Peugeot’s 'Affordable' New Rally Starlet Has 1200cc And A Big Turbo

Peugeot has released images of its new entry-level rally car ahead of customer sales starting later this year.

The 208R2 replaces a car of the same name, but is based on the all-new 208 that was revealed at Geneva last month. Instead of the old car’s 185bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine there’s now a mere 1.2 litres to play with, but the PureTech lump has been upgraded with a larger turbo, a sequential gearbox and a motorsport ECU.

Peugeot Sport director Bruno Famin says the new R2 car will have a “substantial increase in performance.” It’s fair to expect a power figure close enough to the outgoing model’s, but with much more torque. The new 208R2 is also boosted by a weight cut inherent to the new car’s chassis.

Rally cars also need to be road-registered to legally travel on public roads between stages. You can see where we’re going with this: here’s a Peugeot 208 we really think we’d like to daily. Adjustable suspension is included, too.

More than 450 units were built of the old R2C-class 208, making it the most commercially successful rally car Peugeot has ever built. The new one has big shoes to fill in the world of (relatively) affordable rallying.

As for the price, the last 208 R2 was available as a kit for £30,500 back in 2012, but the new one is likely to be closer to £36,000. Peugeot Sport will deliver it ready-built for around £44,000.