Driven: Peugeot 208 GTi 30th almost sold out

AUSTRALIAN hot hatch fans still have time to secure one of the 26 Peugeot 208 GTi 30th Anniversary editions allocated to this country, with four examples of the pumped-up and individually numbered specials remaining unsold at the time of publication.

Limited to a global production run of 500 units and designed to be quicker and more capable than the standard 208 GTi, the 30th Anniversary is packed with a Peugeot Sport handling overhaul, bigger brakes and a punchier yet more fuel-efficient engine.

GoAuto understands that those who miss out or baulk at the $35,990 plus on-road costs asking price – a $6490 premium over the recently discounted standard GTi – will at least be able to enjoy the 30th Anniversary edition’s uprated engine when the facelifted 208 range arrives Down Under later this year.

Tweaks made to ensure the 1.6-litre turbo-petrol four meets Euro 6 emissions compliance resulted in a 6kW peak power gain to 153kW (symbolically 208 brake horsepower) and a 25Nm torque boost to 300Nm while helping shave 0.1L/100km off the combined fuel consumption rating.

The 30th Anniversary’s front and rear tracks have been pushed out 22mm and 16mm respectively, requiring the addition of wheel-arch flares, while the car sits 10mm lower than the standard GTi on firmer springs and dampers.

Anti-roll bars have been scaled back and new camber and wheel alignment settings have been applied.

Matte-black 18-inch forged alloys wrapped in Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres are half an inch wider than those of a standard 208 GTi and the six-speed manual gearbox has revised ratios and sends power to the front wheels via a TorSen limited-slip differential.

It all adds up to a 6.5-second 0-100km/h time – 0.3s quicker than the standard car – and quicker deceleration is ensured by 323mm diameter, 28mm thickness ventilated front brake rotors squeezed by four-piston Brembo callipers.

In addition to the exterior’s matte black de-chroming treatment are the matte black wheel-arch extensions and side skirts plus a commemorative logo on the C-pillar.

The $4000 option of two-tone Coupe Franche paintwork is exclusive to this celebration model, has a textured black finish at the front and a gloss red effect at the back. It is applied by hand in a painstaking 17-hour process.

Inside are special Peugeot Sport bucket seats trimmed in leather and Alcantara, red pinstripes on the doorhandles and seatbelt, red embroidered floor mats and a plate on the headlining with the car’s build number.

Originally revealed at the 2014 Paris Motor Show, the 208 GTi 30th Anniversary celebrates the 1985 launch of the iconic 205 GTi, which put Peugeot on the hot hatch map but was followed up by two disappointing generations of GTi-badged 206 and 207 models.