The 308 hatch gets a 200hp treatment, but Thai punters may find the RCZ a more appealing option.
308 GTi gets twin exhaust pipes.
- Ah, Peugeot's high-performance hatchback isn't dead yet...
It's nice to see Peugeot reviving the GTi badge after persisting with badges like S16, RC and GT in recent years.
The most iconic GTi was arguably the 205 of the 1990s. This modern-day GTi is intended to rival the likes of the Volkswagen Golf GTi.
- But it doesn't look the part...
If you mean the styling, then we agree. The 308 GTi still looks subtle, but that's probably because the car itself isn't as masculine as some rivals like the Golf.
Cosmetic touch-ups on the skin include black skirt, diffuser, rear spoiler, twin tail pipes and the GTi badge itself.
Inside there are aluminium foot rests and gear knob and, more importantly, a flat-bottomed steering that seemingly has become very in-trend these days.
- Will performance compensate for the rather girlie looks?
Flat-bottomed steering special for GTi.
There's the usual suspect sitting under the GTi's bonnet: the super-ubiquitous 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine also used by Citroen and Mini but featuring sound-engineering to make the engine note tuneful.
In 308 GTi tune this motor, complete with direct-injection, variable-valve timing and twin-scroll turbocharger, produces 200hp and 275Nm. The 0-100kph time is clocked at 7.7sec.
To cope with increased performance, the suspension has been lowered by 10mm, the brakes have been beefed up and the car is shod with 18-inch wheels.
By the way, there's only a six-speed manual gearbox. Not auto. Whatsoever.
- Bah! Peugeot only wants to sell the GTi in Europe, right?
Err... probably. But that's the essence of driver-oriented cars. But on the other hand, the Golf is being offered with a brilliant dual-clutch automatic transmission. And combine this with a 210hp 2.0-litre turbo-petrol and faster acceleration time of 6.9sec, the Golf GTi sounds more enticing.
And if Peugeot really wants to sell the 308 GTi in Thailand (which we think they won't), it needs to be really good with numbers because the Golf GTi comes to Thailand between B2.4-2.6m - with a good equipment level to match
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