What distinguishes a lion? That he's the king of the jungle? That he can roar well and sometimes purr like a kitten? Or that he is always in control of the situation? The French wanted to adopt all of these characteristics in their new toys. The new Peugeot 308 GTi Sport knows how to convince. But what kind of animal is in it: lion or just kitty should show up soon. On tour in the unfortunately rainy Porto in Portugal, we started at the airport. No good conditions in storm and rain to test the latest hot hatchback from Peugeot. That takes all the fun out of it if you have to be careful not to get into aquaplaning on the streets. But it didn't help, the little compact was already waiting with its 272 PS to be tested.
Warning: technical sophistication
Already when you get in, you can see that sporty driving fun is the order of the day. The power of 272 PS is distributed over 1.205 kilograms. This power is brought to the road by a manual six-speed manual transmission and a Torsen differential. 235 / 35 R19 Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires support and convey a feeling of security, even on the wet road. An 1,6 liter engine was shipped directly from the RCZ R into the GTi Sport and even beats the currently most powerful Golf GTI with 42 PS. The exclusive sports seats are available ex works. Soft Alcantara nestles against smooth leather and red decorative stitching complete the sporty look, which can also be found in the rest of the rear. LED headlights, navigation systems and air conditioning are also included in the standard equipment. Red is everywhere. The sporty leather steering wheel is adorned with a red marking, which should allow even more precise driving. If you press the "fun button", it becomes even sportier. The fittings light up red, as it should be otherwise, and announce a new driving dimension.
The chassis does the rest. Some of the components are made of aluminum, like the wishbones on the McPherson front axle. With 1,67 degrees negative camber, these ensure better steering behavior and more grip in curves. Well, that can get cheerful, literally. The first grin creeps into the face. Yes, it can go on like this. Rain or not. A safe feeling spreads in the stomach area, despite the fun button, which makes the fittings shine in a dangerous red. Throttle response becomes more direct and the otherwise subtle engine sound becomes richer in the interior - enhanced by a sound generator. Oh? So a kitty? But if a pimped one. Even if the sound is not 100 percent genuine and the little hissing makes my grin go a little wrong, the small compact is still a lot of fun.
The little one reaches the full torque of 330 Newton meters at approx. 2000 revolutions. The chassis and suspension are modified for racing, but they also prove to be well balanced and not too hard on bumpy roads. A street racing racer. The ride next goes to the racetrack. Hit the accelerator pedal for a few laps? Of course! The wet track inspires respect. After a short briefing, you drive the specially parked vehicles. Any collateral damage will probably be included. The feeling of security increases from round to round. Yes, the little one can do something. Even on the racetrack. And even if the tail breaks out a little here and there, at no time does the sweat of fear pearl on the forehead. Security is very important to the French. But every vehicle has to surrender to the weather at some point, or is it the driver? The rain falls mercilessly and after the first few laps my respect grows even more. As a precaution, I let the professional go again and ride a few laps with a racing driver who gave me the most important facts and tips when driving on a racetrack. And what should I say? It was a lot of fun and I'm certainly smarter by a few tips, but a few laps more and my stomach would have done a back flip. Not without, such a tour with someone who knows where to go. Especially in a little speedster like the Peugeot 308 GTi Sport. Hats off!
And finally ...
The Peugeot 308 GTi Sport can be easily maneuvered through (almost) all roads. If you want to know, you can chase him across the racetrack, but he feels more comfortable on the streets of the world. He doesn't have to prove himself with his little "roar" as a pimped kitty. The comfortable seating set is also designed for longer journeys, which should please both the back and the bobbes. In a direct comparison, the Hot Hatch should have a hard time. Because Renault and SEAT have a few models at the start that should represent real competition. Peugeot should still score points with the price alone. From 34.950 euros, it should cost and offers everything your heart desires, both as an everyday companion and as an occasional athlete.
Text / pictures: Simone Amores
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