Design driven: Peugeot e-208 GTI

That Peugeot chose the flowing roads of Scotland for the global launch of the new e-208 GTI says a lot about the brand’s confidence in its abilities. That confidence was not misjudged – the latest to bear the GTI moniker is an absolute riot. While its range lasts, that is.

We first saw shots of the car last summer and then in the metal at motor shows. Viewed stationary at the time, it appeared surprisingly squat and muscular. In altogether more serene settings aside the shores of Loch Lomond and historic hotel Cameron House, it looks even better. 

The GTI is wider and lower than usual — 30mm closer to the ground, a 56mm broader track at the front and 27mm at the rear. Those swollen proportions are emphasised by red lines around the wheel arches which do well to avoid feeling gauche.

Weaving through forest roads alongside Loch Lomond in a train of other e-208 GTIs also on test, we were able to evaluate its design from alternative perspectives. Diving into the shadow of overhead trees, the rear light signature really pops and the horizontal tiger scratch design does genuinely stand out from the crowd.

The gloss black inserts below the boot and around the numberplate do well to frame the rest of the body and only highlight its stout proportions. Our other media colleagues had heavy right feet and it was a pleasure to see the rear squat into its take-off position and head for the hills. We follow suit at the car’s own encouragement.

That train of test cars was also useful in gauging the new GTI’s down road graphic (DRG), viewed conveniently from the rearview and side mirrors.

It is quite a menacing presence approaching your rear bumper, a furrowed brow created by a prominent bonnet bulge (for what, we are not sure. More storage in the frunk?) and glaring headlamps.

Common sense has prevailed and these are defined, clear-framed units and there is no horizontal LED bar to speak of. The tiger claw signature sits vertically in the front intakes, and a subtle front lip completes the square-jawed look.

Contrast that with the 205 GTI to which it is explicitly compared, and it is a bit of a brute. The ‘original’ Peugeot hot hatch was approachable if not unassuming, and casual drivers would not cast it a second glance. This is different, it sticks out on the road – no less due to its new width over the standard car. It is louder, figuratively speaking.

Interview: Mathias Hossann, Peugeot

But this is in fact the first time we can say an EV has sounded good as well. Whatever the team has done to engineer the acoustics has worked. Lifting off throttle to approach a corner brings a satisfying whistle somewhat akin to Formula E but less mosquito like and more comparable to the turbo of a big turbo diesel.

We assume the sound design was not inspired by a Cummins or BMW M57 of course, but at times it brought a wonderful sense of liveliness to the driving experience. That the car is a living entity as opposed to a white good (although our car was of course good, and white). Squirting up one of the area's many hills brings more pleasant EV noises, and it feels so refreshing to write this.

The body sides are much cleaner than the rest of the car, and although no element of the exterior is ‘busy’ it does calm things down when viewed in side profile. The wheel design is inspired by the 205 pepper pots, this time with a few less holes and a larger diameter. This is practical as much as stylish in order to cram in those four-pot brake callipers, a sign of the car’s intended pursuits: hammering towards the horizon or tight corners with confidence.

Inside, the cabin is cosseting but still spacious enough for two moderately sized gentlemen to sit up front without much elbow brushing. Red carpets might seem a little ‘on the nose’ as an influence from the 205 GTI, but it works incredibly well in its context. Red striping on the seats, steering wheel and IP is more subtle and connects with the red stripes on the exterior. We particularly enjoyed the split seat design, one half of which is a charcoal faux leather and the other a houndstooth-style black and red structure.

The main central touchscreen is responsive with useful anchoring points (necessary for the co-pilot on spirited drives) and laid out intuitively. Apps worked when we pressed them, and the only thing that took a moment to figure out was the climate control. Small annoyances can be levelled at the foot pedals, which seem to be too close to one another. The switch gear feels quite solid and the main gear selector sits in its own little divot with a metal shroud.

Offered in a simple range of colours – white, black, grey, blue and red – we would have to go with either the white or blue. Both have a gloss finish which seems to accent the surfaces a little better. Plus, the blue is evocative of the various ‘Rallye’ suffixed models from the Peugeot portfolio. All colourways look strong though.

For £35,000 (less in the UK with the £1,500 government EV grant) it all seems very good value. The only quibble will be with range: the fun is great while it lasts and on our 2.5 hour test route, the final 50 minutes or so were quite conservative with range anxiety kicking in harder than the car’s powerful electric motor.

Plan the route accordingly and the problem goes away, we suppose, but worth noting nonetheless. Peugeot says up to 375km (233 miles) is possible per charge and that might be doable if drivers can restrain themselves from having too much fun. Use the car as intended and it can eat into that figure very quickly. You have been warned — and encouraged. 

Yes, this is a fully electric hot hatch where 281bhp and 345NM of torque is directed through the front wheels, and managed with the help of a limited-slip differential. While the car scrabbled out of corners on slippier sections, it does remarkably well to avoid torque steer and wheel spin in a straight line. Forward momentum was the outcome in most cases, often with the side effect of an ear-to-ear grin.

From hairpins where we could see the curb out of the side mirror (we were in a left hand drive car) to flowing rhythm sections, corners are welcomed — sought after even. The car bites in and even misjudged angles can be corrected mid-turn without a fuss. Aided no less by an additional 31 mm rear anti-roll bar. 

Coupled with its endearing looks, we couldn't help but feel transported back in time to the golden era of hot hatches, if even for a moment. Reality does hit when the range warning starts beeping and the occasional driver aid chimes in, but there are few cars rolling out of factories for this budget that offer a combination of neo-retro design influences and genuine backroad theatre. 

Look out for an interview with the Peugeot design team to follow.