BY DANIEL DEGASPERI | 24th Aug 2018
A FRENCH hot hatchback has long needed to offer a certain joie de vivre, or to paraphrase in English, ensure its owner feels joyful to be alive. But in Australia at least the Peugeot 308 GTi must now provide buyers with a compelling raison de posséder. Direct translation? A reason to own it.
The current-generation 308 GTi launched locally two years ago in two model grades, an 184kW version called the GTi 250 and a 200kW model grade dubbed GTi 270. However, with this facelifted version only the latter remains, complete with a handy $4000 discount.
In addition to a beefier new front grille and freshened LED headlights, it also gains a higher level of infotainment and active safety technology for its lesser ask, all in attempt to fend off new or revised hot hatches arriving into market, while turning a sales trickle into a stronger tide.
Add smoothened-out driver controls to the mix, and this facelifted 308 GTi (which has no longer been tagged 270) certainly appears more compelling than ever before.