Peugeot launches 45-grand 308 GTi
Small Peugeot five-door hatch range to offer two new, aspirational GTi versions from February 2016Peugeot's new 308 GTi is set to make a welcome return to Australia, in a two-tier model hierarchy and priced very competitively.
Due here in early 2016 it will tackle – in a broad sense – the Volkswagen Golf GTI, Ford Focus ST, MINI Cooper S, Renault Megane RS and Subaru WRX.
Using a beefed-up version of the 153kW/300Nm 1.6-litre turbo engine already seen in the 208 GTi from the same stable, the new 308 GTi will come in two versions: the 184kW/330Nm GTi 250 and the 200kW/330Nm GTi 270. The 250 will be tagged at a pre-ORCs price of $44,990 while the 270 will slip in just below the $50 grand barrier at $49,990.
The 200kW 308 GTi 270 will be the most powerful in its segment, 3kW better than the Subaru WRX and 5kW better than the Megane RS 265 – although it will be down on both by 20Nm and 30Nm respectively, in terms of torque. Significantly, the 308 GTi's maximum torque arrives a lot earlier, at 1900rpm, than the Peugeot 208 GTi which doesn't get cooking until 3000rpm.
Both versions of the 308 GTi will be available only with a six-speed manual transmission, with GTi 270 claimed to reach 100km/h in 6.2 seconds – only a fraction quicker than its Anniversary-edition 208 GTi sibling.
The 1.6-litre engine is able to run a relatively high compression of 9.2:1 due to competition-style forged aluminium pistons, stronger connecting rods, polymer-enhanced bearings and reinforced fasteners, while it controls temperatures via double oil-spray piston cooling and an intercooler located under the front bumper. There's also a high temperature-resistant steel exhaust manifold. Both 184kW And 200kW versions asks for a diet of 95RON or 98RON fuel.
Based on Peugeot's EMP2 platform, the 308 GTi keeps weight down via such measures as a semi-hollow anti-roll bar, along with aluminium wishbones and extensive use of high-tensile strength steel. Further weight reductions come from the use of a composite tailgate.
Suspension is specific to the GTi, using pseudo MacPherson struts at the front, and a twist-beam arrangement at the rear. Spring and shock absorber rates are also GTi-only, as is the "more malleable" anti-roll bar. The GTi also has wider tracks – 1570mm at the front and 1554 at the rear – and rides 11mm lower than regular 308 models. The top-shelf GTi 270 wears Michelin Super Sport 235/35 R19 tyres running on "Carbone" 19-inch alloys, while the humbler GTi 250 is fitted with 225/40 R18 Michelin Pilot Sport tyres on 18-inch "Diamant" alloys.
The 200kW GTi 270 also has a beefed up braking system with race-developed 380mm ventilated discs on aluminium hubs up front, working through four pistons, while there's also a Torsen limited-slip differential to help feed power to the road. Peugeot says the GTi 270's power steering is designed specifically to work in conjunction with the special diff.
The stability control programme is also backed-off to allow a little bit of oversteer – or even more by switching it off completely.
Similar to the 208 GTi, the GTi 270 can be had with the spectacular "Coupe Franche" red/black colour scheme and is otherwise available in Ultimate Red, Pearlescent White, Magnetic Blue, Nera Black, and Cumulus Grey as well as the standard non-metallic Hurricane Grey.
While both 308 GTi's get the red stitching treatment inside, as well as aluminium-finish GTi and Peugeot Sport script on the door sills, the 270 version also comes with Peugeot Sport front seats with more shaping to help with lateral support.
Both versions also get Peugeot's Driver Sport Pack, which enables the driver to change not just the instrument lighting from white to red, but also displays extra information on the central read-out (power, torque, boost, lateral and longitudinal acceleration), while enhancing the engine note and changing accelerator pedal mapping.
Visually, the 308 GTi is identified not just by the larger wheels and lower ride height, but also by full LED headlights, a black grille, sequential LED indicators, twin spoilers below the front bumper, bolder door sills and a new rear end treatment complete with a gloss-black surround for the dual exhausts.
Both the 308 250 GTi and 270 GTi will be available for order from December and will be launched in February 2016.
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