This time it has come from Mazda, who have decided that after selling more than a million Mazda3 models they needed to turn up the temperature a degree or two.

Instead of just warming it up they have made it so hot that it sizzles and in doing so have produced the most powerful front-wheel drive car in its class.

Basically, they have lifted the 260bhp 2.3-litre turbocharged engine from under the bonnet of the existing high performance four-wheel drive Mazda6 and slotted it into the hatchback. Then they stood back and lit the blue touchpaper.

The end result is a scorchingly quick little car that is almost too powerful for its own good. Considering that all this force has been put into a two-wheel-drive car of a fraction of the weight, it needs treating carefully. Too much boot off the start line and it could disappear in a cloud of its own tyre smoke. But driven sensibly it is fantastic.

For such a performance-driven model, the MPS looks surprising sane in the flesh and to the outside world there is no real clue what is lurking under the bonnet. I suspect the majority of buyers will pay an extra £500 for the sports aero kit which gives the game away by lowering the suspension and adding a rear spoiler.

It is also surprisingly refined. It growls a bit but there is no raw snarl that follows a lot of the hotter hatches, and it is comfortable almost to the point of luxury.

I found the ride a little solid but not unpleasant and while it was brilliant fun when it was unleashed on the open roads it was perfectly happy and well behaved when it was reined in for a trip into town. It copes with twists and turns thanks to a large helping of stability and traction control gizmos and generally does a good job of coping with all that power. But again... gently does it is best.

And even keeping within the limits there is all the power and excitement you could possibly need, short of heading for the nearest racetrack or the autobahns.

Obviously you will have to pay for all this entertainment. Starting at £18,995, the cost is not out of the way compared to some, but expect to pay Group 17 rates for your insurance, which should see off the true boy-racers. And if you hammer it hard all the time fuel consumption will suffer. Keep it sensible and you could be close to a very acceptable 30mpg.

The car is well equipped with all of the usual kit to be expected at this price level, including snugly-shaped part-leather seats, leather steering wheel, all-round electrics, climate control air-conditioning, six-CD autochanger with steering wheel mounted controls and rain-sensing wipers. On the practical side, it has split/folding rear seats and a good-sized boot and glovebox and cup holders and it is jazzed up a bit with some red stitching on the upholstery, aluminium pedals and smart amber red and blue lighting for the instrument panel dials.