2017 Peugeot 308 GTi 270 Test Drive on Tack - Driver Club
Let's imagine a parallel universe, an alternative reality in which French car manufacturers had managed to launch in the United States and Germany's failed would be a world where big Citroens still rolled through towering cityscapes on hydraulic springs, where Peugeot hadn t raised the white flag in 1991 when Renault had said no to his own disastrous Alliance a world of Volkswagen, Audis and BMW saw as distant and exotic species where one could buy a car like the new Peugeot 308 GTi 270 off the lot of a dealership in Chicago, Portland, or Poughkeepsie.
But it is not, you know, our current reality, and this hot Peugeot is just another Euro megahatch we review regularly to tease you is also evidence of welcome that the French have not forgotten how to make performance cars is certainly a proud heritage leverage; Volkswagen was the first to apply the GTi brand to a VW model now uses all capital letters, but Peugeot is the great first wave Euro pocket rockets into the tail-happy 205 GTi a car that has almost been sanctified by gearheads nostalgic in recent years.
Not that the basis of Peugeot 308 is in any way exciting it its traditional sedan that's sold in Europe and other non-U S markets as a somewhat dull rival to the Ford Focus and VW Golf Before the GTi, the most interesting thing about the 308 was the fact that the needle of the tachometer goes backwards, tracing an arc counterclockwise in defiance Gallic almost every other car in the world .
The GTi 270, on the other hand, is definitely interesting Its official name is Peugeot 308 GTi Peugeot Sport, a clunky indication that the division of motorsport company was asked to deliver something more exciting than the legions GTIS sluggish following the classic versions 80 and 90 This could trigger expectations that will be turned up to 11 rally replica, but it is not.
Visually, the 270 GTi is understated to the point of reactionary conservatism, as subtle as French deodorant that is, unless you specify the option irresistibly crazy paint Cup Franche, a diagonal division two tone makes it look as if forward a red 308 GTi 270 is welded to the back of a gray in a unique pattern of more traditional color, it is distinguished from the base 308 by a modest body kit and 19-inch wheels and closer you notice that the wheels conceal large brake discs, calipers Alcon seized by serious look at the front Yet alongside monsters be wings like the Honda Civic Type R Euro-spec he's underrated as to be erased .
Still, there's no shortage of firepower The engine is a heavily revised version 1 6 liter turbocharged four-cylinder that, as the BMW-PSA joint venture, powered the previous generation Mini Cooper S engine 270 GTi forged Mahle pistons and bearings polymer coated friction reducing helping to produce 266 horsepower at 6000 rpm power goes to the front wheels via a manual gearbox with six speeds and a limited slip differential Torsen sticky Michelin Pilot super Sport tires provide the interface with the physical floor is on the side of GTi, too, with an impressively svelte curb weight of about 2,700 pounds giving a power to weight ratio that is almost as good the Civic Type R s.
Dynamically, the 308 GTi 270 has the sort of split personality that would make Robert Louis Stephenson consider writing a Gothic horror story The first surprise is the driving position, an apparent confirmation that the monkey that defines the cramped ergonomics of Italian cars crossed the Alps instruments are small and installed to be partially obscured when most drivers position the steering wheel, the footwell is cramped and midsize legs are uncomfortably pressed against the center console .
Driving the 308 gently and it feels like you imagine a French car should the engine has noticeable lag down low that you are never any doubt that the four-cylinder is small and very stimulated But the race is impressive on flexible the broken surfaces the shift has a long reach, and the brakes have boost generous it's beautiful, well insulated companion for urban speeds, but unlike his sharp hard rivals like the Civic Type R and RS 275 Renault Mégane, it s no sense of anything that is hidden; it feels like a stronger version of the fractionally rental-spec standard 308.
The pace, however, and the 270 GTi suddenly discovers a serious purpose unlike his relaxed everyday behavior Once the turbo spins and deliver near its peak boost, it's serious shove to the limiter adhesion are high, and the front differential does a good job in both the provision of traction and keeping the front line without feeling as if war broke out on the front axle, but it is the direction that Some offers genuine revelation aggressive Suspension- changes in geometry have delivered the two turn-in and authentic feedback through the electric assist the throttle response is as crisp, and although the GTi 270 doesn t like oversteer the most fun of his predecessors in the 1980s, he trims and buried his turn beautifully online in response to the accelerator pedal.
The brakes are equally impressive It takes some time to get used to the high levels of support, and tight footrest thwarts most matching attempts rev heel-toe, but the quality motorsport brakes give Even a tireless delay on a test route included both a mountain pass and some pounding around the race Braga chaperone system in Portugal, we didn t experience a hint of fade.
It makes sense for the Peugeot 308 GTi 270 to plow his own furrow In Europe, HP hatchback segment 250-plus is packed to the point of saturation Besides the familiar R Golf and Audi S3 there in no particular order the SEAT Leon Cupra Honda Civic Type R, Opel Astra OPC Renault Megane RS 275, Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG and BMW M135i There is something fascinating about the idea of a car that speaks so softly, but carry a big stick, and that doesn t compromise its ease of use everyday to offer such impressive performance Unfortunately, it will never cross the Atlantic, but if you are in Europe, it is well worth looking up.
2016 Peugeot 308 GTi 270 First Drive Review Car and Driver, Peugeot, first, drive.