Peugeot 208 GTi’s imminent revival can bring fight to VW Polo GTI

It has been reported that Peugeot is reviving the GTi badge for its 208 compact hatch—and not just as part of its updated e-208 full electric model rollout, but also as a new combustion-engined GTi if there is customer demand for such a derivative.

Peugeot SA already sells the 208 in Active, Allure, and GT derivatives. The GT is powered by a 96kW 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine. But can you imagine if a real VW Polo GTI-rivalling Peugeot GTi model were to hit the streets?

Peugeot’s CEO, Alain Favey, said relaunching the GTi brand will help Peugeot “reconnect” with its past and history while establishing a link between Peugeot’s road cars and its involvement in the World Endurance Championship.

Peugeot GTI’s return confirmed

“I’m in a position to confirm that we will reintroduce the GTi on the e-208 as soon as possible. We’ve made the decision that Peugeot GTi will be reintroduced,” Favey told Britain’s Autocar.

“We want to continue to nurture the reputation of the brand for driving sensations and the fact that our cars produce particular driving sensations, either as a driver or as someone that is being driven in the car.

“We will start with the 208 and [are] definitely listening to your inputs or what our customers will say as well. Not excluding that there might be other executions of the 208 GTi under the GTi badge. But for today, there’s absolutely nothing planned in that sense,” concluded Favey.

ALSO READ: Hot Peugeot 208 looks set to keep GTI badge after all

Power mystery

Not much is known about the new Peugeot e-208 GTi other than that it could use the same setup as its Stellantis group sibling, the Abarth 600e. This would mean a front-mounted electric motor producing around 177kW of power driven to the wheels through a Torsen limited-slip diff.

Peugeot hasn’t had a GTi model on sale since the 308 back in 2021. The boss man has given no indication of what powerplant would be used or what the power would be if an internal combustion engined Peugeot 208 GTi were to make an appearance.

ALSO READ: Hot Peugeot 208 will be electric only, pack more punch than petrol GTI

To put the e-208 Peugeot power output into perspective, 177kW was what Opel’s fearsome Astra OPC put out. And a smidge off the 180kW that the latest VW Golf 8.5 GTi offers. It is substantially more than the 147kW that the VW Polo GTi produces from its 2.0-litre turbocharged mill. Game on!