The following is a re-edit of a piece posted by MotorMartin on DriveTribe under The Junk Yard banner run by Tony Yates, perhaps better known as @Xinterceptor.
The Peugeot 208 GTi By Peugeot Sport delivers a quite incredible 208bhp from its responsive, turbocharged 1.6L THP which, when combined with a tactile and responsive 6-speed manual gearbox, allows the driver to exploit the 300Nm of torque available at 3000rpm to the full. A stunningly quick 0-62mph of just 6.5s and a top speed of 143mph show the focus of Peugeot’s engineers with this hot hatch, it is very, very quick.
The 208 GTi looks fantastic, with a 10mm lower ride height than the standard GTi, a 6mm wider track, bulging wheel arches, bodywork creases aplenty, 18” Lithium Black alloy wheels that combine perfectly with matt black wheel arch extensions, double round chrome exhaust tailpipe, red branded front brake callipers and exterior GTi by Peugeot Sport badging to finish a truly modern looking sports car. This really does look how a proper GTi should look.
Inside the 208 is just as special with it’s interior dominated by a pair of figure hugging sports seats finished in Alcantara with contrasting red stitching and branded with the Peugeot Sport nomenclature matched beautifully with the specific GTi by Peugeot Sport carpet mats. Like it’s bigger brother, the 208 includes the head-up instrument panel of the Peugeot I-Cockpit® which, Peugeot say, is directly in your line of vision, allowing you to read key vehicle information instantly without taking your eyes off the road, putting you in the ideal position for an intuitive driving experience, especially when combined with the responsive compact steering wheel.
And it’s out in the open that this Peugeot starts to make inroads into the 205’s legendary status as every drive is dominated by the sounds and feel from that incredible engine and handling package. Travelling respectfully through towns and villages, changing up early, keeping the exhaust note to a minimum and enjoying the quite incredible economy that the GTi offers, including as it does, up to the minute stop start technology, means that you can enjoy a potential combined cycle of a quite stunning 52.3mpg and CO2 of 125g/km.
Accelerate away and the 208 GTi By Peugeot Sport revs so quickly it comes alive around you. There’s a proper build up of power as the cabin reverberates with the growl from under the bonnet and booms with the noise from the exhaust, creates excitement for the driver whilst the steering feels pin sharp and responsive and the subtle suspension allows the car to track flat and true on the road.
This is, in my opinion, a rightful successor to that 205 GTi of yesteryear. Head to head there would clearly only be one winner as the power and poise of this young pretender is superior in every way to it’s forefather. Technology, power, efficiency and safety are all the best that current knowledge can offer and yet this Peugeot can still be on your drive for just £22,900, an absolute bargain.
Where will you go?