Before we go any further, a little housekeeping: this is a GTi with a small ‘i’. Volkswagen prefers GTI, with all three letters standing to attention, but Peugeot has always done things a little differently. For anyone with fond memories of a 205 GTi, seeing that badge on a small Peugeot again is rather cheering, even if the petrol engine has now made way for electric power.
This is Peugeot’s first electric GTi, developed by Peugeot Sport rather than simply having some red trim added to an ordinary E-208. The people involved also work on the company’s 9X8 endurance racing car, and their contribution stretches from the motor’s control software and battery cooling to the suspension, differential and brakes. There’s quite a lot going on underneath those familiar clothes, which helps explain why this car is so much fun to drive.
