Peugeot 208 R hotter hatch on the plan

Peugeot is intent on adding extra performance mojo to its line-up with more GTI and R variants, and the next one on the drawing board is a 208-R to slot in above the 208 GTI in the hatch range. This will be the fourth of their hi-po push -- they've topped the RCZ coupe with the flagship RCZ-R revealed earlier this year, and are also getting ready to roll out a 308 GTI and a 308-R overseas.

And while performance fans will applaud the extra sting in the trail, Peugeot CEO Maxime Picat told industry journal Automotive News it also makes good business sense. "For the Peugeot 208, about 40 percent of sales are for trim levels three and four, which are the two highest; 70 percent of 2008 sales are level three or above," Picat said.

"We have special versions such as the 208 GTI. Above the 208 GTI, we will soon have an even sportier 208-R, which is a good example of what we would like to add to top the 308 range. Moving upmarket with special versions of each model line is not very different from what Volkswagen does with its (Golf) GTI/GTD variants."

Picat stopped short of details on what would power the Peugeot 208-R, but a good candidate could be the little 1.6-litre turbo four-cylinder from the RCZ-R. It would likely be detuned from the 199kW of power and 330Nm of torque, but still have plenty of airspace to come in above the 147kW and 275Nm of the 208 GTI, and use the same slick six-speed manual to deliver drive to the front wheels.

The RCZ-R has been confirmed by Peugeot Australia to arrive here early next year, although in fairly limited numbers, with a quota of less than 50 priced around $75,000 -- a sizable step up from the $58,990 of the current three-model range: a 1.6-litre petrol in 147kW/275Nm manual and 115kW/240Nm auto versions, plus a 120kW/340Nm 2.0-litre diesel.

They're going to be popular with people keen on the sleek sports coupe's 0-100kmh sprint of 5.9 seconds (top speed is limited to 250km/h). We can only hope 208-R will follow, and better the 208 GTI's comparatively relaxed 0-100kmh time of 6.8 seconds, while coming in not too high above its $29,990 price tag.

This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott