Will the 208 GTI recapture that 205 magic?
death of the Peugeot GTI
have been greatly exaggerated, it seems, with news that the hot Pug hatch could return with the 207 replacement.
According to the news hounds at Autocar, the new Peugeot hot hatch (expected to be dubbed the 208 GTI) will be built primarily for the British and German markets, as these are the only markets that take hot hatches in significant numbers, although the 208 GTI will be on price lists in France, too.
The 208 GTI will likely be powered by the 197bhp 1.6-litre turbo four-pot that has just made its debut in the Peugeot RCZ, and which features variable valve and cam timing and a twin-scroll turbo.
208 will take design cues from SR1 concept
The planned return to 'proper' GTIs, says
, comes from Peugeot's ambition to focus on its traditional strengths - in other words to regain its old reputation as a maker of fine-handling cars. Futures Peugeots will be all about "precision, allure, style, driver control and excellence", says Jean-Marc Gales, boss of the Peugeot and Citroen brands.
The new 208 will arrive in 2012, and should share its design language with the recent SR1 roadster concept.