In April, we reported that Peugeot\'s importer and seller in the Philippines, Eurobrands Distributor Inc., was bent on launching the Expert Tepee family van and the 2008 small crossover either at the end of the year or in the beginning of 2014. Those two vehicles aren\'t the only new models that EDI is hoping to add to its product lineup soon. The car you see here--the Peugeot 208 GTi--is another one.
We drove this car in Nice, France, where EDI marketing and communications director Dong Magsajo (being our co-driver at the time) revealed to TopGear.com.ph that they were pushing hard for this sporty three-door hatchback.
\"We\'re bringing in only the GTi,\" Magsajo told us during the press drive in April. \"We\'re not bothering with the regular 208 model.\"
Now, the latest update that we got from EDI is that we might see this car on local roads just before year end. \"We expect the car to arrive in early November, with the launch to be held middle of the month,\" the EDI marketing boss informs us.
Of course, that is assuming things will go according to plan.
The 208 GTi is Peugeot\'s modern tribute to the legendary 205 GTi from the \'80s. It is powered by a 1.6-liter turbo engine that produces 200hp and 275Nm. That\'s Toyota 86 muscle right there from a smaller displacement.
As for the pricing, Magsajo tells us now that they haven\'t finalized it yet: \"Really can\'t say. What Peugeot wants is worlds apart from what we want.\"
Same price as the 86, perhaps?
\"Can\'t really say,\" Magsajo reiterates. \"It could go either way at this point.\"
We take that to mean that the 208 GTi could be priced higher or lower than Toyota\'s popular sports coupe. What do you think?
Photos by Vernon B. Sarne
