What is it?
Well hopefully it's going to be the spiritual successor to the legendary 205 GTi, a car the company still references despite the models that have come since. It'll need to be good too, as the next Renaultsport Clio is set to get lighter and it's already a class leader. There's a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine in the Peugeot, as seen in the RCZ coupé, combined with a six-speed manual gearbox. The track is 36mm wider front and rear, and the GTi benefits from uprated brakes over the standard car.
Why's it here?
It's here because, in theory at least, this 208 GTi could be even more important, more of a halo car, more of a crowd pleaser than the RCZ. Certainly on looks alone, the 208 GTi might just have it sewn up, but both the chassis and drivetrain will have to step up to the plate too. And you can ignore the concept tag, as this is nothing but a thinly veiled production model.
Show stopper or floor filler?
If this was an old 205 GTi it would probably stop the show as quickly as Bentley's SUV concept, but for all the right reasons. The pretty 208 GTi still has a chance, but the proof of the pudding with hot hatches is in the driving, so this car will have to wait for the blacktop to steal the limelight.
