Wednesday 3rd February 2010

Peugeot S16 Revived As Dodgy 'Special'

207-based rally tribute fails to live up to its name

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A tarted-up 207 called the S16 has been released by Peugeot to mark Kris Meeke's 2009 Intercontinental Rally Championship (IRC) Championship title.

The last 'proper' S16 seen in the UK was the hottest 306 in the range back in 1993. But whereas the 306 S16 (predecessor to the highly-respected GTI-6) was a proper 2.0-litre 155bhp hot hatch with lowered and stiffened suspension, this tenuous 207 is actually based on the distinctly lukewarm 207 Sport 1.6 VTi. That means just 120bhp and 0-60mph in 10.7 seconds.

Indeed, despite the 'RC Cup' bodykit, mesh grille, 17" rims and no-cost rally-style vinyl graphics option, this is about as close to a homologation special as - well, as the 207 GTi is to a 'proper' GTi. But even that generally-unloved 'hot' hatch is more powerful than this thing to the tune of 55bhp, so we're really not sure what the point is.

Each car gets a special interior badge signed by Kris Meeke and added up, the S16 gets £1,200 worth of options despite costing only £500 more than the Sport VTi that it's based on, so that's something. Just 250 of the limited-edition models will be produced, at a cost of £14,695 each.

 

 

1993 306 S16

Chris Meeke with rally-winning 207

 

[Dr Imran T]

Not liking the 207 much. Maybe it has cheaper insurance than the 306 S16?

[okgo]

Dr Imran T said:

Not liking the 207 much. Maybe it has cheaper insurance than the 306 S16?

The gti-6 was group 15/16 if I remeber right, so I would imagine this 207 to be lower..

[bob1179]

Is it me or does the 306 still look good today?

It is such a shame Peugeot have lost their way, love their older stuff, new ones just leave me cold.

[SimonSaid]

okgo said:

Dr Imran T said:

Not liking the 207 much. Maybe it has cheaper insurance than the 306 S16?

The gti-6 was group 15/16 if I remeber right, so I would imagine this 207 to be lower..

The 207 Sport 1.6 VTi that this is based on is in insurance group 7, so I expect this will probably be the same.

It's obviously going to be cheaper to insure than a 306 S16 or GTi6, but there's a good reason for that - its nothing like as powerful!

[Atrophy]

So very disappointing, but then im not expecting anything good from them

[konrad565]

Small proper hot hatches are being killed off its very sad. My neighbour has a fully restored 205 1.9 GTi and its brilliant. All these new heavy slow 'practical' super minis are just not cutting it.

[CampDavid]

The S16 was used instead of GTI badges on the GTI-6 and the 106 GTI. I think the 138bhp 206 was the last S16 badged car.

It's a bit of an insult to the badge. Not as bad as those 5 door 107s which were given Rallye sticker by dealers

[hornetrider]

About as much use as tits on a wet fish. Shame on you Peugeot, shame on you.

Ah'm oot.

[dazsmith69]

wow, what a heap of st

[SillyALFALove]

Yawn.. oo a 207 with some stickers..

Score of 0.81 so far - all time low?

[G0ldfysh]

Just two bloody months after Peugeot announce the GTi is over they release this.

GTi is dead too fking right Peugeot every time you release lacklustre toss like this you just kill it a bit more.

Peugeot get a grip; stop release weak kneed overstyled bks and go back to the smooth Pininfarina designs. Get a decent engine built yes the lean burn designs in the late 90's knocked you back a bit with the high emmissions but stop crying over it all and bring us a proper GTi.

Not like the quality inside is getting any better still got the fit and finish of a 70's Lada on interior trim and plastics with a surface finish like a dessicated elephants todger.

[shalmaneser]

CampDavid said:

The S16 was used instead of GTI badges on the GTI-6 and the 106 GTI. I think the 138bhp 206 was the last S16 badged car.

It's a bit of an insult to the badge. Not as bad as those 5 door 107s which were given Rallye sticker by dealers

That is a travesty.

[soad]

All Show, No Go springs to mind.

[havoc]

Final nail in the coffin?

Sad to see such strong history end this way...

[Frimley111R]

TBH we could have expected as much. 'Peugeot' and 'Performance' have long since been consigned to the history books.

[IforB]

CampDavid said:

The S16 was used instead of GTI badges on the GTI-6 and the 106 GTI. I think the 138bhp 206 was the last S16 badged car.

It's a bit of an insult to the badge. Not as bad as those 5 door 107s which were given Rallye sticker by dealers

I like the 107/Aygo/C1 as they are unpretentious and actually quite good fun to drive. That is an absolute abomination and completely destroys the whole feeling of the car.

[Dagnut]

hornetrider said:

About as much use as tits on a wet fish...

I'm stealing that one.

[Art_Vandelay]

IforB said:

CampDavid said:

The S16 was used instead of GTI badges on the GTI-6 and the 106 GTI. I think the 138bhp 206 was the last S16 badged car.

It's a bit of an insult to the badge. Not as bad as those 5 door 107s which were given Rallye sticker by dealers

I like the 107/Aygo/C1 as they are unpretentious and actually quite good fun to drive. That is an absolute abomination and completely destroys the whole feeling of the car.

Personally I think the C1/107/Aygo would make fantastic little hot/warm hatches with about 100hp. A modern S1 Rallye.

Peugeot haven't made a car that interests me for a long time. My kid had a 306 GTi-6 which had a fantastic engine note, a good turn of pace and a decent interior. It looked good, as all 306s do. A friend of his has an S1 106 Rallye which is immaculate, and if I had the money, I wouldn't hesitate to buy it if it ever came up for sale.

Edit to add how sport Peugeots used to look.

Citroen seem to be attempting to get back into the hot hatch market whilst Peugeot are seemingly uninterested. Perhaps they will make a hot version of that new coupe (RCZ?)

Edited by Art_Vandelay on Wednesday 3rd February 12:52

[wab172uk]

Pile of sh!te. Hope they sell none of them

[va1o]

I quite like the 207, but not very impressed with this special edition. They should have given it the THP engine as per the MINI Cooper S and 207 GTi. 0-60 seems very poor considering a 122bhp petrol Golf can manage it in under 10 seconds.

Edited by va1o on Wednesday 3rd February 12:44