High-content small cars are all the rage in the world’s mega-cities. BMW’s Mini, the Audi A1, and the Citroën DS3 are leading the charge, but you also can order, say, a very nicely equipped VW Polo in the Old World. Now Peugeot is joining the fun with two concepts based on its B-segment 208; both will be unveiled at the Geneva auto show.
To us, the 208 GTi concept is the more interesting of the two show cars. Powered by a turbocharged, 1.6-liter version of the BMW-PSA “Prince” engine, it boasts 200 hp and targets the quickest offerings in its class. The interior gets unique stitching on the Alcantara-covered dash; the seat upholstery pairs leather and checkered fabric. The gauges are brushed aluminum, and there is a smaller-diameter steering wheel.
Exterior addenda include a checkered-mesh grille, 18-inch wheels, and chromed double exhaust tailpipe. Fatter tires widen the track, and, while the Geneva concept proudly wears the French flag on the lower lip of its grille, you can also order a British Union Jack (among others) if you’re into multicultural marriages.
For less-enthusiastic drivers, Peugeot also will show the 208 XY concept. This one’s powered by a super-efficient 1.6-liter diesel producing 113 hp. Painted in 16 layers of purple paint, the XY is equipped with a large panoramic roof and is fitted with interior trimmings dedicated to decadence. Leather trims the headliner around the panoramic panel, seats, and dash, as well as on the dashboard. There is cow hide outside, too: The grille is accentuated with “metalized leather.”
Even with their add-ons, the two models do not deviate far from more-common 208 models, and so building them would be easy. While series production of the 208 GTi seems to be a done deal, no decision appears to have been made yet on the XY. Both models would have precursors: The 208 GTi recalls the unforgettable 205 GTi, an icon of the 1980s; the XV recalls the Roland Garros and the Griffe versions of the same 205. And here’s more good news: Both concept cars are fitted with a six-speed manual. That bodes well for potential street versions, and makes them great alternatives to those customers that shun the VW Polo GTI and the 185-hp Audi A1 because of their standard dual-clutch automatics.
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