The Peugeot 208 Gti Concept... An Iconic Legend Returns?
As a man who has owned a sporty Peugeot in the past I am delighted to hear the French are hitting back with the return of their Legendry GTi badge, Peugeot and GTi is a name that echoes to days of T16 205 in group B-Rallying, a motor sport that had no rules....or very few anyway....
Enough of the history, Peugeot is hinting at the return of an iconic legend with the reveal of the Peugeot 208 GTi Concept car. The GTi Concept is powered by the same 6-speed manual 1.6 THP 200bhp petrol engine seen in the award-winning Peugeot RCZ. Saluting it illustrious predecessor, the legendary 205 GTi, a brushed aluminium GTi Concept logo is placed on the rear quarter panels and within the grille.
Distinctive exterior features found on the GTi Concept include Peugeot's now signature LED headlamps, double chromed exhaust tailpipes, lower bodywork spoilers and lower sill skirt extensions.
On the inside, the passenger compartment reveals a red perforated leather steering wheel, leather head restraints and leather gear lever. The instrument panel is enhanced with LED backlighting. The sports seats are trimmed with Nappa leather on the outer section, whilst the cloth seating is embossed with a tartan motif. The fascia is dressed in Alcantara velour with grey stitching and the roof lining is entirely black.
To complete the sports look and feel, the driver is greeted with a small sports steering wheel, the pedals are aluminium and a raised instrument panel in line of the driver's sight houses brushed aluminium dials.
The GTi Concept takes full advantage of its compactness and lightness, promising road-holding that is both excellent and precise. A rear roof spoiler generates down force at speed. For optimum braking performance, the GTi Concept is equipped with disc brakes all around; 302mm diameter at the front and 249mm at the rear, set off by red-painted brake callipers.
With the promise of the above we should be seeing good things from the manufacture with the Lion badge.
