Promise made, promise kept: after teasing the revival of the GTi nameplate, Peugeot has officially unveiled the E-208 GTi at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where it competed in the Hypercar category. The electric hot hatch takes a familiar powertrain from other Stellantis models, but in a much more compact size.
Peugeot initially didn’t plan to build any more GTi models as it transitioned into the electric era. That made the previous-generation 308 GTi the last model with the fabled badge, which was first introduced in 1984 with the 205 GTi. However, the temptation seemed too difficult to resist; now Stellantis has a hot electric powertrain readily available.
280 hp in a compact format
As expected, the Peugeot E-208 GTi borrows the 280 hp electric motor from the Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce and Abarth 600e. But unlike its cousins, the Peugeot is not an SUV, but rather a compact B-segment hatchback, making it even more performant. 0-100 km/hour takes just 5.7 seconds, while a limited-slip differential keeps it tight in the corners.
A small compromise had to be made in terms of range, however. The Peugeot E-208 GTi gets a 54 kWh battery, which is larger than the 51 kWh unit in the regular models, but range is limited to 350 km WLTP. Charging from 20-80% takes under 30 minutes at a 100 kW DC fast-charger, but the onboard charger is limited to 7.4 kW.
Full of 205 GTi references
The new Peugeot E-208 GTi also looks the part. The body has been lowered by 30 mm, while the front and rear tracks have been widened by 56 mm and 27 mm, respectively.
The 18-inch wheels with a hole-punch design refer to the Speedline wheels of the 205 GTi 1.9. The exclusive bright red body color is the icing on the cake, another reference to its iconic predecessor.
Peugeot also emphasizes the French DNA of the E-208 GTi: the model was designed by Peugeot Sport in Satory, near Versailles, marking the first electric Peugeot Sport model to date.
The electric motor is made in Trémery, in eastern France, as part of the Emotors joint venture between Stellantis and Nidec Leroy-Somer. And even the Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires come from the French expert Michelin. Peugeot has not yet revealed the launch date or pricing for the E-208 GTi.
Sporty small EVs: a new niche in the market?
This Peugeot is not the first ‘hot but electric small hatch on the market. Stellantis has a few of them, as already mentioned, but Renault also offers a more sporty version of its fully electric R5, sold under the Alpine brand name as A290. Volkswagen already showed a concept of a… GTI version of its upcoming ID.2. Undoubtedly, others will follow.
