Peugeot E-208 GTi: The First Electric GTi Debuts at Le Mans

Being part of the Stellantis stable, the E-208 GTi shares its platform and powertrain with the Abarth 600e Scorpionissima and the Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce. That means a single front-mounted motor producing 276bhp and 254lb-ft (345Nm). Peugeot hasn’t confirmed kerb weight, but with a quoted 175bhp-per-tonne, it points to a figure just under 1,600kg.

Compared to its native and chief rival, the Alpine A290, the E-208 GTi is heavier but significantly more powerful: 0–62mph takes a quoted 5.7 seconds, with top speed limited to 112mph. By contrast, the Alpine needs 6.4 seconds and taps out at 106mph.

But hot hatches have always been about more than just straight-line pace. Their real currency is agility. To that end, the chassis has been reworked by Peugeot Sport with a 30mm drop in ride height, widened front and rear tracks, and a mechanical limited-slip diff integrated into the reducer. Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2s, bespoke to this model, join 355mm front discs and Peugeot Sport four-pot calipers for serious stopping power. Fitting such track-biased rubber to an EV – where range and rolling resistance usually take precedence – is quite the statement of intent from Peugeot. Whether those tyres make it to the UK remains to be seen.

Design-wise, the E-208 GTi largely looks the part – sharp in stance, compact in form, and distinct from the standard car. There’s a kind of classy aggression to it: sporting without being cluttered, with none of the mock vents or exaggerated diffusers that plague modern design. Peugeot says everything you see is functional – and it's a believable claim. The alloys clearly evoke the iconic 205 GTi 1.9 Speedlines, but the oversized GTi badging stamped across them feels like a step too far – slightly at odds with what’s otherwise a bullseye.

Inside, it’s trimmed with red carpets – again evoking the 205 – Alcantara sports seats, and a compact Alcantara wheel detailed in perforated red leather. Ambient lighting and instrument graphics default to red, and an optional augmented EV soundscape can be tuned to driver preference.

The E-208 GTi was designed and engineered in France by Peugeot Sport and Peugeot Design. The motor is built at the Trémery plant and draws from a 54kWh battery, paired with thermal management and regen tech developed from Peugeot’s 9X8 Hypercar programme. WLTP range is quoted at 217 miles, with 100kW DC fast charging allowing an 80% top-up in under 30 minutes. A full AC charge via a 7.4kW wallbox takes under five hours.

Peugeot hasn’t confirmed pricing or availability yet, but on first impression, the E-208 GTi looks like an EV built to wear the GTi badge on merit – not just memory.