PARIS: Peugeot has revealed its new E-208 GTi at the iconic 24h of Le Mans circuit, and it is billed as boasting the best performance in the electric hot hatch market.
It's fitted with the M4+ electric motor that develops 280hp and offers torque of 345Nm.
Acceleration from 0 to 100kph is in just 5.7 seconds, onwards to a top speed of 180kph.
With the CATL 54kWh battery, it offers a range of 350km in mixed WLTP cycle.
The E-208 GTi also features a limited-slip differential integrated into the reducer that optimises cornering behaviour, providing agility, efficiency, and stability.
The E-208 GTi can be recharged in 4 hours and 40 minutes from a wallbox (7.4kW).
For more intensive uses, such as on the track, the E-208 GTi can be charged from 20% to 80% in less than 30 minutes on a 100kW charging station.
The E-208 GTi offers the vehicle-to-load (V2L) function which allows an electrical device to be powered via the car's high-voltage battery.
Peugeot CEO Alain Favey said, "This model represents a fusion of our rich heritage with cutting-edge technology, offering unparalleled performance and driving sensations. With this new GTi, we set new standards within the hot hatch market.”
The E-208 GTi also offers the best power-to-weight ratio in its segment (5.7 kg/hp).
Widened tracks, 56mm at the front and 27mm at the rear, along with the lowered body of 30mm, combined with springs and shock absorbers with specific hydraulic stops, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres, as
well as the rear anti-roll bar, offer an ideal compromise between efficiency in sporty driving and everyday comfort.
The ESP system offers a specific Sport mode that suspends driver assistance systems to maximise sensations, for example on the track.
The E-208 GTi also receives an exclusive bright red body colour, which is a powerful nod to the iconic red paint popularised on the first 205 GTis.
The bright red carpets, floor mats and seat belts of the E-208 GTi, like those of the 205 GTi, immediately create a sporty atmosphere in the cabin.
This is also the first all-electric car designed by Peugeot Sport, whose engineers worked extensively on the chassis and braking.
Also, the experience gained by the team in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) with the Peugeot 9X8 hybrids competing in the Hypercar category was valuable for the design of the E-208 GTi, particularly for optimising thermal management and energy recovery.
The E-208 GTi's powerful electric motor is produced in Trémery, in eastern France.
