Peugeot celebrates the return of the GTi to the 24 Hours of Le Mans

Said and done. Peugeot didn't give it much thought as to whether it was appropriate to relaunch the historic GTi acronym, which, incidentally, returns on one of the French brand's most successful models from Stellantis: the 208, but in an electric version. At the beginning of 2025 the first rumours, today a few months later, the launch of the production-ready model. But the E-208 GTi not only reopens a new era, it does so with a 280 hp electric motor with 345 Nm of torque under the bonnet, as well as being credited with 0-100 km/h acceleration in just 5.7 seconds and a top speed that is, politically speaking, 180 km/h.

The new E-208 GTi, which was built in collaboration with Peugeot Sport, uses a chassis lowered by 30 mm with track widths widened by 56 mm at the front and 27 mm at the rear. It also has a self-locking differential that is integrated into the gearbox to guarantee agility, efficiency and stability. Teamwork extended to a long-standing partner of the brand, Michelin, which supplies the car with high-performance tyres. The electric motor, on the other hand, is produced at Trémery in France, the historic factory that has switched from thermal engines to the production of electric-only units.

The Calt electric battery with a gross capacity of 54 kWh benefits from optimised management that protects it in sports use, thanks to a cooling system adapted to high performance. The range of use is estimated at 350 km. For more intensive use, such as on the racetrack, it can be recharged from 20 to 80 per cent in less than 30 minutes on direct current. The new E-208 GTi also offers a V2L function that allows an electric device to be recharged from the car's high-voltage battery. Like all Peugeot's electric models, the GTi comes with an eight-year, 160,000-km warranty.

The E-208 GTi also has the best in terms of both equipment and comfort and driver assistance. The interior features extensive use of Alcantara on the steering wheel and centre console. The seats are specific: sporty, but still comfortable. The instrument panel graphics and the central screen are in red. It is also equipped with the i-Connect Advanced information system with high-performance TomTom connected navigation, plus voice recognition activated with Ok Peugeot and wireless mirroring for use with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto systems.

If, in short, forty years ago the legendary 205 GTi was the pioneer of a new concept of small sports car, today at Peugeot they are relaunching its DNA, but in a modern key, on the E-208 capable of performance and sporty design worthy of a true GTi. It is also a unique expression of contemporary and above all sustainable driving pleasure, combining performance at the top of the sector with a versatility that makes it enjoyable even in everyday use. Still to be defined are the price of the E-208 GTi and also the launch date. But these are just details, as the GTi is now back.