Peugeot 308 GTi: A new 270 hp Euro6 engine

Peugeot 308 GTi

To fully tap the potential of the chassis, the Peugeot 308 GTi by Peugeot Sport houses a 1.6L THP 270 S&S under the bonnet. The four-cylinder power plant delivers 169 hp per litre—the highest specific output in its segment. Yet with its Stop&Start technology and array of engineering expertise, it caps CO2 at just 139 g/km, or 6.0 L/100km, a record for the category.

The engine runs on RON 95 or RON 98 fuel, developing output of 200 kW and torque of 330 Nm. And any comparisons aside, this is an engine always keen to champ at the bit, with an injection pressure of 200 bar. It is ready to perform at the drop of a hat, offering a nearly constant power ramp-up until the needle reaches the rev limiter, at 6,500 rpm, at which point it reaches thrilling speeds. Maximum torque ranges from 1,900 to 5,000 rpm. Power and torque are perfectly regulated, even at high rpm, thanks to the special wastegate valve design.

The Euro6-compliant EP6 FDTR engine offers a compression ratio of 9.2:1 with state-of-the-art moving parts: forged aluminium pistons, competition-style design, strengthened conrods and segmentation, polymer-enhanced bearings and reinforced bolts.

To ensure consistent performance, the pistons are cooled from below by a double oil spray system. The exhaust manifold is made of steel to resist high temperatures of up to 1,000 °C. The Driver Sport Pack feature lends a welcome growl to the sound from the pipes.

To tap the full potential of the engine, the team focused on pressure drop, targeting both intake and exhaust. To feed sufficient air into the power plant to meet needs in terms of volume and temperature, the Peugeot 308 GTi by Peugeot Sport is equipped with a supercharged air cooling system specially developed and installed below the bumper. At the engine outlet, exhaust gases are expelled more effectively by an entirely revamped system, from the catalytic converter to the two tailpipes.

The attention to detail is also evident in the stiffer bushings. The benefits are immediately apparent. When cornering, the car turns as one with zero latency or unwanted movement.

The six-speed manual transmission has been beefed up to absorb the torque of up to 330 Nm. The two shafts have been shot-blasted and the gears treated by carbonitriding. This thermochemical process improves the parts' ability to withstand wear and tear by increasing their carbon and nitrogen content. The axle has also been shortened to improve acceleration.

Driver-adjusted chassis, power-packed engine, noise from the tailpipe, Peugeot i-Cockpit, Driver Sport Pack, bucket seats... It's a triumphant turnout! The car does 0-100 km/h in a mere 6.0 seconds, covering 1,000 m from a standing start in 25.3 seconds.