Peugeot has created a legend with its long running GTi (not to be confused with VW’s GTI), and has seen fit to grace the world with a new version based on the recently released 208. The new 208 GTi carries on the French marques tradition of cramming a powerful motor in a tiny and stylish car. The 208 was already a sprightly machine but the 200 horsepower from the 1.6-liter motor helps power the little hatch to 60 mph in less than 7 seconds.
Marie Beaumont, 208 GTi Dynamic Synthesis Manager states, “The 208 is an excellent base for developing a sports hatchback. We have worked with particular attention on the steering response, the chassis dynamics and the rigidity of the suspension. The 208 GTi successfully combines performance, safety and driving pleasure.”
The car receives plenty more upgrades inside and out with updated body work and revised interior details. The exhaust is a chrome trapezoid and the interior is filled with red, black and chrome.
To get all the gritty details check out the press release we have included right below our awesome high-resolution gallery.
208 GTi, re-generation of the legend
Peugeot has made its mark in the history of motor sport. Whether through its models, its success in competition or its infamy through advertising and promotions, the Marque’s DNA has the best genes for creating the modern performance GTi. The expectation was simple: to create a playful and chic sports car, a contemporary interpretation of the legend that is the Peugeot GTi.
“With the 208 GTi, our objective was to produce an engaging sporty performance driving pleasure, an experience that speaks immediately to all enthusiasts: performance, power, reactivity, and an aura of respect and desire. While the 205 GTi was naturally our inspiration, the 208 GTi is its modern interpretation.”
Gaëtan Demoulin, Peugeot Customer Synthesis Manager
At first glance, the eyes are impressed initially by a presence, with a vehicle which affirms its identity: sporty and refined. The Satin Pearlescent White colour2 adorns the whole of the 208 GTi, including its special spoiler.
There can be no doubting the sportiness of the bodywork. Crossing the gloss black rear skirt, the exhaust emerges with a trapezoid chromed double tailpipe, an innovative design emphasising the uniqueness of this model. The chromed trim strip decorates the window lower edge culminating in a signature accent that pays tribute to the illustrious 205 GTi. Furthermore, the quarter panel trim proudly bears the GTi logo, in bright chrome accentuated in red highlights.
Regardless of the colour chosen, this red punctuates the vehicle: on brake calipers, grille lower bead, Peugeot lettering on the tailgate and on the grille. In addition, the mesh of the grille has a 3D chequered motif, with chromed inserts in the gloss black grille.
The whole is subtly enhanced by the touches of bright chrome on the foglamp trim surrounds, the grille upper trim and the door mirrors.
Opening the doors reveals a passenger compartment which reflects the paintwork. From the sill, with the name Peugeot embossed, the passenger compartment is notably sporty. It has a stimulating colour scheme combining red, black and satin chrome. With red GTi overstitching throughout, the interior is striking, down to the smallest detail.
Resolutely sporty, the seat combines full grain Club Nappa leather and the Caro Weave cloth, made dynamic by a red line. The dashboard, with a taut black polyurethane PVC covering with red overstitching, has a decoration of red graduating to black, matching the door crossbars. The vehicle performance information is provided via the high-mounted instrument panel. Technological, it is equipped with a colour matrix, surrounded by dials with a chromed bead back-lit in red by LEDs. On their brushed aluminium background, decorated with a gloss black chequered motif, the white needles rise through to the red zone.
The driver is well supported in the cossetting seat structure, harnessed with black seat belts with red edging fasten, so that the driving position is clear and comfortable. The feet naturally find the aluminium pedals and footrest naturally, the heels in contact with the top-of-the-range mats with black surround, overstitched in red. Intuitively, the hands rest on the small black full grain leather steering wheel, perforated and with red overstitching. The right hand easily and naturally finds the aluminium gear lever knob, with red side insert, or the overstitched leather handbrake lever.
The red leather marker on the steering wheel pointing straight ahead, the thumbs well supported, the GTi logo is only waiting for one thing … ignition!
“The 208 is an excellent base for developing a sports hatchback. We have worked with particular attention on the steering response, the chassis dynamics and the rigidity of the suspension. The 208 GTi successfully combines performance, safety and driving pleasure.”
Marie Beaumont, 208 GTi Dynamic Synthesis Manager
The 208 GTi delights its driver with an incisive driving experience due to the involving chassis dynamics, providing superb driving sensations. Springs, calibration of the shock absorbers, anti-roll bar, enhanced front subframe and rear crossmember rigidity, plus that the suspension and wheels are specific to the vehicle.
Agile and reactive, the 208 GTi balances from one turn to the next with complete precision.
Controlled by the steering the settings of which have been revised to increase firmness, the front suspension returns the information perfectly and responsively. The rear suspension is also well tuned for safe and involved driving.
Fitted with 205/45 tyres, the 17″ diamond Carbon wheels, with Storm paint and matt varnish, house 302mm ventilated discs at the front and 249mm at the rear. Cooled by dynamic air intakes, they provide controlled and incisive braking.
The 1.6 THP 200bhp petrol engine expresses itself through a reworked exhaust system. As soon as the ignition is switched on, it emits an appealing sound note that delights the ears, at all engine speeds. Coupled with a manual gearbox with six close-ration gears, the engine draws the full potential from this chassis. With its maximum torque of 275Nm and its maximum power of 147kW (200bhp), the 208 GTi3 has the potential of acceleration to the highest level. 0 to 60mph (0 to 100km/h) is reached in less than 7 seconds, 0 to 1000m in 27 seconds. The in-gear reacceleration is equally impressive, with the 208 GTi accelerating from 50 to 75mph (80 to 120km/h) in less than 7 seconds in 5th gear.
This performance benefits from the improvement achieved lightening the weight of the vehicle. Light in weight, at 1160 kg, the 208 GTi achieves a real feat by emitting CO2 at just 145g/km. A playful sports car, powerful and safe, with an enchanting sound, which is also a practical hatchback … the 208 GTi delights its driver every day, the (fully disengageable) ESP watching over them.
A Limited Edition 208 GTi
The arrival in the Peugeot range of a new GTi is always a major event, particularly in the segment of the 200 series. To celebrate this event, Peugeot has developed a fully-specified Limited Edition with only 50 vehicles available.
Adorned in exclusive Satin Pearlescent White, this highly limited-numbered edition rides on special 17″ diamond alloy wheels with Onyx Black paint coated in gloss varnish. The wheels centres are fitted with an aluminium cap with a red surround. The lower bar of the grille, which is also white, bears the French flag.
Inside, the exclusive owners will have Satellite Navigation and the HiFi pack specificied as standard, and a numbered plaque will remind them every day that they are members of a very exclusive club.
