Skip advert
Advertisement

Next-gen Peugeot GTis to gain electric powertrains

Peugeot’s next generation performance models to go electric from 2020

Peugeot e-Legend concept - profile

Peugeot has made the announcement that it is developing a new range of electrified sports models from 2020. Coinciding with Peugeot’s decision to drop out of the World Rallycross Championship, Peugeot’s efforts, in collaboration with Peugeot Sport, will instead be aimed at bringing electric performance cars to the road.

It’s this collaboration that is most interesting to us, as Peugeot Sport’s involvement in recent Peugeot GTi models has lead to some of the most immersive and exciting performance models in a generation, namely the recently departed 208 GTi by Peugeot Sport and current 308 GTi.

Advertisement - Article continues below

> Click here for more on the future Peugeot 208 GTi

The form these new electric performance models will take is less clear, although it does support the recent report that the next generation 208 GTi is likely to pick up an electrified powertrain alongside a traditional internal combustion variant.

Further evidence of Peugeot’s increased correlation between performance models and electric powertrains can be seen in the e-Legend Concept, recently revealed at the Paris motor show. Although Peugeot did not directly confirm a future production model based from the concept, the e-Legend’s warm reception in combination with this latest report could be a sign of a bespoke sports model, available exclusively with an electrified powertrain.

The effort being made by Peugeot to further integrate electrification into its range at large comes as the EU prepares to introduce the toughest set of emissions regulations yet from 2020.

In order to dramatically reduce the fleet-wide emissions, the decision to move Peugeot’s flagship performance models (traditionally the hardest CO2 hitters) to electrified powertrains arguably makes the most sense, killing two birds with one stone in reducing range-wide emissions, while killing off the worst offenders affecting the overall average in the same move.

As mentioned previously, the move coincides with Peugeot’s decision to leave the World Rallycross Championship due to uncertainty about the the move to electrified powertrains after an announcement that the change is now postponed till the 2021 season.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

The V8-powered Audi RS6 isn’t dead after all
Audi RS6 jump
News

The V8-powered Audi RS6 isn’t dead after all

Audi has reverted its decision to turn the A6 range all-electric, ensuring the next RS6 receives a V8
4 Feb 2025
Alpine A290 GTS 2025 review – is the Renault 5 relative a true hot hatch?
Alpine A290 – front
Reviews

Alpine A290 GTS 2025 review – is the Renault 5 relative a true hot hatch?

Alpine’s all-electric future starts with the Renault 5-based A290. Does it have enough edge to warrant the Alpine badge?
5 Feb 2025
Audi RS7 v BMW M5 – pure V8 battles heavy hybrid
BMW M5 v Audi RS7
Group tests

Audi RS7 v BMW M5 – pure V8 battles heavy hybrid

If you prefer your all-wheel-drive supersaloon to be powered purely by combustion, there’s still Audi’s RS7 Sportback to consider. But is it being lef…
3 Feb 2025