The all-new 208 supermini is already in development at Peugeot, and a new report suggests that the GTi hot hatch model could go down the electric route.
The new 208 will reportedly switch from the current PF1 architecture, shared with the Citroen C3, C4 Cactus and DS3, to the Common Modular Platform (CMP), also known as the EMP1, suggests AutoExpress.
More importantly, the new underpinnings will be available in two forms speculatively called CMP and e-CMP. The latter is said to have been tailored specifically with electrification in mind, so the subcompact hot hatch could be launched as a zero-emission model, too.
The French automaker could unveil it as early as the 2019 Geneva Motor Show next spring, according to the company’s chief, Jean-Pierre Imparato.
Also Watch: Take A POV Ride In The New Peugeot 208 GTI
“I’ll reveal this in full in March, but I don’t want the future to be boring” said Imparato. “My message will be that each time I launch a new car, it will be electrified, but you will buy your Peugeot, and you will choose your powertrain.”
Besides swapping the oily bits for an electric powertrain, there won’t be much of a difference between the petrol-powered Peugeot 208 GTi and the electric version, added Imparato.
“When you buy a Peugeot, you will find design, the latest version of i-Cockpit, the upmarket levels like GT-Line, GT and perhaps GTi, because I don’t want to generate any difference between EV and combustion-engined models, but the customer will choose the powertrain.”
The Peugeot official sees this recipe as being superior to having a standalone EV: “I want the same driving experience for anyone driving my cars. So, I will not build a specific electric vehicle; it will not be like a Renault Zoe.”
Other electrified models are coming from Peugeot, including the rumored 3008 hybrid. And that’s not all, because Imparato talked about “cars with 400kW” (544PS / 536hp), “in the next 10 years”, and these outputs will be achieved with electrification.
Note: 2019 Peugeot 208 mule pictured
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