Peugeot boss hints at 308 GTi hot hatch return

The return of the Peugeot 308 GTi hot hatch could be on the cards following comments from the French brand’s CEO, Alain Favey.

“I would love to have a range of GTis, of course, so we're looking at options, possibilities with the technology that we have,” Mr Favey told Autocar.

“For sure, we want a GTi to be really something special, something really top in terms of what it promises. The 308 would obviously make a lot of sense.”

The 308 GTi was last sold in Australia in 2020 and used a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, mated exclusively with a manual gearbox.

CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal.

A rival to the category benchmark, the Volkswagen Golf GTI, the fast Peugeot was one of a number of hot hatches axed in recent years, including the Ford Focus ST and Renault Megane RS, lamented by passionate enthusiasts globally.

There remains a small contingent of hot hatches, however, including the Hyundai i30 N and Toyota GR Corolla, as well as the perennial Honda Civic Type R.

Peugeot revealed the smaller e-208 GTi electric hot hatch at Le Mans in 2025 – now on sale in Europe but not confirmed for Australia – sharing its platform and battery-electric powertrain with the 2026 Opel Corsa GSE, with both brands part of Stellantis. It'll soon have competition in the shape of the Volkswagen ID. Polo GTI.

Stellantis has confirmed it will also introduce an electric Opel Astra GSE hot hatch in Europe, although the Opel brand isn't offered here.

The Astra – a nameplate previously used by Holden in Australia – uses the same underpinnings as the current 308, but the Peugeot boss said a potential return of the 308 GTi wouldn’t necessarily mean an electric version.

“It's difficult to find technology that will allow us to get there at a price that is still affordable. That's what we struggle to achieve at the moment; to find the technology and the right price balance,” Mr Favey told Autocar.

The current 308 in Australian showrooms is sold in a single model grade, the GT Hybrid, using a 100kW/230Nm 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine and 16kW/51Nm electric motor with a six-speed automatic transmission, priced at $48,990 before on-road costs.

A 308 GTi would cost more, with the Golf GTI priced from $59,990 before on-road costs.

The Peugeot CEO also ruled out the 308 GTi being reborn as an SUV.

“I don't think [an] SUV as a GTi makes a lot of sense,” he said.

That's in contrast with Ford, which axed its Fiesta ST in 2023 but continues to offer the related Puma ST crossover SUV, or Hyundai which launched an N version of its first-generation Kona.

MORE: Explore the Peugeot 308 showroom