Peugeot has put a price on its new electric hot hatch – and it could be one of the most interesting small EVs heading our way.
The new Peugeot E-208 GTi will start from £34,995 in the UK, bringing back one of the most famous badges in small hot hatch history, but with a big electric twist. This is the first ever fully electric Peugeot GTi, and it arrives with 277bhp, 345Nm of torque and a 0-62mph time of just 5.5 seconds.
Peugeot says the E-208 GTi gets the best performance in its segment. Top speed is limited to 112mph, but the little Peugeot will sprint from 50-75mph in just 3.2 seconds, which should make it feel pretty lively when you want a quick burst of acceleration.
The price and technical details were confirmed ahead of this weekend’s 24 hours of Le Mans, where Peugeot is celebrating 100 years since it first raced at the famous French endurance race. That link is more than just marketing, too, because the E-208 GTi has been engineered by Peugeot Sport, the part of Peugeot behind the 9X8 Hypercar that races in the World Endurance Championship and will be competing for the overall win at Le Mans later this week.
Christophe Auriault, E-208 GTi Project Manager at Peugeot Sport said: “From the very beginning of the project, it was obvious that Peugeot Sport should be involved in the E-208 GTi project. We have unique experience and expertise in designing this type of car. It was also clear that the goal was to create a 100 per cent electric GTi. We wanted to prove that all the Peugeot GTi DNA can be found in an electric car. And we have succeeded.”
The E-208 GTi uses the same 54kWh battery as other Stellantis EVs, including the regular E-208, but Peugeot Sport has changed the battery cooling and management to cope with the extra performance. Peugeot says the idea is to keep the car delivering its full power even when it is being driven hard, rather than turning the wick down to protect the battery.
Similar technology is used for other hot Stellantis models, including the Vauxhall Mokka GSE and the upcoming Vauxhall Corsa GSE – but Peugeot has given the E-208 GTi its own unique flavour.
Auriault continued: “One of our main priorities was performance durability. We did not want to reduce this exceptional power to protect the battery from derating, something seen on some electric performance cars. For example, if a customer is driving up a mountain pass, they should be able to stay in ‘Sport mode’ for the duration. It is the GTi spirit, performance should be constant. Drawing inspiration from motorsport, we designed battery cooling management that avoids power limitation in demanding conditions.”
The E-208 GTi’s range depends on which tyres buyers choose. With a set of Hankook Ventus S1 Evo3, it can manage up to 233 miles on the WLTP test cycle, while the standard-fit Michelin Pilot Sport 4S performance tyres bring that down to 219 miles.
Charging looks straightforward enough, with a 20-80 per cent top-up taking under 30 minutes on a 100kW DC charger. A fill from zero to 100 per cent with a 7.4kW home charger takes four hours and 40 minutes, Peugeot says.
Peugeot has also done plenty to make sure this is more than just a faster E-208. The GTi sits 25mm lower than the regular car, while the front track has been widened by 56mm and the rear by 28mm. It also gets 18-inch wheels, a mechanical limited-slip differential, specific springs and dampers with hydraulic bump stops, a bigger rear anti-roll bar and big, 355mm front brake discs with four-piston callipers.
There is a Sport mode for the stability control system, too, while regenerative braking is switched off in Sport mode so the driver can concentrate on the car’s performance feel.
On the outside, Peugeot has leaned into the GTi badge without going too wild. The E-208 GTi gets a lower, wider stance, widened wheelarches, a front spoiler, glossy black rear diffuser, red detailing and 18-inch perforated wheels inspired by the famous “holed” wheels of the iconic 205 GTi. There are seven colours: Okénite White, Elixir Red, Miramar Blue, Perla Nera Black, Artense Grey, Selenium Grey and Agueda Yellow.
Inside, there are more nods to GTi history, including red carpets, red floor mats, red seatbelts and red stitching. The front seats get a central red insert and red mesh detail, referencing the classic 205 GTi, while the steering wheel has perforated leather, Alcantara and another red “208 GTi” emblem.
Michaël Trouvé, E-208 GTi Project Manager at Peugeot Design, said: “We wanted the E-208 GTi to be immediately recognisable as a Peugeot GTi, with a design that speaks for itself. It had to be worthy of this iconic badge, while remaining modern. A key point was its sporty stance on the road, and we created strong visual cues that are powerful but not ostentatious – making the E-208 GTi an extraordinary toy, equally at home in the city or on track.”
Standard kit for the E-208 GTi includes Peugeot i-Connect Advanced, connected TomTom navigation, “OK Peugeot” voice assistant, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, red-themed digital displays, access to GTi-specific performance data, ambient lighting and a selectable sound setting linked to motor speed.
The E-208 GTi also gets Peugeot Care, with up to eight years or 100,000 miles of vehicle and battery warranty. Peugeot’s Free2Move Charge Pass, which gives access to nearly one million charging points across Europe, is included, while vehicle-to-load tech lets the car power external devices and appliances.
