Peugeot 208 GTi 30th almost sold out

Peugeot Automobiles Australia has received 15 orders for the special-edition 208 GTi 30th — one of the French car-maker's wildest hot hatches ever — even before it announces local pricing.

Designed to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the release of the 205 GTi in 1984, the unique 208 GTi made its world debut at the UK's Goodwood Festival of Speed in June, when PAA ruled out the 208 GTi 30th for Australia.

Now, however, it has confirmed around 20 examples will be made available here from January, with the possibility of a second small batch to follow in 2016.

Australia pricing is yet to be announced, but pricing should be at least $5000 higher than the standard 208 GTi ($29,990 plus on-road costs), meaning somewhere between $35,000 and $40,000.

Pre-ordering commences next month in the UK, where 100 examples will be priced at £21,995 ($A40,345), and where a cracking new TV commercial video containing footage from the original 205 GTi TVC went to air on October 1 – the day before the 208 GTi 30th made its motor show debut in Paris.

Wrapped in a unique hand-finished two-tone paint-job that takes 17 hours to complete, the range-topping 208 GTi comes with more power, improved efficiency, a Torsen limited-slip differential, tweaked chassis and a range of bold cosmetic additions.

Visually, the 208 GTi 30 offers a distinctive matt black front/gloss red rear body colour treatment, with the same two-tone colour scheme echoed inside, where there are Alcantara-clad front bucket seats from by Peugeot Sport.

The 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine is up 6kW to 153kW and torque is increased 25Nm to 300Nm. Matched with a six-speed manual gearbox with different ratios, it improves the 208 GTi's 0-100km/h sprint time to 6.5 seconds.

Despite this, Peugeot says average CO2 emissions of the Euro 6 emissions-compliant turbo-four are reduced from 139 to 125g/km, while traction/stability control parameters have been changed to suit the Torsen differential.

Chassis-wise, the suspension has been fettled so that the car sits 10mm lower and has increased spring, damper and anti-roll bar rates, along with retuned steering and four-piston Brembo brake calipers working 323mm front discs.

Wheel tracks are 22mm wider at the front and 16mm wider at the rear, complimented by wheel-arch extensions housing 18-inch alloys with 205/45 ZR18 Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres.