The 208 GTi: Peugeot reinterprets a hot hatch legend
THIS IS what legends are made of: a car that single-handedly changed the image of its manufacturer from run-of-the-mill to exciting. For French carmaker Peugeot, the legend was the 205 GTi, a three-door subcompact that it introduced in 1984 and that soon earned legendary status as the hottest hatch on earth, until its phaseout in 1994.
Now, 30 years later, the Lion Brand seeks to rejuvenate the hot hatch legend by releasing the 208 GTi, a high performance version by Peugeot Sport of the 208 subcompact sedan that was successfully launched in 2012. Peugeot has been building racing cars for over 100 years and has an illustrious history of victories in the World Rally Championship, 24 Hours of Le Mans, Paris-Dakar endurance race and the Pikes Peak rally.
Powered by a 200 bhp (brake horsepower) turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four mated to a close-ratio six-speed manual transmission, the 208 GTi sprints from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in less than 7 seconds. Torque is strong at low revs, with 275 Newton-meters of turbocharged torque released from 1700 revolutions per minute.
Top speed is claimed to be 228.8 kph. This exhilarating power is matched by the panache of the car’s design. As could be expected of anything French, the 208 GTi exudes chic elegance and style inside and out.
SPORTY AND REFINED. With a subtle body kit, wider track fore and aft, 17-inch alloy wheels that hug the integrated wheel arch extensions, new halogen headlamps enhanced by LED directional indicators and daytime lighting and a gloss black grille with chrome inserts that together resemble the checkered flag, the 208 GTi immediately establishes a sporty and refined presence.
At the rear, a prominent rear spoiler, trapezoid chromed double tailpipes and the GTi badge on the rear pillar catch the eye. Touches of bright chrome plus racing red throughout the vehicle, such as red brake calipers, red lettering on the tailgate and grille reflect the color scheme of the interior.
In the cabin, the black theme, highlighted with red and satin chrome plus red GTi overstitching throughout, creates a sophisticated yet sporty ambience. The dashboard with red overstitching has a decoration of red graduating to glossy black like the inner door handles. A high-mounted instrument panel with a color matrix provides the driver with vehicle performance info.
The 208 GTi retains the small steering wheel and high-level instrument panel of tradition. But the leather-trimmed, multifunction steering wheel with red overstitching hides the instrument panel and has to be adjusted to a lower position to enable the driver to view the gauges.
COSSETED. The driver and front passenger are cosseted in black sport seats with red side panels, finished in full grain black half leather and antislip Caro woven cloth with a red line detail. The passengers front and back are harnessed in black seatbelts with red edging. Aluminum pedals and footrest, black 208 GTi floor mats overstitched in red, an aluminum gear lever knob with red side insert and an overstitched leather hand brake lever complete the cockpit scene.
Compared to the 207 GTi, the 208 GTi has shed 165 kilograms, sits 8 millimeters closer to the ground, increased the spring ratio of the suspension (fatter MacPherson struts and sturdier antiroll bar in front, trailing arm with deformative cross-member axle at the rear) and installed thicker and firmer dampers.
The steering has been retuned, bigger brakes have been put in and instead of a mechanical limited slip differential, the 208 GTi has an Electronic Stability Program (ESP) that can be switched off entirely. ESP redistributes torque to the wheel which has the most grip when necessary and includes cornering brake control to ensure superb roadholding.
GRIP. With all this upgraded equipment plus calibrated shock absorbers, an enhanced front subframe and rear crossmember rigidity, the 208 GTi grips the road steadfastly around corners and has regained some of the suppleness of the legendary 205 GTi. Peugeot Sport engineers paid particular attention to the steering response, the chassis dynamics and the rigidity of the suspension to deliver an incisive driving experience—smooth, punchy and perfectly matched to the chassis’ ability.
When you switch on the ignition, the twin tailpipes emit the delightful engine note of a sports car. The six close-ratio gears of the manual transmission are notchy, and the metal pedals require a lot of foot pressure when you heel and toe, but that’s part of the hot hatch
package.
You are rewarded with a playful car that sticks faithfully to a chosen lane, grips extremely well especially in corners, what with the chassis’ lithe agility and the suspension keeping the body level and on track while smoothing out the worst road imperfections.
PARKING AID. An added bonus is the Intuitive Park Assist that aids you with its front parking sensors. When sensors detect a suitable space in a line of laterally parked cars, it warns you and controls the steering wheel after you put the car in reverse and operate only the pedals. This park aiding option can be used when you park or when you depart from a parking space.
But the 208 GTi is not perfect. Turbo lag is discernable and the engine surges when the throttle is opened. The electric-assisted steering could do with more weight and feel.
After all, the 208 GTi is not a hardcore hot hatch, but a car designed for road use rather than circuit racing. It is a more grown-up, practical model than the 205 GTi scamp, developed to fit the broader requirements of a perhaps more mature market. At cruising speeds, the 208 GTi is very refined and comfortable.
It is also a safer car, equipped with six airbags, ESP, DSC, ASR, four-wheel disc brakes, parking sensor assist, rain-sensing wipers, static fog lamps and cruise control. Despite its lighter weight, the 208 GTi has a strong passenger cell.
Summing up, at P1.95 million, the faster, safer Peugeot 208 GTi with its supple suspension, comfortable, classy cabin and potent yet refined engine is value for money. It offers more refinement than its rivals, is fairly economical to drive (claimed to be 20 km per liter), considering the sheer pace that it provides and is probably the best all-around GTi that Peugeot has ever made.
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