Official: Peugeot's GTI badge is back! Behold the new e-208 GTI

Top Gear

6 days ago

Official: Peugeot's GTI badge is back! Behold the new e-208 GTI
Yep, it's electric... but it gets an LSD, Michelin rubber, sportier suspension and 276bhp
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We bring you most excellent news from the world of hot little cars: after a hiatus of five years Peugeot's famous GTI badge has returned for the electric era, attached now to the e-208 having been fettled by the lads and lasses that make the 9X8 Hypercar. Woo hoo!
The e-208 GTI gets a string of visual touches to do its great grandpa - the 205 GTI - proud. These include a new front lip, a more pronounced rear wing and an aggressive diffuser, which has an integrated LED fog light inspired, clearly, by the armada of Mk7 Golf R boy racers out there.
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Other noteworthy bits include blackened wheel arches and red brake calipers, plus an all-you-can-eat stuffing of 'this is the hot one' badges. That metallic red paint also comes as standard.
It's a strong stance considering the normal e-208 already has broad shoulders and short overhangs. This one's 30mm lower to the ground, with a wider track by 56mm at the front and 27mm at the rear.
Perhaps our favourite change is those flamboyant 18in 'Hole' alloy wheels - a direct nod to the 205 that touched down four decades ago. They're not just there to look sweet, but help with brake cooling, and that's the first hint of the very serious substance beneath the fancy frock.
The e-motor now delivers 276bhp and 254lb ft of torque, resulting in a 0-62mph sprint of 5.7s and a top-end of 112mph. Hasty numbers, and Peugeot's added thicker 355mm stoppers (only at the front though) to help manage that extra motivation.
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Nestled elsewhere is a limited-slip diff for… limited slip. Furthered by Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 rubber and a lightly tweaked suspension, which has modified springs and shocks with new hydraulic stops.
Steering sensitivity has been recalibrated for better response, and according to Stellantis Motorsport VP, Jean Marc Finot, these changes combine to create a car that has the 'typical agility and feel' associated with the GTI badge.
A bigger 54kWh battery (up from 48.1kWh) with improved cooling is also in place, and runs a claimed 217 miles before needing a recharge. This will obviously vary, probably quite a bit, depending on how frequently you use the GTI as a GTI. 20-80 per cent can be regained in 30 minutes at a 100kW public rapid charger.
Inside, you'll get even more hot red accenting, stripes along the multi-pattern seats, compact Alcántara steering wheel and dashboard stitching.
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The graphics for the 10in central touchscreen and driver's display have the same colourways, and eagle-eyed readers will have already spotted a 'sound generator' section on the former. Something Stellantis first played with in the Abarth 500e, that.
Peugeot has yet to comfirm pricing, but considering the standard e-208 starts at £30k, it's not hard to imagine the GTI spin-off closing in on £40k. Ow.