Peugeot has revealed the pricing in the U.K. of it’s much anticipated 208 GTi. The 208 GTi is the car Peugeot hopes will return the brand to a version of the sporting ‘hey-day’ it enjoyed when the GTi headed up the 205 and overall brand revival in the 1980s. Peugeot built that success on the back of a courageous Group B rallying entry for the 205. The 208 GTi will need to be sporty and well-priced to pull off the same trick.
The 208 GTi will cost U.K. buyers £18 895. That price includes the GTi upgrades like 17-inch alloy wheels; a new colour-infused grille; LED day time running lights; twin rear exhausts; leather and alcantara upholstery, with red GTi trim detailing, and a host of GTi badges.
Peugeot also fit the standard 208 with a retuned suspension and wider track on both the front and the rear to give the GTi a more solid foot print on the road. The steering is changed as well, to provide better feel than the standard 208. Powering the 208 GTi hot hatch is the same 147 kW, 1.6-litre turbocharged engine you’ll find in the Peugeot RCZ and 308 GTi. Such power shoehorned into a minuscule 208 body promises very lively performance. A claimed 0 – 100 km/h sprint time of 6.8 seconds has been mentioned.
The U.K. order books will open in March for the 208 GTi, production is set to start in April and the first 208 GTis are expected to arrive in May. Speaking to Peugeot South Africa, we were able to ascertain that the 208 GTi will arrive on South African shores in August of 2013. Just three months after the U.K.
How much can we expect it to cost when it does arrive? Well, Peugeot South Africa told us they are still waiting on price confirmation for S.A. and, because of the rand exchange rate, it is hard to commit to any figure right now. Our source at Peugeot has, however, assured us the price will be kept below R250 000.
We think a price in the region of R270 000 would be more realistic, which would still be competitive against rivals such as the R280 400 Volkswagen Polo GTI, the R259 900 Renault Clio RS and upcoming Ford Fiesta ST.
Of course, we hope our source at Peugeot S.A. is correct, because if that’s the case when it arrives in August this year, the Peugeot 208 GTi will be the hot hatch bargain of the year. We’ll keep an eye out for when those order books open.
