Peugeot is wading into the electric hot hatch battle with the GTi badge now affixed to the e-208 city hatch.
Under the bonnet there’s a more powerful French-made electric motor with 209kW and 345Nm driving the front wheels. That’s quite a big step up from the regular e-208’s 115kW motor.
To help the GTi make a clean getaway it’s fitted with a limited-slip differential. The e-208 GTi can complete the 0-100km/h dash in 5.7 seconds, and hit a top speed of 180km/h.
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A 54kWh battery from CATL is standard, and provides a 350km driving range under the WLTP standard. AC charging speeds top out at 7.4kW, and 100kW can be achieved with at a DC fast charger.
The GTi rides on 215/40 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres wrapped around 18-inch wheels styled to resemble the “hole” rims used on the 205 GTi.
Peugeot claims this not only honours the car’s heritage, but provides extra cooling for the brakes. The front discs have been upsized to 355mm with red-painted four-piston calipers. The brakes at the rear are unchanged from the regular e-208 for “efficiency” purposes.
To benefit the car’s handling, and stance, the GTi is 30mm lower than lesser e-208 variants, and its tracks are wider by 56mm at the front and 27mm at the rear.
Inside the cabin there are new grippier front seats, a small steering wheel with a flat top and bottom, and plenty of red highlights. Prominent GTi badging appears on the alloy wheels, side sills, seats, and steering wheel.
Faux suede trim is used on the door grips, steering wheel, seats, and centre console lid. Leather is applied to the seat bolsters and parts of the steering wheel, while a huge swathe of carbon-fibre-like trim stretches from the door cards and across the dashboard.
The e-208 GTi will be produced in right-hand drive for the UK and Ireland, but it’s unclear if the e-208 GTi will grace Australian streets. Indeed the Australian future of the 208 range is unclear.
Originally slated to appear locally in 2024, that date has come and gone with no movement at the station. Although the e-208 did receive Australian certification back in 2023, local importer Inchcape is keeping its cards close to its chest.
The last GTi model sold in Australia was the 308 back in 2020, with the 208 and the 208 GTi discontinued in 2018.
MORE: Everything Peugeot 208