Peugeot bosses are mulling an even hotter version of the 208 GTI, which would be badged 208 R.
In an interview with Automotive News Europe, Peugeot CEO Maxime Picat said the firm would “soon have an even sportier 208 R”, which would sit above the 208 GTI.
A source said there were no immediate plans for the introduction of a 208 R, but customer feedback has revealed a market for a model with more power and less weight. The current 208 GTI offers the potential for a significant hike in power and weight reduction.
The 208 GTI shares its BMW/PSA co-developed engine with the recently announced RCZ R and 308 R concept. In those applications, the engine has been tuned to develop 270bhp and 243lb ft. In the RCZ R, Peugeot claims a 0-62mph time of 5.9sec and a limited top speed of 155mph.
Peugeot reduced the weight of the RCZ R by 17kg over the 200bhp RCZ THP on which it is based.
However, it seems unlikely that a production 208 R would need to match the outputs of those models, given the 208 GTI weighs around 300kg less than the RCZ.
Peugeot’s recently rediscovered drive to replicate the appeal of its older models would suggest the emphasis would be on handling purity rather than outright performance.
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