What's the news?
Hot hatch fans rejoice, for the day of returning is here. Peugeot has confirmed that it will unveil not one, but two GTi versions of the 308 hatchback at next week's Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Both versions have been tweaked and developed by Peugeot's in-house racing department, Peugeot Sport. The standard 250hp car gets wider track front and rear, 18-inch alloys with Michelin Sport tyres, sport suspension that's 11mm lower than a standard 308's and a 1.6-litre THP turbocharged petrol engine developing 250hp and 330Nm that will hit 100km/h from rest in 6.2 seconds. Peugeot says it will emit 139g/km of CO2 and use 6.0 litres/100km (47mpg) on the combined cycle.
Those efficiency figures stay the same for the more powerful 270hp version, as does the torque figure, but this one is faster - 100km/h comes up in 6.0 seconds and it gets a Torsen limited slip differential between the front wheels, which should do wonders for the handling. It also gets massive 380mm Brembo-developed carbon front brakes, which makes this the first family hatch ever to come with carbon stoppers.
Both versions get sportier interiors with lots of red stitching and a whole smelter's worth of aluminium trim. The 270hp car also comes with special bucket seats draped in Alcantara. Both models get a Sports button, which turns the instrument back-lighting red, sharpens the throttle response and turns up the fake engine noise machine (we think that's it's technical name).
"Peugeot is proud to add the 308 GTi by Peugeot Sport to its stable. This is a car that has generated great anticipation among enthusiasts aware of Peugeot's history of hot hatches in the B- and C-segments. From the 205 GTi to the latest 208 GTi and RCZ R, the brand has sold its sportier models to over 800,000 delighted customers. What's more, the 308 GTi by Peugeot Sport is a symbol of the Brand's dynamism and upmarket shift", said Maxime Picat, Peugeot Brand CEO.
Prices for the Irish market will be announced shortly.