PEUGEOT GETS BACK IN THE GTI GAME

New E-208 GTi gets 276bhp and Cup 2 tyres - and is gunning for Alpine’s A290

- by SAM JENKINS

WHEN PEUGEOT’S LAST GTI, THE 208, was discontinued in 2018, the marque’s new PSE sub-brand was supposed to fill the void left behind. Instead, just a single model emerged wearing the new nameplate — the 508 PSE - before it too was canned last year. Now Peugeot is set to revive the far more celebrated of those three-letter badges with this, the E-208 GTi.

While the current-generation 208 is offered in combustion, hybrid and electric forms, the GTi version will be available with electric power only. Mounted to its front axle is a new ‘M4+' electric motor, built in France and reputedly developed using expertise derived from Peugeot's endurance racing programme. It produces 276bhp and 254lb ft of torque, which is sent through a mechanical limited-slip differential (something its 59bhp less powerful Alpine A290 GTS rival lacks).