New Peugeot 208 coming soon with hot GTi version under consideration

• All-new Peugeot 208 coming next year
• Electric E-208 with potential for petrol and hybrid models
• GTi hot hatch version a possibility

The all-new Peugeot 208 is due to arrive next year and it’s set to bring some big changes, including the potential revival of one of the brand’s most iconic badges.

One of the biggest changes will be the move to the new STLA Small platform; a freshly developed architecture designed by parent-brand Stellantis for its small, premium cars. With the new underpinnings will come an electric version of the 208, which we expect to appear first in 2026. Given that demand for petrol and hybrid superminis remains high, however, combustion-powered models are likely to follow soon afterwards.

Perhaps the most exciting proposition is the return of the GTi badge to the Peugeot lineup. While not confirmed yet, rumours suggest that a new 208 GTi is currently under consideration, giving Peugeot its first performance model since the 508 PSE was discontinued last year.

What will the new Peugeot 208 look like?

The new Peugeot will stick to its supermini roots, with proportions similar to rivals like the Volkswagen Polo and Vauxhall Corsa, but its styling is likely to be influenced by the brand’s latest models, including the 3008 and 5008 SUVs.

We think those SUVs are some of the most distinctive models in their classes, with slim LED headlights, three-claw daytime-running lights and a unique geometric grille pattern. Whether one or all of these elements make it to the 208 remains to be seen, but our exclusive preview image gives an idea of what to expect.

At the rear, a dark horizontal trim piece could connect the tail-lights, with the ‘Peugeot’ script taking centre stage. It’s all designed to emphasise Peugeot’s premium positioning in the Stellantis lineup, with the gloss-black accents and sharp angles helping to create a more grown-up image than cars like the Citroen C3 or Vauxhall Corsa.

What about the new 208’s interior?

It’s the next-gen Peugeot 208’s interior that could bring about the biggest changes, however. Peugeot’s design director, Matthias Hossann, spoke with our sister brand Auto Express and explained that the new 208’s interior would be inspired by the 2023 Peugeot Inception concept car – including its bizarre, rectangular steering wheel.

“I will not call it a steering wheel; it is a new device for driving,” he explained. “But why are we designing that? It’s the ‘by wire’ technology – you don’t have any mechanical connection. It allows us to create a new driving sensation; this is super agile and super efficient.”

‘Steer-by-wire’ is a new technology that replaces a traditional, mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the front wheels with an electronic connection, using electric motors instead. It’s already in production in a handful of cars – including the Tesla Cybertruck – and allows engineers to ramp up steering responsiveness at low speeds without impacting high speed stability.

The steering wheel itself is unlikely to be quite as radical as that found in the Inception concept car, but its square shape will be more pronounced than that of Peugeot’s current steering wheels. Still, the i-Cockpit layout will remain, with the driver’s display mounted above the steering wheel, rather than behind it.

The wheel isn’t a full-on ‘yoke’ design, but all the steering-wheel-mounted controls should be within a finger’s reach, helping to create a simple user experience. Hossann suggested that drivers might “need a little time to adapt, but it’s quite quick. We have tested it with a panel of customers. When you come back to a traditional [steering wheel], it feels like you are sitting in a truck.”

Will the new Peugeot 208 be electric, hybrid or petrol-powered?

Details about the new 208’s powertrains are still up in the air at this point, but given that Stellantis tends to offer different options in different markets, the 208 should be designed to accommodate EV, hybrid and petrol engines.

It’s likely that an electric E-208 will hit the scene first, using a more advanced setup than what’s offered in the current car. That could see range increase to beyond 250 miles, with charging speeds upwards of 150kW DC.

We expect entry-level 208s to use a petrol engine with mild-hybrid assistance, like what’s currently found in other Stellantis models. Given the compact dimensions of the 208, a plug-in hybrid model is unlikely – this tech is often found in larger cars with space for a big battery.

New battery tech could see the mild hybrid’s capabilities grow, with the potential for a more significant electric boost. A pure-petrol model is unlikely to be offered in the UK as the brand aims to reduce its overall CO2 emissions. Plus, with Peugeot positioned as a more premium brand in the UK, a cut-price, pure-petrol 208 is unlikely to be a priority.

Will there be a Peugeot 208 GTi?

This is where things get exciting. While there’s been no official mention of a 208 GTi yet, Peugeot CEO Alain Favey didn’t rule it out when speaking to Auto Express.

“I’m very, very eager to connect the Peugeot brand and what it stands for to its past, to its heritage, in every sense. So we will look back at what the heritage of the brand is, and we will see to what extent this can be adapted to the modern world,” he said when asked about a GTi-badged 208.

“And there is nothing excluded in our review of this, and certainly not the GTi badge for sure.”

Unfortunately, Pavey was unable to share any specifics about the future of the GTi badge and whether it would make its return on the next-gen 208, but a different conversation with the managing director of Stellantis UK, Eurig Druce, suggested there’s still hope for a new Peugeot hot hatch.

“Peugeot has always had a penchant for fast, small hatchbacks, as we’ve seen various generations of GTis. I remember the 205 GTi when I first joined the company. And the 206 GTi thereafter. It would be a sad, sad day for us to declare that we will never go there again. I wouldn’t want to see that sad day coming and I don’t think I will.”

With confirmation of a sporty GSe variant for the next-gen Vauxhall Corsa – a car that will share its STLA Small platform with the new Peugeot 208 – it’s looking more and more likely that Peugeot will return to the hot hatch market. 

Druce followed up by explaining: “What we cannot do ever is to put a GTi badge on something that is a conventional car with a slightly bigger e-motor, for example. One of the big things about this future market is that almost every electric car can be a quick car. The beauty comes from being able to make a fast car and a really enjoyable, drivable car as well.”

If Peugeot does go ahead with a sporty, electric 208 GTi, it wouldn’t have the market to itself. Cars like the MINI Cooper SE and the Cupra Born VZ are already combining electric performance with hatchback proportions, while the Alpine A290 has recently landed in the UK from France.

Interested in a Peugeot 208? Find the latest new and used 208 deals on our sister site Auto Express…