The 278 Horsepower Cup 2 Equipped Peugeot e-208 GTi Is An Entry Level EV You’ll Actually Want

In jurisdictions where every automaker is eventually legally mandated to go electric, what’s going to happen to fun, affordable cars? While manual transmissions and revvy engines will probably go the way of the dodo, that doesn’t mean we have to give up on performance hardware. The same lineage that spawned the awesome 205 GTi is going electric. This is the Peugeot e-208 GTi, and it’s a serious electric hot hatch that probably won’t cost absolutely silly money.

At the heart of the e-208 GTi sits what Peugeot calls its M4+ motor, which cranks out 278 horsepower and 254 lb.-ft. of torque. It’s packaged into a unit containing an actual limited-slip differential and should propel this admittedly slightly porky 3,519-pound hatchback from zero-to-62 mph in 5.7 seconds. That’s right in Volkswagen Golf GTI territory.

As for the battery pack, it’s the same 54 kWh NMC CATL-sourced unit used in the standard e-208, but Peugeot’s tweaked the cooling system and logistics for more fun before any derating occurs. Figure 217 miles of WLTP range, or about 17 miles less than a base Hyundai Kona Electric, which is rated at 200 miles of EPA range in North America. Not exactly eons, but enough for shorter trips.

Obviously, power is only half the equation of a hot hatch, because any feisty small car worth its salt needs to attack the bends. In pursuit of that goal, Peugeot’s gone a bit nuclear with the tire option on the e-208 GTi, speccing Michelin’s Pilot Sport Cup 2s. This is essentially a trackday tire that, while not as aggressive as the Cup 2R, still has found its way under some of the world’s greatest supercars, and should be just the right amount of overkill for backroad blasts. At a sizing of 215/40R18, they aren’t crazy wide either, which suggests good things for replacement costs and potential playfulness.

Tires alone will only take you so far, so not only has Peugeot widened the track of the e-208 GTi by 2.2 inches up front and 1.06 inches out back, it’s dropped the ride height by 1.18 inches on new springs, re-tuned the dampers, added hydraulic bump stops, and bolted in a thick rear anti-roll bar. A sizeable set of 14-inch front discs clamped by four-piston calipers complement that package, and at this point, my eyebrow is fully cocked.

See, the regular e-208 is a reasonably affordable electric car that starts at €27,000 and tops out at €35,610, a price range of roughly $31,155 to $41,090 at current conversion rates. While lots of automakers have been launching EVs in that price range, few have announced variants that promise to be both quick and fun.

Oh, and to put a cherry on top, Peugeot’s made this thing look good. The chunky black-and-red arches and 205 GTi-inspired pepper pot alloy wheels give the e-208 GTi a really good stance, and the split-tone black-and-red interior mixes modern materials with classic color themes in a fun and interesting way.

While the Peugeot e-208 GTi won’t make it to America, the more manufacturers that enter this segment, the better the chances are we’ll see something like this cross the pond. Alternatively, the more serious electric hot hatchbacks get made, the more interesting metal we can import in 25 years or so.

Top graphic image: Peugeot

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