The orderbooks are now open for the new iconic Peugeot 208 GTi, the rebirth of a legend !

• New more radical PEUGEOT Sport-developed 208 GTi 30^TH
• More power, more torque, better performance and more fun, also with less CO₂
• GTi badge has proudly featured on performance versions of PEUGEOT products since 1984
• New TV commercial launches on 1^st October to celebrate 30^th anniversary of Peugeot GTi

PEUGEOT is reinterpreting the hot hatch with a more radical version of the 208 GTi, 30 years after the original 205 GTi first thrilled car fans.

The 208 GTi 30^th has been designed and engineered by PEUGEOT Sport to deliver a more intense driving sensation. A new Euro6 emissions-compliant 1.6-litre THP petrol engine develops more torque and has had its power output increased to a symbolic 208hp.  A Torsen differential helps drivers exploit the extra power in corners. And matt black trim on the exterior, along with the optional ‘Coupe Franche’ paint finish – where the red at the rear is cleanly divided from the main black body colour – makes it stand out from the regular 208 GTi.

Although the PEUGEOT 208 GTi 30^th will be one of the stars of the Paris Motor Show, ordering for the limited run of 100 cars to be sold in the UK has already opened. It goes on sale in November with prices starting at £21,995.

“As with any project of this type, there was a convergence of ideas and needs. Following on from the RCZ R, PEUGEOT Sport proposed that the Brand make a more radical version of the 208 GTi. At the same time the Brand thought about how best to celebrate 30 years of the PEUGEOT GTi in 2014.” Maxime Picat – PEUGEOT Brand CEO

Incisive on the road

With 10,000 sold after just one year, the regular 208 GTi has already been a sales success. The new GTi 30^thhas been designed to build on that feat by reinforcing the sporting credentials of the regular model. To accomplish this, while also celebrating the 205 GTi that kick-started the Brand’s hot hatch revolution three decades ago, PEUGEOT Sport’s expertise was invaluable.

With a regular 208 GTi as the starting point, a new 1.6-litre THP engine was installed. This increases torque from 275 to 300Nm and power output rises from 200 to 208hp. That means a 0-62mph of 6.5 seconds and a standing kilometre in 26.5 seconds. Mid-range acceleration is also impressive with 50 to 70mph taking 6.0 seconds in fifth gear. In addition, the new engine meets tough Euro6 emissions standards and reduces CO₂from 139g/km to 125g/km, unprecedented in the hot hatch segment.

To enable drivers to really exploit the extra power and driveability there’s a six-speed manual transmission driving the front wheels and the same Torsen differential that has been used to such great effect on the RCZ R. The benefits of this differential are felt in corners by enabling the car to hold a tight line during acceleration.

Compared to the regular 208 GTi, the track has been widened by 22mm at the front and 16mm at the rear. The suspension has been lowered by 10mm, features new damper settings and spring rates, along with different cambers and wheel alignment to the regular 208 GTi. The matt black 18-inch wheels are half an inch wider than the regular car’s and shod with Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres.

To take advantage of the Torsen differential, the ESP and traction control have been recalibrated to be less intrusive and the anti-roll has been reduced. Similarly PEUGEOT Sport’s engineers spent a lot of time on track and road calibrating the steering to make the most of the Torsen differential. The result is optimised grip and remarkable road holding, along with informative steering that gives a feeling of precision and agility.

To ensure it stops as well as it goes, the 208 GTi 30^th has an uprated braking system. At the front, meaty 323mm diameter discs that are 28mm thick are gripped with red Brembo fixed four piston callipers featuring PEUGEOT Sport badging. The rear callipers are grey. The spare wheel has been replaced with a tyre inflation kit to save weight.

Reinforcing the extra go with more ‘show’

The regular 208 GTi has a strong visual identity so PEUGEOT’s designers wanted to build on that. Gone is the regular car’s chic bright chrome finish, replaced by matt black on the 208 GTi 30^th. That same matt black treatment is applied to the grille surround, the Cornering Assist fog lamp bezels and door mirror shells. From the side, the lowered stance is accentuated by matt black side skirts and wheel arch extensions. These cover new 18-inch matt black rims. The window trim strip, which finishes with a signature paying homage to the illustrious 205 GTi, is also finished in matt black, while the rear three-quarter panel bears a ‘208 GTi 30^th logo’. Round, twin chrome tail pipes give a sporty look and sound.

There is a choice of three colours for the 208 GTi 30^th. In the UK, 75 of the 100 cars that have been ordered by Dealers feature the ‘Coupe Franche’ finish. Translated literally, this means ‘clean cut’ and refers to the sharp, oblique line created where the two colours meet. The front of the car has a textured black finish while the rear features a new high-gloss red. Coupe Franche is an £800 extra. Of the remaining 25 cars, 20 are in Satin White (£150 option) and five are Rioja Red.

The interior has an equally sporty character. Passengers in the front enjoy bucket seats specially developed by PEUGEOT Sport. As with other contemporary models, the steering wheel is small to enhance driver sensation and there’s satellite navigation as standard. The front seats are trimmed in Alcantara with contrasting red stitching and PEUGEOT Sport branding. There are special interior mats trimmed in red and black door handles with a red line echo the seat belts. A numbered plate marked ‘208 GTi 30^th’ above the courtesy lamp finishes off this limited edition anniversary model.

To commemorate 30-years of the PEUGEOT GTi, a new TV commercial has been produced that incorporates some of the footage used in the original 205 GTi advert from 1984. To see the new commercial, click on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zTheyLIvRc

OFFICIAL RELEASE - Peugeot EXALT, a new way of construction.

• Imposing Concept car moves to heighten sensations
• Radical styling and choice of materials make an impact at first acquaintance
• Initiated with the Onyx Concept, EXALT places on show an array of potential materials and textures

With EXALT, PEUGEOT unveils its imposing vision of the saloon car by following the approach initiated in 2012 with the Onyx Concept. EXALT aims to please the senses. It stands out at first contact by its radical styling choices and the materials selected.

First seen on Onyx, the distinct line in the bodywork is reinterpreted by the association of bare metal and an efficient textile, Shark Skin, inspired by the unique texture of a shark’s skin.

 

The remarkable acoustic comfort achieved inside permits the discovery of an array of materials – natural wool-based ‘chiné’ mixed fabric, aged leather, bare steel and ebony – used to finish the cabin. This high end variety of wood takes on its Chinese identity through the design created by the trio PINWU Design agency.

The technology incorporated makes every journey an experience: PEUGEOT i-Cockpit, black light, Pure Blue air purifier … this art of travel is powered by a petrol HYbrid4 drive train with an output of 340bhp.

“PEUGEOT’s 125 year automobile history is punctuated by models that made their mark on their era. With the EXALT Concept, the Brand asserts its position and writes a new chapter. We are moving forward, resolutely and with confidence.”
Maxime Picat, PEUGEOT Brand CEO

The dynamic saloon

“With EXALT, PEUGEOT unveils its vision of the saloon, combining a sleek design with versatility. This radical approach and original qualities make EXALT instantly desirable.”
Gilles Vidal, PEUGEOT Director of Style 

With its sleek and athletic lines, EXALT embodies the power of PEUGEOT design. Sitting on wide tracks and powerfully rounded wheel arches, this five-door saloon expresses its style over a length of 4.70m. The alliance of flat surfaces and straight cut lines reconciles aggressiveness and softness.

EXALT chooses to be radical by deleting all superfluous materials, keeping only what is really useful. Its specification comprises materials from the melding of cultures with French and Chinese expertise. Each one of the materials used has been rigorously selected for their efficiency.

“PEUGEOT EXALT is athletic, powerful and sleek, incorporating original materials. Its cabin, trimmed in natural materials, is dedicated to comfort and instinctive driving. This innovative concept makes the saloon even more attractive and more versatile, in particular the boot with its unique opening mechanism exposing a large boot.”
Pierre Paul Mattei, PEUGEOT EXALT Styling Manager

In homage to the art of the French motor car from the twenties and thirties, its bare steel bodywork is hand-formed by a master panel beater.

One of a kind, it reinterprets the historical cues that make up automobile passion: taut and dynamic lines, a high waist line, a raked windscreen, a low roof (just 1.31m), a very slender profile that conceals a cabin that is still spacious, tightly shaped side panels with basalt fibre sills and 20-inch wheels.   

The long bonnet grows out of the particularly expressive front end where the twin headlamps, set in the bumper, integrate the Brand’s recognizable signature lighting. In the middle, the powerful grille emerges from the bodywork and provides the backdrop for the doubly symbolic lion. This is because this animal is both the emblem of the Brand and in Chinese culture, the expression of power and prestige. At the bottom, the flow of air supplying the engine is divided by ‘fins’ carrying the LED direction indicators.  

To improve the drag coefficient, the rear of EXALT is trimmed in Shark Skin, an efficient textile. Due to its technical grain structure, this material resulting from bio-mimicry markedly improves the aerodynamic performance of the vehicle, with the aim of reducing fuel consumption.

Its use is elevated by a straight line making the transition between the rear door and the quarter light, the transition between the grey of the steel and the red of the Shark Skin. This material contributes towards EXALT’s aerodynamic performance – with an SCx of 0.6 – in association with other elements: an air extractor in the rear bumper, the curve of the roof and the profiled mirrors.

With such remarkable aerodynamics, the mark left by EXALT on its surroundings is essentially visual. A horizontal band in the hollow of the rear spoiler shows the width of the car and the sculpted facet of the lighting signature.

PEUGEOT EXALT also provides exceptional versatility for a saloon. The boot works with an innovative pantograph mechanism. This arrangement allows maximum opening while needing less space externally. The boot with its integral motorised aperture reveals a boot with a low load sill. Trimmed in wood, it presents a delightful space and facilitates the handling of luggage.

Instinctive driving

“I was inspired by the musical world for this project. Colour is a fundamental notion in it. Notes combine together to create a score which is profoundly moving. This is how technology and tradition merge together in EXALT. In the PEUGEOT i-Cockpit, a digital instrument panel is side by side with toggle switches. The result is pure and timeless.”
Alessandro Riga, PEUGEOT EXALT Interior Stylist

 

The PEUGEOT i-Cockpit delivers an intense driving experience dedicated to enjoyment. The small wheel trimmed in leather and ‘chiné’, a natural wool-based mixed fabric, and the digital instrument panel are intuitively arranged in front of the driver for improved operation and reading. On the extended centre console, two folding touch screens emerge from the dashboard. The upper screen gives access to the on board computer and the Hi-Fi and navigation systems. The second screen presents a permanently visible control bar to provide access to the automatic air conditioning and the Pure Blue system.

Nine Toggle Switches are located on the dashboard, evocative in their design of the world of music. They are arranged in two groups, two to the left of the small steering wheel, seven to the right. This distribution was adopted because of the human brain’s ability to easily remember up to seven elements, for their position and their function. Furthermore, the driver is free to associate Toggle Switches with functions, as desired: access to navigation with a particular switch, vehicle settings with another, etc.

Activation of the black light system can also be assigned to one of the Toggle Switches. Built into the headlamps, this system is particularly useful during the transition between day and night. Visibility issues are reduced and driving becomes more relaxed with black light, improving the observation of road markings.

For the comfort of its occupants, PEUGEOT EXALT is fitted with an innovative air treatment system called Pure Blue. When stationary, with the vehicle empty, Pure Blue purifies the cabin surfaces by spreading bactericides and fungicides. Once the vehicle is moving, an active filter treats the air before it enters the cabin, eliminating VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and fine particles. So in all circumstances the occupants travel in a purified environment. 

Visionary design

“Our approach is to have a responsible attitude. PEUGEOT EXALT is made of raw and natural elements associated with innovative and efficient materials. The idea was to finish the car with useful touches and to do it intelligently with the constant objective of optimising processes to economise on the use of materials and reduce waste.

“This responsible approach is also applied in the local sourcing of materials, such as black ebony from the tropical forests of South East Asia.”
Sophie Gazeau, PEUGEOT EXALT Colours and Materials Stylist

PEUGEOT EXALT is irresistibly attractive to all motoring enthusiasts, whatever their origin. This concept combines western elegance and eastern sophistication.
Fengyou Gong, PEUGEOT China Stylist

PEUGEOT EXALT advances the approach initiated by the Onyx Concept in 2012.

Regarding the work carried out on the body of the vehicle, bare steel is used to accentuate the expressive lines of the vehicle. Associated parts such as the wheels are also in bare steel in order to highlight the markings left by the milling machines.  

Steel remains bare in all areas where it does not come into contact with the bodies of the four occupants. At the elbows and arm contact points, EXALT is trimmed in warm toned wood. From the bottom of the windows, it gives way to a natural wool-based ‘chiné’ mixed fabric used to trim the door panels, the dashboard and the interior roof.  Between these two materials, a strip made by 3D printing conceals the speakers of the Hi-Fi system. Its structure draws inspiration from anechoic chambers where the dihedral partitions reduce acoustic interference.

Each occupant has a special welcome on board the PEUGEOT EXALT, whether the driver or a passenger. The bucket seats made of composite material incorporate seat squabs and backrest in natural wool-based ‘chiné’ mixed fabric with the side areas in aged leather.  

Fabric and leather are worked together in a process that optimises the use of resources. So to avoid off-cuts and waste, the fabric is shaped using clamps. This simple process is inspired by the tradition of fine gentlemen’s bespoke tailoring. The fabric then presents surfaces with crisp folds and no stitching.  Leather for use in cars has always been selected for the absence of markings then tanned to make it perfect. Optimising the skins, EXALT makes use of imperfections in appearance to make each one a unique signature. Then the leathers are aged naturally, without the use of chemicals.

Black ebony wood has been selected for its rare qualities and its indigenous roots to the Asian continent. It bears a motif designed by the trio PINWU Design agency; combining a lion with bamboo stems and leaves, its creation was entrusted to a Chinese master craftsman using traditional techniques.

Finally, carbon fibre gives way to basalt fibre, a natural composite. Produced by smelting the basalt stone, it reduces the use of petrochemical resources.

High performance drive train

Weighing just 1,700kg, PEUGEOT EXALT is powered by a plug-in HYbrid4 drive train with a total maximum power of 340bhp shared between the four wheels. The bonnet houses the 1.6-litre THP 270bhp developed by PEUGEOT Sport. Coupled to a 6-speed automatic gearbox, this 4-cylinder petrol engine develops a specific power output of nearly 170bhp per litre, making it one of the best in the world. 

At the rear, the multi-link rear axle contains a 50kW electric machine for electric or hybrid phases of operation. This machine also intervenes to recharge the battery through energy recovery braking. On deceleration, braking is produced by the resistant torque of the electric machine. In this way the HYbrid4 technology converts into electricity the kinetic energy that would otherwise have been dissipated as heat through the brake discs and pads. 

Intelligent technology, HYbrid4 instantly adapts to the driver’s wishes by selecting the most suitable mode: pure electric, petrol only, petrol-electric hybrid. The driver feels the intensity of the journey, enjoying PEUGEOT’s expertise in road handling performance.

With PEUGEOT EXALT, the Brand unveils its imposing vision of the saloon. It demonstrates once again that emotion has always been at the heart of our heritage and genes.