New Models
New Models

2019 Peugeot 208 GTi could go electric – report

Company boss hints at zero-emissions performance variant to sit alongside petrol version.


The next-generation Peugeot 208 GTi is set to be revealed next year, and it could offer the option of petrol or electric power – according to a new report out of the UK.

Auto Express quotes Peugeot's CEO, Jean-Pierre Imparato, indicating that customers will be able to "choose their powertrain".

"I’ll reveal this in full in March, but I don’t want the future to be boring," he said to the British publication.

"My message will be that each time I launch a new car, it will be electrified, but you will buy your Peugeot and you will choose your powertrain."

"When you buy a Peugeot you will find design, the latest version of i-Cockpit, the upmarket trim levels like GT-Line, GT and perhaps GTi, because I don’t want to generate any difference between EV and combustion-engined models, but the customer will choose the powertrain," he added.

Imparato's comments indicate the next-gen 208 will be revealed and detailed at next year's Geneva motor show – scheduled for March. Additionally, Peugeot's boss said he doesn't plan to do standalone EVs like rival French brand Renault's Zoe, rather giving consumers the choice to put their favoured powertrain in a familiar vehicle.

"The rhythm of the transition [towards electrification] will not be the same across the regions," he said, "The guys in Paris will be electric, the guys who do 100,000 miles per year will be diesel and the average guy will be in petrol. But they’ll be in the same 208."

"I want the same driving experience for anyone driving my cars. So I will not build a specific electric vehicle – it will not be like a Renault Zoe.”

Peugeot's CEO didn't give ballpark figures as to what kind of outputs we can expect from an electric 208 GTi, however. Currently, the little hot hatch (pictured) puts out a decent 153kW of power and 300Nm of torque from its 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine, good for a 6.8-second run to 100km/h – it's manual only at this stage, too.

There's been rumours the next-generation 208 GTi will produce around 164kW from a revised 1.6-litre mill, and we'd wager the equivalent electric version would have a similar power output should it be offered.

Auto Express's report seemingly confirms Peugeot will offer at least two electric versions of the new 208, as the core range has also been previously reported to have an EV variant in the works.

The 'base' 208 EV will likely have a lot in common with the electric version of the next-gen Opel Corsa, too, which has been confirmed for a 2020 launch underpinned by the PSA Group's e-CMP electrified compact vehicle platform.

For now, however, we'll have to wait until March 2019 to get the full rundown as to what to expect from the new 208. Stay tuned to CarAdvice for all the latest updates.

Would you be interested in an all-electric 208 GTi?

MORE:Peugeot Showroom
MORE:Peugeot News
MORE:Peugeot Reviews
MORE:Peugeot 208 Showroom
MORE:Peugeot 208 News
MORE:Peugeot 208 Reviews
MORE:Search Used Peugeot 208 Cars for Sale
MORE:Search Used Peugeot Cars for Sale
MORE:Peugeot Showroom
MORE:Peugeot News
MORE:Peugeot Reviews
MORE:Peugeot 208 Showroom
MORE:Peugeot 208 News
MORE:Peugeot 208 Reviews
MORE:Search Used Peugeot 208 Cars for Sale
MORE:Search Used Peugeot Cars for Sale
Chat with us!







Chat with Agent