Peugeot E-208 GTi roars in with 276bhp to challenge Alpine

Peugeot has confirmed it will launch its first electric hot hatch this year with the E-208 GTi.

Branded as a spiritual successor to the legendary 205 GTi, Peugeot says its new performance EV continues the GTi philosophy of tailoring performance to the current age.

And we at EV Powered are hopeful that it will deliver a proper hot hatch for the electric era, given the solid base Peugeot has to work on.

Based on the same underpinnings as the successful Abarth 600e and Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce, the Peugeot E-208 GTi will pack 276bhp and 221lb ft of torque from a single front-mounted motor. That’s twice the output of the original 205 GTi. Peugeot has said this will allow its electric hot hatch to get from 0-62mph in just 5.7 seconds – 0.2 seconds quicker than the larger Abarth. Those figures put the E-208 GTi some way ahead of rivals such as the Alpine A290 and Mini John Cooper Works.

Like its Italian stablemates, the E-208 will feature a proper mechanical Torsen limited slip differential and rear anti-roll bar as well as a bespoke suspension, steering and braking setup, including 355mm discs and four-piston callipers. The E-208 GTi sits 30mm lower than the regular car while the track has been widened by 56mm at the front and 27mm at rear to improve handling over the regular car.

While there are lots of changes over the standard hatchback, the Peugeot E-208 GTi will feature the same 54kWh battery. Officially, Peugeot says that will offer 217 miles of range in this most powerful of E-208s. We’d expect closer to 160-170 miles in the real world.

Visually, Peugeot’s designers say they’ve gone for a subtly sporty look that builds on the already sharp-looking hatchback. Unlike the related Abarth, there are no comically large spoilers or lurid logos.

There’s a more aggressive body kit with a deeper grille area flanked by “claw mark” LEDs, and flared wheel arches to cover the widened track. At the rear a larger high-level spoiler is balanced by a relatively low-key black diffuser. New 18-inch alloy wheels with huge GTi lettering call back to the Speedline design used on the 205 GTi, and are wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres.

Externally there are Neon Red highlights that echo the red lettering of the original GTi badges, on the wheel arches, grille, and beneath the spoiler. That red theme is carried on in the interior where there are bright red floor mats like the 205, as well as red trim on the dashboard and seatbelts. The sports seats are finished in a mixture of leather and Alcantara, with the rear panel divided vertically with an Alcantara panel and a mesh panel reminiscent of the 205’s fabric upholstery.

There’s no word on E-208 GTi pricing yet or when it will go on sale. Based on the regular car’s £30,000-£34,000 price range and the Abarth’s £37-40,000, list price, we’d expect the Pug to squeeze in just under the £40k barrier and to arrive in showrooms later this year.