However the GTi range is expanded, though, Favey said the badge will not be used again for a petrol hot hatch, because emissions penalties in its home market would make it too expensive to be viable.
He said: “France is a big market for us and unfortunately the rules are such that there are extremely heavy CO2 penalties – up to €70,000, so it would make it just impossible to buy.
“So we would have a nice car everybody would love, but it would be just impossible to own – and that would make it completely impossible. And if we don’t have the French market, it’s difficult for us to justify developing a car like that.”
Peugeot revealed the e-208 GTi in June at the Le Mans 24 Hours and will start taking orders at next year’s race before beginning deliveries by the end of 2026.
That means there will be almost 18 months between the unveiling and customer deliveries and the hot hatch will end up being launching not long before the next-generation 208 arrives in 2027 – a lengthy lead time that, Favey said, is testament to Peugeot’s lofty ambitions for the electric GTi.
“That’s just the time it takes to get the car ready,” he said. “We want the car to be really good – really top in its category and really a credible hot hatch – and that’s as long as it takes.”
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