Peugeot readying pure-electric 208 GTi for 2019

Peugeot is secretly developing a genre-busting hot hatch version of the 208 that will come with pure-electric power.

Set to carry the hallowed 'GTi' nameplate, according to

Due on sale next year, the 208 GTi EV will be a new derivative of the all-new, next-generation supermini that will be unveiled in March 2019 at the Geneva motor show.

It will be based on a version of Peugeot's equally new Common Modular Platform (CMP, also known as EMP1) called e-CMP, which has been developed to underpin pure-electric powertrains.

Set to get a powerful front-mounted electric motor, the lightweight EV is expected to lead the class for performance with a 0-100km/h time of around five seconds.

Confirming to the Brit mag that a GTi "could be offered", Peugeot boss Jean-Pierre Imparato said the small battery-powered hot hatch will be developed alongside the forthcoming 368kW 3008 hybrid that's set to be called the 'R Hybrid'.

"When you buy a Peugeot you will find design, the latest version of i-Cockpit, the upmarket trim levels like GT-Line, GT and perhaps GTi, because I don't want to generate any difference between EV and combustion-engined models, but the customer will choose the powertrain," explained the French car-maker's boss.

As well as offering hot hatch fans something unique in the market place, the 208 GTi EV will also bring the added benefit of reducing Peugeot's fleet-average CO2 output -- something necessary to help the PSA Group meet mandatory EU emissions regulations.

"I have the high-market mix [GT and GT-Line], including the high-performance versions," Imparato said. "So at the moment we are working on that. I will not hide that it is not so easy because we are facing the 2020 threshold [the EU's CO2 emission targets].

"But my friends from motorsport are working on some projects to make our customers happy with something that is high-performance and at the same time compliant with the rules. I don't want the future to be boring."

Confirming the last statement was a reference to electrified vehicles, Imparato announced that an EV version of the 208 was more important than having a standalone pure-electric model like the Renault ZOE.