Speaking to Autocar, Laurent Blanchet, head of Peugeot product development, said the sporty SUV models will take on the likes of the Nissan Juke Nismo - which isn’t currently sold here.
“The strategy of the brand is to have upper versions, GT, GT-Line and GTi, and this strategy will be developed [throughout] the range,” he said.
Above: 2017 Peugeot 3008 GT-Line
Peugeot recently revealed the all-new 2017 3008, including new GT-Line and GT variants, while the facelifted 2008 that debuted at the Geneva motor show will also receive the GT-Line treatment.
The 3008 GT is powered by the same 133kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel as the 308 GT, though it doesn’t offer the option of petrol power like its hatchback equivalent, and adds extras like 19-inch alloy wheels, upgraded interior trims and chrome-tipped dual exhaust tips.
Peugeot’s GT-Line versions of the 3008 and smaller 2008 lend the SUVs the sportier look of GT variants without the higher-powered engines, including larger wheels, sporty interior trims (like red-stitching) and body kits.
Above: 2017 Peugeot 308 GT interior
According to Autocar, the GTi SUVs are unlikely to feature all-wheel drive. Though the company is looking into all-wheel drive systems, it seems the drivetrain won’t be made available until the 3008 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) launches in 2019.
However, the plug-in hybrid all-wheel drive system hasn’t been developed for performance-oriented implementations.
Australia
Tyson Bowen, communications manager for Peugeot’s Australian arm, told CarAdvice today that while there has been no word about a 2008 or 3008 GTi, the GT and GT-Line variants are “certainly on the radar”.
Bowen added that the company could not confirm the local launch of the 3008 GT and 2008/3008 GT-Line models yet, though Peugeot Australia is in the final negotiations with the factory to bring the models here.
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