Tolman Has Created The 200 HP Peugeot 205 GTI Of Your Dreams

The Peugeot 205 GTI is widely regarded as one of the greatest hot hatches ever produced and British specialist Tolman Engineering has just unveiled its first customer-ordered reimagination of the iconic hatch.

Simply known as the Tolman Edition, this ultimate version of the Peugeot 205 GTI comes to life at the company’s Warwickshire workshop. It starts life out as a bare metal shell that receives an anti-corrosion, stone chip, and ceramic coating protection before Toman gets to work improving every other aspect of the car.

Read: The Peugeot 205 GTi Reminds Us Why Perfection Isn’t Always The Answer

One of the most significant upgrades is the fitment of a heavily-modified 1.9-liter engine. The engine rocks a ported 16V head, bespoke billet cam cover, an aluminum block, and new camshafts, meaning the four-cylinder engine pumps out over 200 hp. Tolman has also fitted a Motec ECU with a fly-by-wire throttle and a stainless steel exhaust. Helping to put this power to the ground is a Quaife ATB differential.

Tolman Engineering has also worked its magic on the transmission of the 205 GTI, equipping it with upgraded shift rods and bushes to result in more positive and slicker gear changes.

The company then turned its attention to the chassis of the Peugeot, re-tuning the Bilstein dampers, fitting adjustable bottom arms, a new rear anti-roll bar, improved power steering, and an optional big brake package with AP Racing calipers and stainless steel brake lines.

Found in the cabin of Tolman 205 GTI is an optional Motec LCD dashboard display, fully retrimmed seats, new carpets, an Alcantara steering wheel, a Blaupunkt audio system with a discreet subwoofer, and Bluetooth. The owner of this first example has also had it fitted with a security system that includes remote central locking, an integrated alarm, an immobilizer, a tracker system, and smartphone control.

“The overriding impression from those experiencing our development car was the emotions it invoked,” Chris Tolman said in a statement. “Drivers stepped out of the car grinning, having rekindled that feeling that’s so hard to find when driving today’s sports cars on the road. Back in the 80s and 90s, for me and I’m sure many others, 205 GTIs were a first taste in performance cars; something rewarding, responsive and engaging. We wanted to recreate that feeling of being at one with the road, a car you can just jump in and simply enjoy driving hard. Current hot hatches surpass these cars in so many areas but despite having loads of power and incredible dynamics, they fail to rekindle that emotional involvement that made us feel special with the 205.”

A Peugeot 205 GTI transformed by Tolman Engineering starts at a cool £55,000 (~$65,000).