Brazilians Aren't Worthy, Either

by Marcelo de Vasconcellos

Published: May 23rd, 2010

Whoever said there’s no replacement for displacement? French Peugeot surely doesn’t think so. Brazil’s Bestcars makes us salivate with the news that Europe will get the chance to fawn over Peugeot’s new medium compact, the 308 GTI. And what do we get? Definitely not that one. The car has 200 hp and torque of 275 Nm. All from a puny 1.6L mill. That’s 125 horses per liter.

The secret of course is technology. And there’s a lot of it. Direct injection, variable valve timing and lifting scheme, which eliminates the throttle (similar to BMW’s Valvetronic). Not to mention special 18 inch wheels with 225/40 rubber, 10 mm lower suspension and little finishing touches like a wing an Audi-esque steering wheel.

Is that enough to make you go French?

#308GTI #France #MarceloDeVasconcellos

Marcelo de Vasconcellos

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8 of 22 comments

RGS920 on May 23, 2010

Just remember that the engine in the 2.0L S2000 sold in Japan had 250HP. That's 125 HP/L. In the US we got the S2000 with 120 HP/L due to tougher emmission standards. Also the engine in the S2000 predates this engine by about 10 years and has proven very reliable.

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- Stroker49 on May 23, 2010
  
  Yes 250 useless HP, no torque. Top power at 8300rpm! Top torque at 7500rpm! Top rpm was over 9000! Thi is ok if the formula in your racing class don't allow turbos. Completely worthless in everyday driving. The VW Rabbit GTI and the Peugeot 308 GTI is also great everyday commuters and take the kids to school car.
  
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- RGS920 on May 23, 2010
  
  The engine in the car I currently own and use as a daily driver for the past three years has Toyota's 1.8L 2ZZ engine which makes maximum torque at 7200 RPM, max power at 7800 RPM, has 100 HP/L and redlines at 8200 RPM. I've had no complaints at all in stop and go traffic as the low weight of the car compliments the engine. I have also had the chance to drive my friend's previous generation VW GLI which has a 1.8L Turbo with the same HP as the engine in my car. I honestly found the turbo lag in stop and go traffic much more annoying then the lack of low and mid range torque in my car. On the highway and twisty country roads the power in the 2ZZ is always available if your willing to drop a couple gears and rev match the engine to around 6000 RPM. No wait, no turbo lag, just instant power. I honestly think that the ability of a high revving engine to be effective as a daily driver depends alot on how much the car weighs and how it is geared. A close ratio stick shift and low weight help alot in stop and go traffic.
  
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- T2 on May 26, 2010
  
  All this proves an earlier point that there are those that can drive a high rpm engine, RGS920, and then there are those that cannot stroker49. The XRS engine that RGS920 drove was a 2005/6. The short lived XRS with the 2ZZ-GE, Yamaha inspired,was discontinued for 2007 and returned later with the 2.4L 2AZ-FE engine from the Camry. Not 2.7L as I previous alluded. It is the Camry that in early 2009 moved to the 2AR-FE 2.7L engine in some markets. Whether the XRS is as nimble with the heavier powertrain a moot point, but the vehicle will now be driveable for a larger audience of the buying public.
  
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Znork on May 23, 2010

What new car doesnt have a turbo?

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- T2 on May 26, 2010
  
  The Yaris ?? I was over at Wiki and saw that they now have a turbocharged version of the INZ-FE, the Yaris engine BTW, that makes 150HP !! But don't laugh. Probably not so widely known is that with the original engine, the 2-dr Echo with 5-spd claimed an 8.5sec ramp to 60mph. In this 2032lb vehicle, the 1NZ-FE with its extended torque band at 105lbs-ft, thanks to VVt-i, certainly took some beating. And still does, the way I drive it. Always being in the right gear at the right time and never forgetting that the Echo doesn't have the steering ability to go with that power. Or any power for that matter ! Definitely needs a sway bar and other missing steering components but that would add 170lbs and then it would be a different car. Later on, in North America, it would get all that plus a new name - Yaris. Marcelo - Peugeot 308 GTI - could be the TI = turbo induction ? Carlos +1 Yes I had my eye on the Civic SI coupe but as a second car too rich for me.
  
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Uncle Mellow on May 23, 2010

This 1.6 engine is designed by BMW ( for use in the MINI) and manufactured by Peugeot. It is the best part of the car. Otherwise the 308 is nothing special.

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J Mendez on May 24, 2010

Oi Marcello, If this makes you feel a little better, we won't have the 308 GTI in Mexico either! They will built a very few hundreds to sell on France only. About the engine, it is the same engine used on the 207, 207 RC, 308 and the 3008 crossover, I guess that PSA is using the same to simplify maintainance and stock parts supply overseas. There is a variant of the same engine without turbo, it gives 120Hp. The rest is turbo charged rated 150 on the 207 CC and 207 hatchback and 175 on the 207 RC. I tried a friend of mine 207 RC with a chip repro and it feels really different than the stock one. I don't remember the power output for the 3008 but i beleive it will be 150Hp, the crossover will be on Mexican showrooms next week and will be MXP 325,000 that is like USD$24,998. I also tried the 308 CC last week it has the very same engine, but it is rated as 140Hp@5,800 RPM, anyway the very nervous salesman didn't allow me to explore the limits of the beautiful CC...;-) I agree the Peugeots have certain “je ne sais quoi” i already have one and will get another soon hopefully. Saudades do Mexico.

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