Peugeot made it official the GTi badge is about to make a comeback at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, with a concept version of the new 208.
The new 208 GTi is based on the three–door model and besides all the extra garnish on the exterior, comes with a very special feature.
It has chequered-flag motifs that embellish the metal mesh of the grille, and the lower bar proudly affirms its origin by displaying the French ‘Le Tricolour’ flag or the Union Jack when in the UK. That’s a nice touch.
Apart form that, it features double chromed exhaust tailpipes, aero lower bodywork spoilers and lower sill skirt extensions, plus some GTi logos. It looks a bit too chintzy and overdone if we’re honest, but then nobody said a hot hatchback should be restrained.
Inside the cabin, the fantastic new design is made better with the use sports leather stitched steering wheel and gear lever, double stitching in the seats, covered in cloth and Nappa leather, and enhanced with LED backlighting to the surrounds of the high-tech instruments. What’s more, the fascia capping is dressed in Alcantara with grey stitching, the roof lining is entirely black and the pedals are aluminium.
The engine is the RCZ THP 200 engine a 1.6-litre unit hooked up with a 6-speed manual gearbox. Peugeot has not revealed how many horses it makes in the GTi. But they have made some dynamic changes, such as the 36mm wider track, at the front and at the rear, and four discs; 302mm diameter at the front and 249mm at the rear, to cope with the enhanced performance.
