Peugeot 308 GTi hot-hatch spotted

CarAdvice revealed exclusively in March that Peugeot would re-create the bigger brother to the 208 GTi and now our spies have snapped the Volkswagen Golf GTI rival testing.

As with the 208 hot-hatch, the prototype suggests the Peugeot 308 GTi will opt for subtle rather than overt sporty looks.

The biggest visual change up at the front compared with the regular new 308 just released in Europe are the significantly larger side air intakes.

There's also a reduced ride height, and what appear to be identical-looking alloy wheels to the 208 GTi filling the wheel arches.

The Peugeot 308 GTi could produce about 170kW from its 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder, to create a power gap to the 147kW 208 GTi.

Peugeot told CarAdvice at the 2013 Geneva motor show that performance versions of the 308, expected to also include a 200kW Peugeot 308 R flagship previewed at the recent Frankfurt motor show, would benefit from notable weight savings.

The company says the new 308 will shed up to 140kg over the outgoing model.

The new Peugeot 308 goes on sale locally in 2014.