Peugeot re-enters the hot hatch fray with the 308 R Concept

Hot on the heels of the 270bhp RCZ R, Peugeot has taken the same 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine and slotted it in the 308 hatchback.

It will debut alongside the all-new 308 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, equipped with a wide-body aero kit, 19-inch alloy wheels and upgraded four-piston brakes.

It’s powered by a 270bhp 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 243 lb-ft (330Nm) of torque and a specific power output of 169bhp/litre. Peugeot claim official CO2 emissions of 145g/km and an average consumption of 44.8 mpg.

Power is deployed to the front wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox and harnessed via a standard Torsen limited-slip differential. The Alcon discs measure 380mm by 32mm at the front and 330mm by 22mm at the rear, transferring their retardation to the road through a set of 235/35 R19 Michelin tyres.

The concept features carbon fibre bodywork, exposed at the rear in a two-tone finish, replacing all the panels on the production 308 except for the roof and tailgate. The oblique cut line was inspired by Peugeot’s recent Onyx supercar Concept.

The end result is a purposeful hot hatch, 30mm wider than the standard car and 26mm lower, with flared arches housing the bespoke 19-inch wheels featuring a signature ‘R’ logo in plain red.

“For us, it was clear that the 308 R Concept retained the identifiable features of the new Peugeot 308,” said Thomas Rohm, the 308 R Concept’s Design Manager. “They share elegance and sophistication. The 308 R Concept is a production car pushed to the extreme.”

The 308 R Concept is very clearly a pre-production design, and all bar the carbon-fibre bodywork will likely reach Peugeot’s showrooms early next year.