Peugeot 208 GTI Returns - Quietly and Electrically

Peugeot has decided to resurrect its legendary 208 GTI, but don’t expect the rumble of a petrol engine or clouds of smoke - this one arrives as a purely electric five-door. Let’s get this straight from the start: at heart, it’s still an e-208 with more horsepower, sportier clothes and a new spoiler, but the soul has been replaced by a battery pack.

There’s now a punchy 280 horsepower and 345 Nm of torque, enough to launch the GTI from zero to a hundred in 5.7 seconds. That makes it dynamically sharper than the smaller beasts from Abarth and Alfa Romeo, who might have thought they had the monopoly on small-car sportiness.

The battery is a 54 kWh unit offering a theoretical 350 km range. That’s less than the standard e-208 versions, but let’s be honest—no one buys a GTI to save electricity.

The looks are sportier: 18-inch GTI-branded wheels, slightly lowered suspension and a wider track. The cabin gets a dash of red accents to match.

Technically, the package has been thoroughly revised: bigger brakes, a different steering setup and even Michelin Cup 2 semi-slicks for anyone tempted to take this thing to a track day.

No price yet, but word has it the number will hover around €40,000. There will be no petrol version.