Tuesday 25th March

New Peugeot 208 GTI project confirmed by CEO

Battery powered GTI to rival Alpine A290 and Mini in burgeoning EV hot hatch market

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After an assortment of online whingeing and pleading, plus that cool Rallye from Switzerland, Peugeot has confirmed that it will be bringing the GTI badge to the e-208. Thank heavens. For the moment, we can only report as Autocar has found, with new CEO Alain Favey saying in a media conference that “we will reintroduce the GTi on the e-208 as soon as possible”, but that sounds mighty encouraging to us. If the boss is saying it’s going to happen six weeks into his job, it’s surely going to happen. 

“We want to continue to nurture the reputation of the brand for driving sensations and the fact that our cars produce particular driving sensations, either as a driver or as someone that is being driven in the car,” Favey added. A lot of goodwill still exists around the Peugeot GTI brand, obviously because of the classics but also thanks to recent good’ns like the 308 and 208, so it’s fantastic news to see Peugeot finally attempt to capitalise on it. 

Up first will be an e-208 GTI, but Favey suggested that it’s listening to feedback about the possibility of combustion-engined models with the hallowed badge. Clearly we’re some way from any concrete details about a new Peugeot GTI, though it’s worth bearing in mind that the e-208 is based on the e-CMP platform. Which has just recently spawned the Abarth 600e, and that’s receiving some rave reviews with anything up to 280hp. 

Something to aim at, for sure, alongside the deeply impressive Alpine A290 and Mini Cooper SE. Expect the usual raft of hot hatch upgrades to make an e-208 into a GTI - stiffer suspension, bigger brakes, maybe a limited-slip diff - alongside a visual overhaul. Hopefully the two-tone paint is one GTI feature firmly consigned to the history books. Don’t forget that the Corsa Electric is built on the same architecture, so this confirmation from Peugeot could well spur Vauxhall on to make its own eVXR. Hard not to get a bit carried away given the heritage associated with both badges. We’ll keep you posted on any updates; in the meantime, petrol-powered 208 GTIs have never been cheaper… 

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• Special edition ‘208 Rallye’ has us at hello
  
• Peugeot 508 PSE vs. VW Arteon R Shooting Brake

[hengti]

Petit Tour Electrique

[Ben Lowden]

I adored the orange 208 GTI by Peugeot Sport we ran as a long term fleet car - fingers crossed the next one is just as good!

[TameRacingDriver]

Ben Lowden said:

I adored the orange 208 GTI by Peugeot Sport we ran as a long term fleet car - fingers crossed the next one is just as good!

Seems to often be quite overlooked I reckon, I did consider one before I eventually settled on my JCW, but think I probably would have been happy with it. Everyone always suggests the ST and forgets this car exists!

[Robmarriott]

I loved my 208 GTI by Peugeot Sport too. Other than the annoying (and very common) grumbly Torsen diff, it was an excellent all rounder. Good size, comfortable on a long drive, handled extremely well, awesome seats, awesomer brakes… almost the perfect hot hatch, just a little bit more power.

I hope an e208 GTI doesn’t miss the mark.

[MonteCarlos1]

Due to the growing resistance against electrification by manufacturers and consumers alike, who are both favouring hybrid drivetrains at the moment I feel this is going to miss the mark by a country mile. This also applies to the Alpine A290.

A hybridised version of the 1.2 puretech with 250hp would sell like hot cakes, considering that the only other players in the category is the ageing VW Polo GTI and the new Mini Cooper S which is quite expensive and seems to be inferior to its predecessor in a number of ways.

[andrewpandrew]

MonteCarlos1 said:

Due to the growing resistance against electrification by manufacturers and consumers alike….

If you say it enough times it might come true…

[LuS1fer]

TameRacingDriver said:

Ben Lowden said:

I adored the orange 208 GTI by Peugeot Sport we ran as a long term fleet car - fingers crossed the next one is just as good!

Seems to often be quite overlooked I reckon, I did consider one before I eventually settled on my JCW, but think I probably would have been happy with it. Everyone always suggests the ST and forgets this car exists!

I had an ST, 2013. I tried a 208 GTi. I bought another ST. It just wasn't as good.

[dunnoreally]

I really like these. I'm one of the small minority who even quite liked the ludicrous red and black paint.

MonteCarlos1 said:

A hybridised version of the 1.2 puretech with 250hp would sell like hot cakes, considering that the only other players in the category is the ageing VW Polo GTI and the new Mini Cooper S which is quite expensive and seems to be inferior to its predecessor in a number of ways.

I'm not convinced. That sounds very heavy for a start, and when Pug have tried performance hybrids before with things like whatever the fast 508 was called it didn't exactly go well. Not sure the 1.2 is exactly a big bag of charisma even by itself, too.

Never thought I'd catch myself saying this, but I'd prefer a straight EV, even with all the compromises that entails.

[unsprung]

dunnoreally said:

MonteCarlos1 said:

A hybridised version of the 1.2 puretech with 250hp would sell like hot cakes, considering that the only other players in the category is the ageing VW Polo GTI and the new Mini Cooper S which is quite expensive and seems to be inferior to its predecessor in a number of ways.

I'm not convinced. That sounds very heavy for a start, and when Pug have tried performance hybrids before with things like whatever the fast 508 was called it didn't exactly go well. Not sure the 1.2 is exactly a big bag of charisma even by itself, too.

Never thought I'd catch myself saying this, but I'd prefer a straight EV, even with all the compromises that entails.

Would 1400 kg be too heavy?

Honda Insight hybrid was less than that. Not a performance car. But a hybrid rated at 62 mpg UK combined.

Using yesterday's technology we can say.

It's light and manoeuvrable because it's a mild hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV). Enough battery to help, but not so much battery that you're a lardy cow. Or an expensive lardy cow.

Sorry to bend the topic a bit (not a hot hatch natch ), but there is something of an opportunity in a particular use of hybrid architecture.

[andrewpandrew]

Hybrid didn’t work for the Suzuki Swift Sport

[Truckosaurus]

andrewpandrew said:

Hybrid didn’t work for the Suzuki Swift Sport

I suspect there will soon be laws that prevent cars with with little more than fancy starter motors calling themselves hybrids.

But Andy Pandy has a point, any hybrid hot hatch needs to have more power than the ICE versions - you should be able to use the electric motor to fill in the torque curve when combined with a big turbo on the ICE side.

If they'd made the Hybrid Swift have a bit more boost to give 150-160bhp from the ICE plus 10-15bhp added in at the bottom end from the hybrid versus 140bhp from the old non-hybrid then they'd be on to a winner.

[GTEYE]

None of the 205,207 or 208 successors ever really hit the mark, it needs to be a 205.

Something along the lines of the R5.

[Jon_S_Rally]

I've got a current 208 GT as a daily, and always felt there was a decent warm hatch under it. Just needs a bit more power and slightly less intrusive electronics (or ones you can turn off at least).

Will be interesting to see what they do with an EV version, though I'd rather they tried to keep an engine!

[CG2020UK]

I’ve owned two Peugeot 208 GTIs.

Brilliant cars that are criminally overlooked.

Definitely be keeping an eye on this as a potential buyer.

[Pugfection1987]

I've had my 208 GTi for seven years and 70k miles now. It's been fun and solid. Is consider a EV alternative one day but I'm in no hurry to give up an interactive combustion engine and manual gearbox.

[blearyeyedboy]

Given the hatred for the Prince engine- even the upgraded ones in the 208GTi by PS were temperamental, I understand- one without an engine might not be a bad thing, no?

My worry is that Stellantis haven't executed EVs very well compared to the Renault group. Even acknowledging the flaws of the Alpine, Peugeot have their work cut out to produce anything worthy of a fun car.

[The Pistonsdead]

Good luck to them with this car..

[Magikarp]

LuS1fer said:

I had an ST, 2013. I tried a 208 GTi. I bought another ST. It just wasn't as good.

Facsinating isn't it, because I tried an ST, and bought a 208GTi as it was superior in every regard.