The new car that will take Peugeot back into the hot hatch arena, the Peugeot 208 GTI, has been spied testing for the first time.
Spotted during cold weather development work in the middle of Scandinavia, this three-door Peugeot 208 doesn’t sport the aggressive rear wing or bespoke front grille that’s expected to feature on the final GTI version.
However, telltale signs that this is the ‘hot’ version of Peugeot’s new 208 include the twin exhausts and the low-profile suspension. The final GTI will have its own unique wheel designs and tyre sizes, plus sports seats and unique interior decor will complete the package.
Two versions will be offered, both using the 1.6-litre twin-cam turbo engine that currently powers the Citroën DS3 and Mini Cooper.
A 154bhp version is likely to be used in the GTI, with a hotter 204bhp unit going into a more focused model, possibly called GTI Racing. The quickest Peugeot 208 is on course to offer sub-7.0sec 0-60mph acceleration and a top speed of well over 140mph.
The mainstream 208 arrives in June, with the GTI expected to follow before the end of the year.
