Signal of (very) special models, it seems the GTi acronym on Peugeot will not disappear entirely to make way for the new PSE or Peugeot Sport Engineered designation, which we recently saw debut on the Peugeot 508 PSE.
This was confirmed by the CEO of the French brand, Jean-Philippe Imparato, in statements to Autocar. He recalled that, although the acronym is associated with combustion engine models (the new acronym PSE is intended, above all, for electrified models), it remains important for Peugeot.
Now, given this importance, Imparato "opened the door" to the possibility that the acronym will continue to be used in the future, but it will be confined to just one model: the Peugeot 208.
Why only on the Peugeot 208?
For now, Jean-Philippe Imparato has not explained why the acronym GTi on Peugeot will be used only on the 208, nor has he confirmed that this will even happen.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Therefore, Imparato limited himself to saying: “we are working on what could be the GTi of the future” and added that “the only car that could claim the GTi acronym — even if electric — is the 208″.
For now, the CEO of Peugeot has not confirmed the intention to create a 208 GTi and, according to Autocar, a British publication, has even raised the hypothesis that the acronym is only used in the United Kingdom, where its weight is more significant.
And the other models?
As for the other sports versions of Peugeot models, Jean-Philippe Imparato said that they will use the acronym PSE (Peugeot Sport Engineered).
The reason for changing the GTi acronym for the PSE designation is due to the fact that, according to Imparato, "the feeling behind the wheel of cars is not identical". For the French executive, this is a new level of performance, with the latter added: “They are not exclusively internal combustion cars and the sensations are not the same”.
In view of all this, we can only wait, not only for an eventual sporty version of the Peugeot 208, but also to find out what the future of the GTi acronym in the Lion brand will be.
Source: Autocar.