The Peugeot 205 GTi was once the king of hot hatches, a feisty little French rebel that devoured corners and stole hearts. But the world moves on, petrol is getting scarce, and exhaust fumes aren’t what they used to be. So, what does Peugeot do? They dust off the sacred GTi badge, slap an ‘E’ on it, and give us the E-208 GTi: a fully electric rocket with 280 horsepower, a nod to the past, and a sprint into the future. Is this the resurrection of a legend or just an expensive sticker on a quiet city car? Let’s dive in.
Let’s start with the looks. The E-208 GTi isn’t a garish bodybuilder with over-the-top spoilers and neon colors. No, Peugeot keeps it subtle but oh-so-tasty. The wheel arches are wider, the car sits 30 millimeters lower to the ground, and the 18-inch rims look like they’re straight out of the iconic Speedline catalog of the 205 GTi. Red accents on the grille and wheel arches add a touch of nostalgia, while the front bumper and rear diffuser bring just enough aggression to show this lion has claws. Inside, it’s a red fiesta: red seatbelts, red stitching, even red floor mats that catapult you back to the ‘80s. The sport seats, clad in alcantara and mesh, hold you tight, and the compact steering wheel with the GTi logo feels ready to tackle a racetrack. Peugeot’s i-Cockpit, with its 3D display and red graphic elements, seals the deal. Oh, and there’s an artificial sound system to give the acceleration some zest—because a silent hot hatch is like a steak without salt.
Under the hood—or rather, under the floor—lies the beating heart of this E-208 GTi: an electric motor pumping out 280 horsepower and 345 Nm of torque. That’s more than any GTi from the past, and it sends all that power to the front wheels through a mechanical limited-slip differential. That’s a rarity in this class, promising more than just wheelspin when you floor it. Zero to sixty? 5.7 seconds. Top speed? 112 mph, electronically capped, because otherwise the 54 kWh battery would drain too fast. Speaking of the battery, it gives you a WLTP range of about 217 miles, and with 100 kW fast charging, you’re back at 80% in under 30 minutes. Handy for a quick pit stop, less so for a road trip to the Alps.
But a hot hatch isn’t just about numbers. It’s about the feeling, the grin on your face as you dive into a corner. Peugeot Sport has gone all-in here. The track is widened by 56 millimeters at the front and 27 millimeters at the rear, the suspension is stiffer and lower, and the brakes—355-millimeter discs with four-piston calipers—are ready for a track day. And then there are the tires: Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2, the same rubber you’d find on a Porsche 911 GT2 RS. That’s no child’s play. Peugeot even added a ‘Sport’ mode for the ESP, which largely switches off the assists for maximum fun. This isn’t some dull electric city car; this is a machine that wants to play.
Still, there’s an elephant in the room: it’s electric. Purists will scoff—where’s the roar of a petrol engine? Where’s the crunch of a manual gearbox? But let’s be real: the age of fossil fuels is fading, and if we want to keep driving hot hatches, we’ve got to roll with it. The E-208 GTi isn’t a 205 GTi, and it doesn’t need to be. It’s lighter than you’d expect—about 1.5 tons, with an impressive power-to-weight ratio of 5.7 kg/hp—and the instant torque of an electric motor makes it blisteringly quick off the line. Compare it to rivals like the Alpine A290 (220 hp) or the Mini JCW Electric, and it stands out with its power and that mechanical diff. Only the Renault 5 Turbo 3E, with its bonkers 550 hp, plays in another league, but that’ll probably cost you your house and your kidneys.
The price? Not official yet, but expect around €45,000. That’s steep for a compact hatch, but you get a lot for your money: a unique blend of daily comfort, sporty performance, and a hefty dose of youthful nostalgia. Whether it truly carries the 205 GTi’s DNA will take a test drive to confirm. But on paper, this car seems worthy of the GTi badge, even without petrol.
Unveiling the E-208 GTi at the 24 Hours of Le Mans was a masterstroke. The circuit, the roaring race cars, the smell of rubber—it’s the perfect stage to launch a new legend. Peugeot hasn’t just built a car; they’ve made a statement. Electric driving can be thrilling, even emotional. And if you thought hot hatches were dead, think again.
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