cost was too prohibitive. It would be an interesting exercise.

Plenty of hot hatches with similar engine size, power and transmission. The problem with FWD is getting all that power down with just two wheels. The golf R for example has similar setup, but AWD means it has better traction and therefore acceleration.