At the time, this pocket rocket swiftly proved to be a small car with a big personality and, if you remember the world of BMX Bikes, Ghostbusters and Beverly Hills Cop at the cinema, the A-Team and Robin of Sherwood on TV, plus, the emergence of The Smiths and Madonna in the pop world, all neatly chronicled in your new journal of the time, the Filofax, then you must have been around at its birth in 1984.
Over the nine years which followed, Peugeot sold some 332,942 205 GTi’s worldwide (61,226 in the UK) before the 206 GTi got in on the act in 1999 and Peugeot then retailed around the thick end of 20,000 in the UK before the model finally bowed out in the spring of 2006, to make way for further progress.
The 207 picked up the baton last summer bringing a further touch of class to the supermini sector, becoming almost an instant success, and, come June the 207 GTi steps up to complete the range and write the next chapter in Peugeot’s history of small performance cars.
This modern-day evolution of 80s hot hatchery comes bearing a reputation for being practical and easy to live with in town and country and boasts the interior space to accommodate occupants and their belongings with some ease.
This car proves that hot hatches can still be fast and fun, while proving safe and comfortable at the same time, as befits the holder of a five-star Euro NCAP certificate for occupant protection.
Overall, this is yet another fine effort from Peugeot, showing that, despite the changing rules along the way which have dictated a more grown-up approach to warm and hot hatchery, the French car maker has lost none of its edge in the search for dynamic excellence.
At £14,995, the 207 GTi quite seriously undercuts some of its immediate hot hatch rivals, the Vauxhall Corsa VXR at £15,595, Mini Cooper S at £16,025 and the Renault Clio Sport at £15,995. With this GTi the scene looks set fair for more hot hatchery success for the Gallic car giant.
