Electric rally car revival continues with new, 280 hp Peugeot E-208 GTi

Making its public debut at the legendary 24 Hours of LeMans this weekend, the new, 280 hp Peugeot E-208 GTi resurrects another storied hot hatch name as it takes its place alongside reborn 80s icons from Lancia and Renault.

First unveiled as a concept last year, the new age E-208 GTi is production ready now, with specs that have it slotting right between the reborn Renault 5 and 280 hp Lancia Y HF, resurrecting the feisty French hot hatch from the 80s and 90s with modern styling that’s immediately familiar to fans – and, with 280 hp and 345 Nm (~255 lb-ft) of TQ – performance that’s mercifully closer to the GTi you remember than the GTi that really was.

“We wanted a car that evokes our history, but with a sober expression of performance,” explains Vincent Héride, Product Manager of the new Peugeot E-208 GTi. “No exuberance, but a confident stance, poised on the road.”

Seeing rouge

“From the bodywork to the wheel arches, the iconic red is omnipresent,” reads the breathless copy in the press release – and they’re not wrong. The retro red rouge highlights are everywhere.

A nod to the original 205 GTi’s ‘holey’ alloy wheels, the E-208 GTi’s rides on 18″ wheels with bold diamond-cut perforations and bright red GTi branding wrapped in sticky, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 high performance tires. Inside, the red is immersive, surrounding the Peugeot’s lucky drivers and passengers with bright red carpets and floor mats, red-accented sports seats, and a tight Alcantara steering wheel – all directly inspired by the original 205 GTi.

So much rouge

A lowered ride height, stiffened suspension, rear anti-roll bar, and unique steering geometry designed to boost responsiveness complete the GTi’s performance package, and ensure that the added hp and torque can be put to the ground effectively while making the GTi feel substantially different from behind the wheel than its more pedestrian “base” E-208 cousins.

Peugeot is promising 217 miles of range from the GTi’s 54 kWh battery (the same found in the standard E-208), with pricing that starts at about £35K (approx., $46K USD, including VAT).

SOURCE | IMAGES: Peugeot.

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