First drive – Peugeot 208 GTi

If you are currently planning to buy a sharp hatchback , I would definitely not want to be in your shoes. At the same time, you don't have to choose only from dying models that are eagerly waiting for a facelift. Our market is teeming with novelties right now.

Following the recent introduction of the Renault Clio RS . and the Ford Fiesta ST contributes its bit to the mill and Peugeot . He is trying to build on the success of the iconic 205 GTI with the brand new 208 GTi model, which is still a sought-after item even now. The Czech representative office of Peugeot chose the new CzechRing circuit in Hradec Králové for the presentation of the little devil. I came to two great realizations in one day.

Design

The Peugeot 208 charmed me in terms of design for about a picosecond after the official photos were revealed sometime last year. To some, the front and rear parts (mainly the lights) may seem somewhat contradictory. I would be happy to do without the ripple on the lower line of the side windows, but I don't mind the smiling face and intricately shaped rear lights.

Compared to the standard version , the GTi received new bumpers , a double exhaust tip and a rear aerodynamic wing. Even so, it looks quite inconspicuous. The plate with the magical GTi label can only be found near the rear windows and on the trunk lid. There are also decent 17" Carbone wheels . These are offered in three color versions for sharp lions. The range with only five shades of body paint does not prevent individualization. You can complement your dream GTi with a diverse range of original decals.

Interior

The interior is also tuned to a sporty note. The instrument panel is dominated by a non-round sports steering wheel with an ideal rim thickness. As with the classic 208, however, I did not encounter a logical position of the steering wheel in relation to the dashboard. The upper half of the ellipse of the steering wheel perfectly matches the axis of the tachometer and speedometer. Ultimately, this means that you can't see how fast you're going and only estimate the engine speed by the sound of it .

Peugeot has gone the route of digitizing the center console for new models. You control all important elements and settings through the touchscreen of the multimedia center , in the lower part of the console you will only find the climate control. The designers have not forgiven the fad in the form of a black-and-red rendition of plastics, and there is also red stitching on the instrument panel and armrest. The shift lever fits perfectly in the palm of the hand and moves with considerable precision in its setting.

The seats deserve great praise . Taller people can also sit comfortably in them and offer excellent body support when cornering. However, the degree of comfort on longer journeys will only be shown by a classic weekly test.

Engine, transmission

Under the hood of the Peugeot 208 GTi is perhaps the best gasoline turbo engine that can be purchased today. We have already tested the 200-horsepower THP six-cylinder in the Citroën DS4 , and the weaker 156-horsepower version recently in the Peugeot RCZ . The engine has power to give away, which is indicated by a strong push of the body into the seat every time it starts.

The output of 147 kW peaks at 5800 rpm, which is a stable value for a small turbo engine. However, you start to feel the rush of power from 1750 rpm, when the torque of 275 Nm is heard. The 1265 kilogram GTi does not pose any problem to the unit, which is evidenced by the value of acceleration from 0-100 km/h in 6.8 seconds . A solid Peugeot, don't you think? I could not measure the fuel consumption during the short testing on the circuit. However, the manufacturer states 5.9 lv of the combined cycle, which will not be far from the real value given the experience with THP engines.

The engine drives the front wheels through a six-speed manual transmission. Reading this sentence some five years ago, I would have thought that this might be a problem. Not so in the case of the Peugeot 208 GTi. The gearbox is perfectly matched to the drive unit, it has shorter gears than the classic 208 and the lever moves in the scenery with a pleasantly sporty resistance. According to my taste, the transmissions could be a little shorter. However, according to Peugeot, this is an ideal condition in terms of using the sporting potential of the engine and chassis.

Driving on the CzechRing

In the beginning, I announced that the presentation of the Peugeot 208 GTi took place at the autodrome in Hradec Králové. The new East Bohemian circuit offers three types of tracks, while variant A with fast and technical passages was reserved for testing. Here, the GTi's sporty character should have been fully demonstrated. Only four laps on the track, three of them sharp, are insanely few, especially if you haven't driven on the CzechRing before. Even so, I took away a number of valuable insights.

First of all, the fact that the 208 GTi is quite a compromise . It has all the makings to become one of the most desirable hot hatches on our market, but it takes a bit of a soft ride. When I drive a sports car, I want to feel it. I want to get hit in the back, have sore arms from wrestling with the rush of torque to the front wheels, and have my ass clenched as tight as when I was a little boy getting ready to be spanked. The 208 GTi is not like that. But is it wrong?

It isn't. Although fast hatchbacks have softened a lot recently, the 208 GTi holds its own . The chassis works well on the track and, due to its rockier character, probably won't offend the D1 either. The steering is not as precise as the previously tested RCZ coupe , but I didn't know the position of the front wheels when cornering. Each time, however, I was pretty clear about the rear inside wheel, which the nimble 208 GTi kept lifting in corners. The car is quite nervous going into a corner, but in a mischievous way. The flared rear constantly encourages a " door-first " driving style, and if you allow yourself to be tempted, it will not attack with unpredictable steps. In the end, praise also deserves the brakes, which performed a solid job on the circuit with all their might.

Conclusion

The Peugeot 208 GTi is considered by many to be the successor to the legendary 205 GTi, but be careful with these words in front of true fans of the brand. Modern fast hatchbacks usually cannot be compared with their predecessors in terms of driving pleasure and handling.

However, the automaker deserves praise for the 208 GTi. Despite some shortcomings, the nimble little guy can shine on the circuit, and thanks to the softer chassis, it won't knock your soul out of you even on a broken circuit. I like the match between the powerful turbo petrol 16 and the six-speed manual gearbox. In addition, the ears of sporty drivers will be pleased by the pleasant sound that flows from the exhaust . Without exception, everyone will be pleased with the basic price of CZK 510,000 . It has settled among its main rivals in the form of the Ford Fiesta ST and Renault Clio RS.