New Peugeot E-208 GTI proves hot hatches are here to stay

Miss your old 205 GTI? Peugeot’s E-208 GTI is an all-electric, spiritual successor. But is it worthy of the nameplate, or just another retro marketing special? Read on to find out.

The circle of life: one in, one out. It applies equally to hot hatches, as it does people, animals, TV sitcoms… you name it. That’s why, following the Civic Type R’s melancholy departure last week, Peugeot announced the rebirth of an old favourite: the GTI badge.  

Excited? Us too. This new creation certainly looks like a proper French hot hatch should — 205 GTI-style wheels, crimson badging, and beefy spoiler, included. And it’s hitting all the right notes inside, too.

Peugeot’s calling the sporty new cabin ‘i-cockpit’, and immersion’s the name of the game. For starters, bucket-style seats are said to allow users to “become one” with the car, thanks to their figure-hugging form. Then, there’s a fully digital instrument cluster with special graphics, a central screen with bespoke performance pages, a more compact steering wheel, and enough red mood lighting to develop an old-fashioned photograph. Oh, and don’t forget the onboard sound synthesiser — the first hint that this new GTI is a little different to its forebears — to add an engaging auditory element to each drive.

It's at this point you’re probably expecting us to say ‘while it talks the talk, the E-208 GTI can’t walk the walk.’ Thankfully, that’s not the case. Unlike machines such as GWM’s Ora 03 GT and Ford’s new retro Capri, which merely look (or sound) fast, this little Peugeot has some real fire in its belly.  

As you’ve already guessed, the E in this GTI’s name stands for electric. Not hybrid, or electrified, but the full bhuna: an all-electric vehicle. As such, the acceleration is a rapid 5.7 seconds to 60 mph. Not bad, but the instantaneous 280 bhp and 254 lb ft provided by the front-mounted M4 electric motor, should feel even punchier in the real world. The 112-mph top speed is nothing special, mind, but hot hatches are about charging into corners with gusto, not blasting down the Autobahn at Mach 1. 

The E-208 GTI has all those handling boxes ticked, too. Starting before you even reach the corner, 355 mm front discs and four-piston callipers should allow for some late braking antics on track. Then, to ensure you find every apex, there’s a wider track (56 mm front / 27 mm rear) and highly specialised Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 rubber. Outright grip should be formidable, then, but the body control will be equally impressive. The 30 mm-lowered suspension is stiffer and features hydraulic bump stops, so this feisty pug won’t come unstuck on broken, undulating roads.

Unfortunately, all this added performance and aggression does come at a cost: the driving range. Even with the battery brimmed at 54 kWh, you’ll only see 217 miles on the range readout. That’s a pretty meagre figure for a modern EV, but one consolation is the GTI’s nifty vehicle-to-load system, which allows you to charge an electric bike or operate mobile lighting. 

According to Peugeot CEO, Alain Favey, the new E-208 GTI represents a “ground-breaking next chapter in an iconic GTi story… With this new GTi, we set new standards within the hot hatch market.” Bold claims, but only time will tell if buyers agree. 

Speaking of which, exact pricing for Peugeot’s reimagined pocket rocket is as yet unconfirmed. However, it’ll likely start around the £40,000 mark if it wants to steal sales form electric rivals like the Abarth 600e and Mini’s John Cooper Works Electric.  

Are you ready for a new era of electric hot hatches? Let us know if you love the new E-208 GTI, or would rather it was petrol powered instead.

Hero image credit: Stellantis