I've always thought this. Mk1 Golf GTI was very light: 790kg, as was the Mk2 Golf GTI 910kg (hot hatches from Europe) but ever since then cars seem to be minim

I've always thought this. Mk1 Golf GTI was very light: 790kg, as was the Mk2 Golf GTI 910kg (hot hatches from Europe) but ever since then cars seem to be minimum 1,200kg. They are a lot safer and that is the main reason. You can walk away from a minor crash with your legs intact. Car manufacturers have been upping power (speed) over the years and this has lead to an increase in weight from a performance and reliabilty standpoint but also safety.