Peugeot's 805bhp e-T16 Hyper-Hatch Could Reach Production Next Year

Peugeot's chief executive thinks the wild e-T16 concept could be more than a show car. Speaking to Autocar, Alain Favey said the hyper-hatch could go into production as soon as next year. He pointed to its 805bhp dual-motor setup and its foundation on Stellantis's new STLA One platform as evidence that the car is a serious engineering proposal rather than a styling exercise.

The e-T16 debuted at the Paris motor show with flared, wide-arched bodywork that pays tribute to the 1980s 205 T16 homologation special. It also previews the look of the next-generation e-208 supermini. Favey said much of its hardware is shared with that car, and that Peugeot Sport's involvement means the performance figures reflect what the company can actually deliver. "We can make this car next year," he said. "Let's see."

A production version would almost certainly be a small-run, high-priced halo model, much like the Renault 5 Turbo 3E. Favey did not discuss pricing, but the £140,000 to £220,000 range mooted for the Renault gives a sense of the territory Peugeot would enter with a four-wheel-drive hyper-hatch.

The RCZ coupé is a different story. Its low, sleek proportions do not suit Peugeot's current electric platforms, and the design depends on thin, energy-dense solid-state batteries that can recharge in roughly the time it takes to refuel a petrol car. Those batteries are not yet on the market. Favey described the RCZ as a wish list item that could take five or six years to arrive.

Favey also ruled out a return to budget city cars in the mould of the old 108, or a rival to the new Citroën 2CV. Instead, Peugeot plans to move further upmarket with sporty, design-led models as it works toward raising annual sales from 1.1 million to 1.5 million cars. He argued that the brand cannot win a price war with Chinese manufacturers and should compete on design, technology and innovation instead. He also urged European buyers to consider where their money goes, saying that choosing a brand that supports European jobs and industry is one way to keep Peugeot's heritage alive.