Reviving great memories of 205 and 206 GTi, Peugeot is launching the new 308 GTi following the same recipe which made the early GTi-badged Pugs so great. It’s a great compromise between sportiness, practicality and affordability. It’s really hard to tell this model apart from the normal 308s based on the looks, but it has a hotted-up 1.6 liter turbo engine under the bonnet.

This all new 1.6 litre unit which will be offered in the new RCZ Coupe as well, features THP (win-Scroll turbocharger and direct petrol injection), and VTi (variable valve lift and valve timing) for maximum efficiency and responsiveness. So, it develops 147 kW (200 bhp) and 270 Nm of torque while returning average fuel economy of 6.9 litres/100 km for 159 g/km of CO2. It comes as standard with a 6-speed manual gearbox.

The car has a few unique styling cues as well, including carbon-style insert under the front bumper lower skirt, sport lower front panel, lower rear bumper panel with Perla Nera black diffuser, rear spoiler, twin chrome exhaust pipes and some GTi badges.

Inside the cabin you get aluminium foot rest and gear knob, leather sport steering wheel with aluminium flattened lower edge and thumb rests, piano black fascia,and…

But a GTi is as much about comfort and power, as it’s about handling and driveability. So the 308 GTi is equipped with a front suspension incorporating joints with larger diameter bearings, specific damper settings at the front and rear and 18 inch Lincancabur alloy wheels with 225/40 R18 tyres. It also comes with 340×30 mm ventilated front brake discs for maximum stopping power. ESP, as standard, including dynamic stability control (CDS), electronic brake force distribution (EBFD) and emergency brake assist (EBA). The CDS, ASR (traction control) and EBA functions can be disconnected simultaneously (ESP Off) to allow demanding and experienced drivers to fully enjoy the car’s capacities.