New Peugeot E-208 GTi: will the GTi legend survive without petrol?

Back to our little baguette: even its shape hints at a more sporting character. The body sits 25 mm lower, while the track has been widened by 56 mm at the front and 28 mm at the rear. A 31 mm rear anti-roll bar works alongside dedicated springs and dampers. The real headline, however, is the mechanical limited-slip differential integrated into the transmission — a technical solution designed to make better use of the 345 Nm delivered to the front wheels, particularly when grip starts to fade. Up front, there are also 355 mm brake discs with fixed four-piston calipers. The rear, by contrast, retains the standard E-208 brakes, raising questions about the overall balance of the braking system that will need to be answered during a dynamic test.

Sport mode disables regenerative braking, allowing the driver to focus on driving without energy recovery intervening on the overrun. It is a setting that fits the car's stated intentions, although the overall calibration of the steering, accelerator and electronic controls will ultimately determine whether this GTi can genuinely engage its driver or turns out to be just another microwave on wheels, like so many others.

Styling-wise, Peugeot has avoided turning the 208 into a caricature of a track car. There are 18-inch wheels inspired by the original 205 GTi, wider tracks, red accents and an interior that pays tribute to its predecessor with dedicated seat belts, upholstery and stitching. The connection with the past is unmistakable, but a few red inserts are not enough to inherit forty years of reputation.

Then there is the trade-off in range, which depends on which tyres the car wears. Peugeot claims up to 375 km on the WLTP cycle with the optional Hankook Ventus S1 Evo3 tyres, while the figure drops to 352 km on the standard Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres. A 20–80% rapid charge takes less than 30 minutes at 100 kW; using a 7.4 kW wallbox, a full charge takes 4 hours and 40 minutes. So you can sleep easy.

The E-208 GTi appears to have the technical credentials to earn the name it carries. But there is still a gap between a convincing specification sheet and a truly memorable sports car — one that no press release can bridge. A true GTi is not measured solely in horsepower, seconds or millimetres, but in how much it makes the driver smile. Getting behind the wheel remains the ultimate test.

• Peugeot
• E-208GTi
• Electricvehicle
• CarCulture
• Engineering