Peugeot’s little hot hatch is turning 30 years old. To celebrate they’re producing this 208 GTi 30th Anniversary Limited Edition model, which has just been revealed at the increasingly important Goodwood Festival of Speed.
The 208 GTi 30th will go on sale in November after a full launch at the Paris Motor Show in September. For now we don’t know how limited this model will be or if any will be coming to Australia.
We do know that the crazy “dual-material livery” is optional and we assume it’s only available in the black/red combo you see here.
The standard 208 GTi has 147kW/275Nm and this model has had its 1.6 litre turbo warmed over a little to produce new numbers of 155kW/300Nm. For the mathemiticians among you you may have already worked out that 155kW equals 208 when measured in old skool horsepower. Enough to make a slight 0.3s improvement on the 0-100km/h time, which can be done in 6.5s in the 30th.
As the old advertising line says, the best way to approach a corner is to “take a lion through it” and to Peugeot’s credit they are living that ethos. Lowered suspension is an easy party trick and 10mm has been knocked off the ride height. More impressive, though, is the increase in track, by 22mm at the front and 16mm at the rear. Small numbers, perhaps, but sure to have a positive difference on handling.
Whenever I see a 205 GTi my little hot hatch heart beats a little faster. Now it may just do the same if I ever see a 208 GTi 30th whiz by.