Peugeot plotting Golf R rival

Peugeot Sport is secretly developing a more powerful version of its 308 GTI that could see the firm's hot hatch go head-to-head with Volkswagen's Golf R for the first time.

According to Peugeot Sport's Patrice Delannoy the 308 GTI chassis is already capable of handling "a lot more power" and the French car maker's performance division is only scratching the surface of the current 1.6-litre turbo petrol's potential.

To prove his point, Delannoy says, Peugeot Sport has developed a 308 GTI mule with more than 230kW reliably extracted from the 1.6-litre turbo.

More importantly, says Delannoy, the standard car's stock suspension and brakes are capable of dealing with the extra performance offered by the more powerful engine.

"It's not so much the power the small turbo produces actually, but the torque. The car we have has more than 400Nm and it's fine, it's perfectly manageable," Delannoy told moroing.com.au.

Asking Delannoy if extra power would signal the end of the 308 GTI's relatively unsophisticated rear torsion beam suspension, the Peugeot Sport engineer was, again, quick to dismiss the need to re-engineer the small hatchback.

"After our testing we found there just wasn't any need for it," he said.

Currently, Peugeot Sport high-output prototype is runs a six-speed manual transmission but, according to Delannoy, a two-pedal version is also being considered.

It helps, says the chassis expert, the gearbox being considered for the GTI (PSA Group's Aisin-sourced EAT8 automatic) has: "already been developed and adapted to work with the 308 GTI's Torsen limited-slip differential".

The only engineering concern is managing the high levels of torque that will be produced by more powerful versions of the 1.6-litre turbo.

"You need to give us time. We're not there yet, but we're close", the Peugeot Sport chassis boss stated.

The desire for a faster 308 GTI has reportedly come from the recent cancellation of the 368kW 308 R HYbrid. However, those hoping the PSA hot hatch division will develop a more extreme version of the 308 GTI in the similar vein to a Renault Sport Megane RS Trophy-R may be disappointed.

"It's possible with the 208 GTI and we have done it but with the 308 GTI, I think no customer exists for it," Delannoy opined.

Shrugging off as "meaningless" Nurburgring lap times, Delannoy explained the 308 GTI's different nature and character helps it distance itself from the last 208 GTI 30th Anniversary. He says that some degree of comfort is crucial if the larger 308 GTI is to sell in reasonable numbers.

Speaking a day before the Australia launch of the 3008, the Peugeot Sport chassis boss was also quick to rule out a hot GTI version of Peugeot's all-new SUV.

"No, it will never happen. There is no sporty version of the C4 Picasso which means there are no off the shelf parts we can share.

“It will be like starting all over again -- working with suppliers to create bespoke parts. No, it would be too expensive," he said.