Island Life Magazine Ltd April / May 2016 | Page 58

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308 GTi by Peugeot Sport:

The car for

thrill-seekers!
E

ver since the acclaimed Peugeot
308 was voted ‘European Car
of the Year’, enthusiasts have
been clamouring to know when the
brand would launch a more extreme,
performance-oriented ‘hot hatch’ version
to follow its recent sportier GT Line and
GT models.
Well, now they have their answer – in the
ultra-distinctive shape of the 308 GTi by
Peugeot Sport.
Powered by a highly-efficient 1.6-litre
THP Stop & Start (S&S) petrol engine and
extensively developed by Peugeot Sport,
this latest GTi comes in two versions
with 250hp and 270hp outputs - both
delivering impressive performance.
Inspired by a rich Peugeot pedigree
in GTi models, the 308 GTi has been
developed with a capable chassis that
produces top-level road holding and
driving pleasure - whilst the fun and
ultimate performance is enhanced by
the Torsen® limited-slip differential
equipping the 270hp model.
The clean lines of this new model’s
exterior styling has taken Peugeot’s
now-familiar design language in a more
assertive and contemporary direction.
Open the door onto the sleek i-Cockpit
cabin and you’ll see it has been enhanced

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to reflect the sporting nature of the car,
with additional detailing including red
stitching on the upholstery and signature
aluminium doorsills to signify this
performance flagship.
The Peugeot i-Cockpit instrument
concept has been an integral aspect of
the 308’s appeal and sales success, and
continues to be more expressive on this
range-topping car. The centrally-mounted,
driver-facing touch-screen offers
ergonomic convenience and state-of-theart functionality, with the Redline interior
theme adding a final touch of flair.
Exhibiting exceptional dynamic
prowess was the number one goal during
development, but the brand’s reputation
for class-leading environmental
credentials has not been sacrificed in
the process. The powerplant is the most
efficient in its sector, with CO2 emissions
of just 139g/km and fuel ec onomy of 47.1
mpg – impressive numbers for such a
capable and sports-oriented model.
Right from the start, Peugeot knew that
designing the most radical model in its
range - not to mention creating a top class
experience for a particularly demanding set
of driving enthusiast customers - would be
a tall order. This called for a development
team made up of engineers with a wealth