New Peugeot E-208 GTI costs £35,000: is this electric hot hatch worth it?
Car changing is a big deal
Peugeot’s GTI badge is back, this time on the E-208. This electric hot hatch gets 280hp, some clever handling upgrades and suitably sporty styling, but the range takes a hit.
- New Peugeot E-208 GTI revealed
- Hot hatch based on Peugeot’s popular small hatchback
- Prices start from £34,995
- Lower, wider, and more aggressive styling
- Motor makes 280hp, with 5.7-second 0-62mph time
- Limited-slip differential for better handling
The Peugeot 208 GTI has been off sale for over seven years, but now it’s back – and this time it’s electric. The new E-208 GTI has styling upgrades which hark back to the iconic 205 GTI from the 1980s, but it has a lot more power than that car.
With 280hp on tap, it’s more than twice as powerful as the 205. It’s also got some clever suspension upgrades to make the already nimble E-208 even more fun to drive, and prices start from £34,995.
New Peugeot E-208 GTI price
The new Peugeot E-208 GTI will go on sale later this year, and prices will start from £34,995. That’s £7,250 more than the range-topping E-208, and it’s £1,000 more than the larger, mechanically-similar Abarth 600e.
A top-spec Alpine A290 is also around £1,000 cheaper, but the E-208 GTI has 60hp more.
New Peugeot E-208 GTi design
The standard 208 is a good-looking car, but the Peugeot Sport treatment has worked wonders to give the E-208 GTi a uniquely aggressive, sporty appearance. There’s no mistaking it for the regular 208, in part because it sits lower to the ground, and the wheels are further apart – both of these should help it handle better, and make it look sportier, too.
Eye-catching 18-inch alloy wheels have a look that nods to the ‘Hole’ design of the classic Peugeot 205 GTi 1.9 wheels, and they sit beneath flared arches to accommodate the wider stance.
A spoiler has been added to the lip of the front bumper, while a racy diffuser design is fitted at the rear. The bright red paint in these pictures will be bespoke to the E-208 GTi.
New Peugeot E-208 GTi electric motors and batteries
The Peugeot E-208 GTi is powered by a 280hp electric motor, which allegedly includes learnings from Peugeot Sport’s World Endurance Championship Hypercar – notably thermal management and energy recovery.
You get a larger 54kWh battery than found in the regular car, and it has been optimised for better cooling when driving quickly to avoid performance being affected by an overheating battery.
Range is 217 miles for the GTi, which is some way down on the maximum range of the regular E-208 (up to 259 miles) thanks to the much more powerful motor. A 20-80% charge takes less than half an hour, with a maximum charge rate of 100kW.
New Peugeot E-208 GTi performance upgrades
To help make the most of the extra performance, Peugeot Sport engineers have fitted a limited-slip differential to the E-208 GTi’s front axle. This helps distribute the power better when accelerating out of a corner, helping you to carry more speed. It’s the sign of a serious performance car.
Another sign is the fact that the E-208 GTi comes with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres. This is a proper set of track day tyres that are typically found on much more powerful cars – think Porsches rather than Peugeots. They are likely to be an optional extra, though, with more road-friendly, efficiency-focused rubber fitted as standard.
Importantly, Peugeot has upgraded the front brakes (though the rear ones are the same as standard), while the steering has been recalibrated to respond more quickly to your inputs and give a more sporty feeling.
New Peugeot E-208 GTi interior
Inside there’s a sporty makeover, too. The most obvious change is the new seats, which promise to be more figure-hugging than the regular car’s, and come with a snazzy red and black theme.
In fact, the prominence of red on the outside has continued inside, with the carpets, floor mats and seatbelts all finished in this colour. You also get red graphics for the infotainment and driver displays, and red leather on the steering wheel. Soft Alcantara can also be found throughout the cabin.
Car change? Carwow!
Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.
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