New Peugeot 308GTi gets up to 266bhp – costs from £26,555

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The new Peugeot 308 GTi has been revealed ahead of a Goodwood debut, with up to 266bhp from its RCZ-R engine and costing from £26,555.

If you’re after a hot hatch – and a bit bored with the choice of a Focus St or Golf GTI (or even a Leon Cupra) – there’s good news – the Peugeot 308 GTi has arrived to challenge the current crop of family hot (ish) hatches with a convincing new model.

Yes, we thought this would be the 308 R – as previewed by the 308 R Concept – but Peugeot has decided to use the faithful GTi moniker for this hot 308, and that suits it just fine.

Two versions of the 308 GTi will be on offer – the 247bhp version at £26,555 and the 266bhp version at £28,155 – both using the same 1.6 litre turbo petrol from the RCZ-R, both offering official economy of 47mpg and 0-62mph of 6.2 and 6.0 seconds respectively. That makes the 308 GTi more economical than the Ford or SEAT, and just as economical as the VW.

Both versions of the GTi get wider tracks for the much tweaked suspension, with increased camber at the front, stiffer bushes at the back, stiffer springs and sit lower (11mm) than other models. The 308 GTi 270 (the 266bhp version) also comes with a Torsen diff, 19″ Carbine Alloys and bigger front discs.

Cosmetic tweaks are quite subtle, apart from the optional Coupe Franche red and black two-tone paint job, with the usual bigger bumpers, side skirts and rear diffuser, with an Alcantara interior with nice sports seats.

Hot hatches is something Peugeot has always done well (with some exceptions) and the 308 GTi looks properly good. It will debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this month (June 2015) and go on sale in October.

The Peuegot 308 GTi 250 by Peugeot Sport costs from £26,555, and the GTi 270 from £28,155.