The new Peugeot 208 GTi could be fully electric

The new Peugeot 208 GTi could be fully electric and follow in the footsteps of the Peugeot 508 PSE. Will we see it?

With a youthful look and modern technology, the new Peugeot 208 has made its presence felt. It won the European Car of the Year award this year and is becoming very popular, along with the Opel Corsa, with which it shares its platform.

However, one thing the modern 208 family lacks is a sporty derivative. The GTi was supposed to return but, for the time being, we know nothing. Now, the brand’s CEO, Jean-Philippe Imparato, has addressed the subject in a meeting, stating that the model could have a future.

The head of the lion brand has also confirmed that they are “working on what could be the GTi of the future”. If a car carries the [GTi badge], it would be the 208, even if it is electric. Otherwise, it would be PSE [Peugeot Sport Engineered]”.

Peugeot 208 GTi electric, closer than we expect?

Why not use PSE instead of GTi on the most popular cars? Because “it is not the same as a user: it is a new performance. It is not a model with an internal combustion engine and the sensations are not the same”, Imparato assured. “The only car that could claim the GTi initials, even if it is electric, is the 208, if we decide to have that line with a car like that”, he pointed out.

It is too early to talk about numbers, but an electric Peugeot 208 GTi would be more feasible for PSA if it divides development costs between its brands. Opel, for its part, seems interested in a new OPC and could be fully electric, according to previous reports.

If production is approved, then the sporty compacts from Peugeot and Opel will be challenged by Renault, which also plans to relaunch a sporty subcompact hatchback, with zero emissions. It seems that the future of this segment is electric, which forces Ford, Volkswagen and others to do the same with the Fiesta ST and the Polo GTI, respectively. Will we see it later on?

On the other hand, the production version of the high-performance plug-in hybrid, Peugeot 508 PSE, will definitely be launched in Paris. Imparato has stated that the company will not push volume sales of that car and will consider sales of between 1,000 and 2,000 units a success. The project is about both “transforming electric cars” and how they are perceived, as well as a great opportunity to create a line of sports cars. Imparato, moreover, has considered that if the Peugeot 508 PSE became a success, “its formula could be applied to the 3008 and the rest of the lion’s range”.

Technical specifications of this car

HatchbackPeugeot 2089 versions · from 22,520 €