Tuesday 10th November 2009

Peugeot: GTi is RIP

207 GTi will be the last Pug to wear the hallowed badge

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207 GTi: the final Peugeot to bear the name...

Peugeot is set to kill off the legendary GTi badge. Peugeot, the maker of some of the greatest hot hatches ever, is unlikely to build a successor to the 207 GTi, which is the only car in the Peugeot range that currently carries the famous letters on its rump.

Even then, the 207 is only badged GTi in the UK - continental hot 207s get an 'RC' moniker.

According to Autocar, even if the 207's replacement (which isn't due for a couple of years) does spawn a hot version, it won't be badged as a GTi.

Peugeot marketing director Christian Stein told Autocar: "For us, the GTi concept is dead. The GTi means a lot to English people but it is time to move on."

...but better to remember it this way

Instead, Peugeot will focus its performance efforts on more cars in the vein of the forthcoming 308 RCZ. "We will move away from hot hatches towards premium sports coupes," said Stein.

The 207 GTi will continue until it dies a natural death, but it's hardly a critically acclaimed car - for Peugeot hot hatch fans, the prospect of no possible reprise of the 205, 106 or 306 GTis will be much more of a tragedy.

[David87]

It's a shame the badge will be lost, but I think for a lot of people it went a long time ago anyway...

[kevin ritson]

Indeed, some of us mourned the passing of the Pug GTi a long time ago...

[okgo]

306 was the last half decent one really wasn't it.

[j_s14a]

For me the Peugeot GTI badge died when the 206 GTI was released. What a horrid car that was

[bigfatnick]

kevin ritson said:

Indeed, some of us mourned the passing of the Pug GTi a long time ago...

+1

[bullies180]

The problem is is that they don't put enough effort into making a good hot hatch. My 180 is a fantastic car but is let down by the gear box. The 207 was also not powerful enough, a hot hatch these days needs over 200bhp just to be competitive. Oh well glad i made the decision that the 206 will be the last french car i ever buy so guess i'm not bothered at all by peugeot's decision.

[GPT]

Presumably they've only got rid of it so they can bring it back in 5 years time.

I hope so anyway.

[havoc]

I'd echo the "not since the 306" comments, but would disagree that you need 200bhp - the wife's GTi-6 felt quite quick enough, thanks.

That said, with ever-increasing weight, and ever decreasing driver-involvement in cars, I can see where Bullies is coming from - more power is needed now to keep the same bhp/tonne, and more sense of acceleration is needed to replace the tactile involvement that made the 205, 309 adn 306 such awesome cars to drive...

[Garlick]

bigfatnick said:

kevin ritson said:

Indeed, some of us mourned the passing of the Pug GTi a long time ago...

+1

+ for all of us sadly. The name (attached to a Peugeot) has long since passed.

[3doorPete]

Who wants a premium Peugeot coupe?. That's a contradiction in terms.

Peugeot = hot hatch. VW may beg to differ that the GTi is dead and only a British concept.

Give us a decent handling, hot hatch, like Renaultsport seem to still be able to.

[number2301]

The marketing people at Peugeot must be bonkers, premium sports coupes? With a Peugeot badge on the front?

[cramorra]

Not that worried - Pug jumped the bandwagon with their GTis anyway (some were great, though)
would be more worrying if VW dropped the badge....

[patmahe]

While I regret the demise of the GTi badge at Peugeot, I'd rather they didn't use it until they build a car worthy to wear it, which sadly they haven't done for a long time. Its a shame as they used to be one of my favourite marques.

[rsstman]

just shows how backwards they are at peugeot. lots of manufacturers have a great deal of success with modern hot hatches and smaller warm hatches, but peugeots just went to pot.

"premium coupe"? good luck with that.

[minimatt1967]

Nothing worth speaking of since the 106 and the 306.

Premium Sport Coupes? Peugeot? Really?

[JohnGoodridge]

3doorPete said:

Give us a decent handling, hot hatch, like Renaultsport seem to still be able to.

Renault really are the kings of the French hot hatch aren't they? Maybe that's why Peugeot are giving up.

[pits]

Christian_Stein said:

"For us, the GTi concept is dead. The GTi means a lot to English people but it is time to move on."

Have to agree I am half Welsh and Half Scottish and I couldn't care less

[collateral]

I don't think a Pug has ever worn a 'GTi' badge...

eta Wrong! Capital I was gone on the 306. Coat please!

Edited by collateral on Monday 9th November 18:46

[useyourdellusion]

Ironically I saw an immaculate 1.9 205 Gti being driven with enthusiasm yesterday on the A500 heading towards the M6 from Stoke. It was about 4 in the afternoon. A blue stodgey modern (hot?) 307/308 hatch seemed to be trying to keep up - all within legal speeds of course.

Anyone on here? It was nice to see.

Edited by useyourdellusion on Monday 9th November 18:58

[Escort Si-130]

Thinkthats jsut it, the 6 speed gearbox was its biggest claim to fame on that model. Need more than a 6 speed gearbox to make a hot hatch. Not because it had a 6 means it would be faster than a 5 speed.

havoc said:

I'd echo the "not since the 306" comments, but would disagree that you need 200bhp - the wife's GTi-6 felt quite quick enough, thanks.

That said, with ever-increasing weight, and ever decreasing driver-involvement in cars, I can see where Bullies is coming from - more power is needed now to keep the same bhp/tonne, and more sense of acceleration is needed to replace the tactile involvement that made the 205, 309 adn 306 such awesome cars to drive...