Performance package on the Peugeot 208 GTi three-door works well visually – and dynamically
Life is tough for those selling car marques operating in the mid-price range in Australia. Their problem is that the Asian makers are trying to lift themselves upmarket, while the big-three German prestige brands are moving down into smaller models at relatively low price points.
Peugeot, the world’s oldest car name, is caught in the pincers between these two dissimilar groups. So the French maker has come out fighting by going boots and all into the hot-hatch arena.
Peugeot’s 205 GTi was one of the major players in this exciting field way back in the 1980s, a stunning little machine with superb handling and a highly responsive engine, the 205 GTi is still looked back on with affection by we motoring journos who were there at the time.
Inexplicably, Peugeot lost its way after the 205 GTi, producing what might be termed ‘lukewarm-hatches’ in the 206 and 207 ranges. Which was strange because during that period the company was heavily involved in the big-end of motorsport; particularly in long-distance endurance events (including Le Mans), off-road rallies (Dakar), hill-climbs (Pikes Peak) even dabbling in Formula One for a while.
Perhaps the engineers were enjoying the intensity of competition so much they didn’t have time to produce hot-hatches for everyman.
Anyhow, that quiet era has passed and Peugeot is back in the hot-hatch arena with a bang. Witness the introduction of the 208 GTi, a genuine high-performance car aimed at full-on car enthusiasts.
Peugeot 208 GTi has a highly tuned 200 horsepower (147 kW in non-performance speak) turbocharged engine stuffed under its shapely nose. This petrol unit produces up to 275 Newton metres of torque at just 1750 rpm.
The engine only sits beside a six-speed manual gearbox as Peugeot feels the true driver is more than happy to make their own decisions on gear ratios. Sure, a double-clutch auto might prove faster, but it doesn’t offer the same pleasure as full manual gear shifting.
We road and track tested the all-new Peugeot 208 GTi over glorious mountain roads behind the Gold Coast and at ‘Holden – The Driving Centre’, a racetrack-like training facility that has operated amongst the cane-fields at Norwell for many years.
On the road sections the little Pug was a sheer delight. The engine has torque to spare in almost all conditions, responds virtually instantly to the throttle and is happy to rev to the top end of the tacho.
Handling of the Peugeot 208 GTi is excellent and its light weight, just 1130 kg, makes it nicely nimble through the twisty bits.
At the Norwell training facility we were assisted by a couple of professional racing drivers – Jason Bright and Andrew Jones – and took the lovely little French flyers to extremes. They are predictable and easy to control even when taken to their limits.
The brakes did get very hot in these harsh conditions, so Peugeot 208 GTi won’t be a track-day car without better brake pads. It’s not exactly alone in this, it’s just that we feel you should be warned because plenty of you are going to be tempted by track driving.
Styling of the three-door French hot-hatch is seriously modified from that of the standard 208. As well as the lowered suspension and a bold body kit it carries numerous items of bling on its body.
Inside, there are race-style seats, leather trim on the handbrake lever – and healthy dashes of red highlights in various placed, including the instrument dials, the centre console and door sill panels.
We love the look, others feel it’s a bit OTT – as usual it’s your call that matters.
A controversial feature of the Peugeot 208 range is the tiny steering wheel’s position. While all like the size and that little bit of extra controllability it offers, some find it blocks their view of the instruments. It’s obviously a personal thing, but make sure you check it out during your own test drive.
Safety is looked after by the usual suite of active and passive devices, which include six airbags. An unusual feature is that the hazard warning flashers come on under heavy braking.
Well priced at $29,990, Peugeot 208 GTi offers style, smile-inducing dynamic and powertrain performance that should guarantee it sits high on the shortlist of hot-hatch buyers.
