Speaking earlier this week, new Peugeot CEO Alain Favey announced that the famous three-letter acronym would be returning. He said: “I’m in a position to confirm that we will reintroduce the GTi on the E-208 as soon as possible.” The move will return the brand to the hot hatch market, and fill the high-performance void left by the 508 Peugeot Sport Engineered which went off-sale at the end of 2024.

Based on the electric 208 hatchback, the model is expected to use the same 237bhp motor, and mechanical limited-slip differential that features in the Abarth 600e, although the more powerful 276bhp motor as used in the Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce, and Lancia Ypsilon HF can’t be ruled out. A circa-6 second 0-62mph time is on the cards, along with a WLTP driving range north of 200 miles. Favey didn’t rule out the possibility of a petrol-powered 208 GTi, and the Rally4-spec 208 Racing would serve as a perfect basis for such a variant, but the electric model is the priority for now. 

The launch of the E-208 GTi may help bring the overdue Vauxhall Corse GSe to market - a car we expected to launch in mid-2024. With the UK market having its steering wheel on the correct side of the car, and the Corsa sharing a platform with its 208 cousin, we may well get two hot electric superminis in the coming years. Although cars based on the CMP platform have been on sale since 2018, there’s still life left in the architecture, and enough of a business case to introduce new variants in the final few years of the 208’s production cycle.

If successful, the GTi badge may appear across the model range, giving Peugeot a high-performance portfolio once more. This would also solidify the link between its road cars, and the 9X8 Hypercar programme in the FIA World Endurance Championship. Currently, the brand offers GT trim levels across the range, and one UK-only Peugeot Sport model in the form of the Expert van, which becomes the fastest vehicle on the road once a ladder has been fixed to its roof.

The upcoming E-208 GTi will be a natural rival to the Alpine A290, and will help revitalise the small hot hatch segment that many feared the demise of. While it’ll feature an electric powertrain for the first time, the prospect of a mechanical LSD, driver-focused chassis upgrades, and the return of the GTi badge to a small Peugeot can only be a good thing.