Peugeot unveiled the E-T16 hyper hatch at the Paris Motor Show, touting 805 bhp and a 0-62 mph sprint in 2.5 seconds, and hinted the concept could move toward limited production if demand materializes. The reveal attracted a crowd of journalists, collectors and brand loyalists, all eager to see how the French automaker translates rally heritage into an all-electric format.
Power and performance
The model uses a triple-motor layout delivering power to all four wheels, matching the output of a Ferrari 296 GTB and eclipsing the Bugatti Veyron’s launch speed. Renault’s production-spec 5 Turbo 3E, by contrast, produces 547 bhp from a single rear-mounted motor and trails the French car by about one second in the 0-62 mph test. Weight registers at 1,610 kg, roughly 160 kg heavier than the Renault, while an 85 kWh battery on an 800 V architecture promises a WLTP-rated range of 249 miles, comparable to the rival’s 70 kWh pack.
Technical details
Brake discs measure 380 mm, and the car rides on 275-mm front and 315-mm rear Michelin tyres, a specification disclosed despite the vehicle’s concept status. Battery cooling runs through side walls rather than only the base, allowing three consecutive laps of the Nürburgring without overheating. Steer-by-wire technology, now standard across new Stellantis models, is featured, with CTO Ned Curic noting the system can make a future 208 feel like a Maserati through software calibration.
These technical choices suggest Peugeot intends the vehicle to be more than a static showpiece. Observers see the side-wall cooling and steer-by-wire as steps toward broader electrified performance platforms, though the true market appetite remains untested. The engineering team also highlighted the integration of regenerative braking that can recover energy efficiently during aggressive driving, a detail that shows the model’s track-focused ambitions.
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Design and interior
Exterior styling draws heavily from the 1980s 205 T16, with inflated wheel arches, a deep-sculpted bonnet and oversized front intakes; side intakes now house the charging port. Lighting adopts an expanded claw signature across the front and rear, while a red accent line echoes the historic model’s trim. At the rear, a clamshell door reveals the dual electric motors and suspension components, a nod to the original’s hatch design.
Inside, the cabin previews Peugeot’s next-generation “i-Cockpit” with a “Hypersquare” steering wheel inspired by the 9X8 Le Mans Hypercar. A configurable 21-inch central display replaces the traditional airbag zone, supported by four-point harnesses, carbon-fibre bucket seats and a red roll-cage that extends the exterior’s accent colour. The interior combines digital displays with tactile controls, aiming to give drivers a sense of immersion while maintaining safety standards.
Production prospects
CEO Alain Favey said the company is open to building the model if sufficient interest emerges, noting a single importer has already requested 50 units. He added that any production run would be far smaller than the 1,980 units of Renault’s comparable model, and floated a tentative price around €200 k. Should the company move forward, the limited run would likely be hand-assembled, reflecting the brand’s tradition of craftsmanship.
