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Peugeot Sport throws its hat back in the hot hatch ring with 270-hp 308 GTi

Ronan Glon
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Peugeot’s in-house racing division, Peugeot Sport, has lifted the veil off of the long-awaited 308 GTi. The French automaker’s next hot hatch will be presented to the public for the first time later this month at the Goodwood Festival of Speed that will take place in England.

Peugeot offers two versions of the hot-rodded 308 called GTi 250 and GTi 270, respectively. The more affordable 250 model is powered by a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that sends 250 horsepower and 243 foot-pounds of torque to the front wheels via a six-speed manual transmission. It can reach 62 mph from a stop in 6.2 seconds.

Positioned a notch above the 250, the GTi 270 benefits from an evolution of the turbo four that provides – you guessed it – 270 horsepower and the same amount of torque. Helped by a Torsen limited-slip differential, but the turbo four sends the 270 from zero to 62 mph in six seconds flat.

Both models come with an upgraded suspension setup that noticeably lowers the ride height and bigger brakes on all four corners. Additionally, the 270 model ships with sticky Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires.

Intentionally discreet, the 250 stands out from a run-of-the-mill family-hauling 308 thanks to a deep front bumper, 18-inch alloy wheels, a roof-mounted spoiler and a small air diffuser flanked by two round tail pipes. The 270 model is a little less low-key, and it features a two-tone paint job inspired by the 308 R concept that Peugeot introduced in Frankfurt two years ago as well as 19-inch alloys.

The interior has been upgraded with bucket seats for the front passengers, a GTi-specific instrument cluster with a checkered flag motif, aluminum pedals, and red contrast stitching on the dashboard, the door panels, and the center console. Gloss black trim adds a premium touch to the overall look.

Aimed at the narrow gap that separates the Volkswagen Golf GTI and the Golf R, the Peugeot 308 GTi will go on sale across the Old Continent shortly after it greets the show-going public in Goodwood. Pricing information hasn’t been announced yet.

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Ronan Glon
Ronan Glon
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Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…
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