Peugeot 207 GT
Excitement is reaching fever pitch for fans of performance Peugeots. Next year sees the arrival of the new 207 GTi - a hot hatch which looks set to rival the class-leading Renaultsport Clio 197, with razor-sharp handling and racy looks to match.
Simply put, the 207 GT is one of the best handling cars Peugeot has built since the firm's Eighties heyday. It offers keen drivers some real fun in twisty bends
It promises to be the first sporty Peugeot that truly lives up to the legend of the original 205 GTi. But if you can't wait a few months - or something less fiery would suit your budget better - how about this, the 207 GT?
It's powered by the same 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine as the forthcoming GTi, but it has a little less boost, so power drops to 150bhp.
However, with the 0-60mph sprint taking around eight seconds and a top speed in the region of 130mph, it still provides plenty of punch on paper. So how does it shape up on the road?
Well, if you're looking for a car that turns heads wherever you go, the 207 GT isn't quite it. There's no doubt the sleek lines and panoramic glass roof are appealing, but there's not even a new badge on the tailgate to help mark the newcomer out. Visually, the petrol GT is identical to its diesel-powered brother, as it comes with the same 17-inch alloy wheels, subtle bodykit and spotlights mounted in the egg-crate front grille. Clearly Peugeot wants to make sure there's plenty of distance between the GT and GTi models.
Inside, it's a similar story, with white-faced dials, drilled alloy pedals and a metal gearknob dropping the only hints that you're in something sporty. However, accelerate hard away from a standstill, and it's clear that the 207 GT is no ordinary supermini.
The new 1.6-litre powerplant was jointly developed by PSA Peugeot Citroen and BMW, and will also power the new MINI. The unit features direct-injection and a twin-scroll turbo-charger - which is designed to help reduce lag - and the warm hatch kicks out a useful 240Nm of torque from only 1,400rpm. With such low-down urge, it feels a bit like a diesel, but the bonus is that this thrust continues right across the rev range.
Unlike the frantic, high-revving nature of the Clio 197's normally aspirated motor, it's straightforward to access the 207 GT's power, and the result is fast progress and simple overtaking. However, despite shorter gear ratios, shifts of the five-speed box still feel too long, and cog-swapping is a vague process.
Tags: peugeot cars
Simply put, the 207 GT is one of the best handling cars Peugeot has built since the firm's Eighties heyday. It offers keen drivers some real fun in twisty bends
It promises to be the first sporty Peugeot that truly lives up to the legend of the original 205 GTi. But if you can't wait a few months - or something less fiery would suit your budget better - how about this, the 207 GT?
It's powered by the same 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine as the forthcoming GTi, but it has a little less boost, so power drops to 150bhp.
However, with the 0-60mph sprint taking around eight seconds and a top speed in the region of 130mph, it still provides plenty of punch on paper. So how does it shape up on the road?
Well, if you're looking for a car that turns heads wherever you go, the 207 GT isn't quite it. There's no doubt the sleek lines and panoramic glass roof are appealing, but there's not even a new badge on the tailgate to help mark the newcomer out. Visually, the petrol GT is identical to its diesel-powered brother, as it comes with the same 17-inch alloy wheels, subtle bodykit and spotlights mounted in the egg-crate front grille. Clearly Peugeot wants to make sure there's plenty of distance between the GT and GTi models.
Inside, it's a similar story, with white-faced dials, drilled alloy pedals and a metal gearknob dropping the only hints that you're in something sporty. However, accelerate hard away from a standstill, and it's clear that the 207 GT is no ordinary supermini.
The new 1.6-litre powerplant was jointly developed by PSA Peugeot Citroen and BMW, and will also power the new MINI. The unit features direct-injection and a twin-scroll turbo-charger - which is designed to help reduce lag - and the warm hatch kicks out a useful 240Nm of torque from only 1,400rpm. With such low-down urge, it feels a bit like a diesel, but the bonus is that this thrust continues right across the rev range.
Unlike the frantic, high-revving nature of the Clio 197's normally aspirated motor, it's straightforward to access the 207 GT's power, and the result is fast progress and simple overtaking. However, despite shorter gear ratios, shifts of the five-speed box still feel too long, and cog-swapping is a vague process.
Tags: peugeot cars
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