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NEWS
Peugeot 208 GTi to cost $29,990
Latest Peugeot hot-hatch launched at under $30K as new 208 GTi eyes Fiesta ST, Polo GTI and Fabia RSPeugeot has crowned the new 208 hatchback range launched here last September with the GTi hot-hatch, priced at $29,990 plus on-road costs.
As we reported when Peugeot announced pricing in April, the 208 GTi will be available in a single three-door specification powered by a 147kW/275Nm 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine matched only with a six-speed manual transmission.
While that makes it more than $3000 cheaper than the 207 GTi it replaces, the latest light-sized Peugeot hot-hatch to follow in the footsteps of the legendary 205 GTi is also $4000 more expensive than the Ford Fiesta ST ($25,990), which will arrive here in September – also in three-door manual-only form.
The 208 GTi is also $2000 and $800 pricier than the three-door and five-door versions of Volkswagen’s Polo GTI respectively and $2000 more expensive than Skoda’s five-door Fabia RS (both of which come with a twin-charged 1.4-litre petrol engine and seven-speed twin-clutch DSG auto as standard) and the same price as Citroen’s manual-only DS3 DSport.
Renault is yet to announce pricing or performance details of the new Clio RS, which is due here next year and is also powered by a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine that matches the Peugeot’s 147kW power output but not its 275Nm peak torque (from just 1700rpm).
In its favour, however, the 208 GTi is lighter than all of its existing rivals, with a kerb weight of 1160kg narrowly undercutting the Fiesta ST (1163kg), DS3 (1165kg), Polo GTI (from 1189kg) and Fabia RS (from 1253kg).
Add more power and torque (147kW/275Nm versus a respective 134kW/240Nm, 115kW/240Nm and 132kW/250Nm) and the 208 GTi is therefore marginally quicker than all of its chief rivals, with a claimed 0-100km/h sprint time of 6.8 seconds – versus 6.9 for the Polo GTI and Fiesta ST, 7.3 for the Fabia RS and 7.7 for the DS3 DSport.
Despite this, the 208 GTi remains more frugal than most, with combined fuel consumption of just 5.9L/100km – less than the Polo GTI (6.1L/100km), Fiesta ST and Fabia RS (both 6.2L/100km), and the DS3 DSport (6.7L/100km).
Apart from a direct-injection engine shared with the RCZ and S-badged MINIs, France’s latest GTi comes with a host of standard equipment, including satellite-navigation, a seven-inch colour touch-screen infotainment system and a safety armoury comprising six airbags, stability/traction control and anti-lock brakes with emergency brake assist and electronic brake-force distribution.
Peugeot’s all-new ‘halo car’ is differentiated from lesser 208s by new square-shaped halogen headlight beams (integrating a chequered signature and LED indicators with daytime running lights), bright-chrome touches on the foglight surrounds/upper grille trim/door mirrors, and dual chromed trapezoidal exhaust outlets.
The GTi’s sports body kit comprises a gloss-black grille and rear skirt, GTi logos on the front quarter panels, a chromed lower window strip culminating in a signature ‘GTi’ C-pillar accent and GTi-red brake callipers, lower grille and ‘Peugeot’ grille and tailgate lettering.
The red GTi theme continues inside, where red stitching graces the seats, seatbelts, handbrake, dashboard, floor mats and perforated leather-clad steering wheel, while the instrument dial surrounds, air-conditioning vents, navigation panel and door trims are also red-highlighted.
Sports bucket seats are trimmed in full-grain Club Nappa leather with Caro Weave black cloth and bold red design accents, the instrument dials have a chequered-flag background and white needles, and the pedals and foot rest are aluminium-faced.
Living up to the hype is a chassis with recalibrated shock absorbers, a thicker anti-rollbar, firmer springs, an 8mm lower ride height, enhanced front subframe, more rigid rear cross-member, larger 290mm ventilated front and 302mm rear brake discs, diamond-finish 17-inch alloy wheels with 205/45 tyres and 10/20mm-wider front/rear wheel tracks.
The electric-assist rack-and-pinion steering has also been revised and the standard 208 weighs less than the 207, making the GTi weigh 165kg less than its predecessor.
Other standard equipment includes automatic locking doors and boot, cruise control with speed limiter, speed-sensitive power steering, rear parking sensors, power windows, power/folding/heated mirrors, a height/reach-adjustable steering wheel, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, dark-tinted rear quarter glass, trip computer, dual-zone climate-control and a six-speaker sound system and with steering wheel audio controls and Bluetooth, twin USB and AUX connectivity.
The 208 GTi will be available in just one non-metallic paint colour (Alpine White) and five metallic hues: Le Mans Red, Futura Silver, Shark Grey, Calado Blue and Nera Pearl Black. Ordering the car with a metallic paint will add $750 to the purchase price.
Peugeot expects to be allocated only 300 examples annually – equating to 20-25 vehicle a month – following strong demand in Europe, but says it has supplies to satisfy expected initial demand.
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Written byMarton Pettendy
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