THE Peugeot 208 GTi may be keen to trade on the legendary 205 GTi of the 1980s, but none of that matters. The only question is how much fun this one is to drive.
With 200 horses champing at the bit of the turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine, which pushes out 202lb/ft of torque, the 208 GTi lunges forward with only the slightest flex of the right foot.
Spur it on even harder and it gallops out of the stalls to 62mph in just 6.8 seconds. Helped by a smooth six-speed manual transmission and it's a gutsy, exciting performer willing to deliver plenty of mid-range thrust but also eager to race on to the red line. Top speed is 143mph.
Unlike a good many hot superminis of yesterday, the latest 208 GTi doesn't have or need a huge spoiler tacked on the back. This is a much more restrained affair.
Some of the clues to its sporty DNA however are 17-inch alloys, red brake calipers, side skirts, GTi badging, swish tailpipes and a neatly integrated roof spoiler. Short overhangs and a lowered stance give it a determined, no-nonsense look.
A hot hatch it certainly is, but it is also quite refined. The cabin is a good place to be, not least because of the figure-hugging sports seats which keep you firmly in place as you throw the car around. They are comfortable and supportive thanks to being high off the floor with long seat bases that give you good under-knee support.
There is also plenty of headroom, and large footwells also mean plenty of as leg and knee room.
The front seats slide and fold smoothly for easy entry into the back. Three adults can sit comfortably in the rear.
The teardrop shaped dials are viewed over, not through, the flat-bottomed sports steering wheel. It seems odd at first but it offers excellent visibility of the road ahead. Large glass areas mean good all-round visibility for all passengers.
Setting the tone in the cabin is a multitude of red detailing on a variety of items from the seatbelts to the aluminium gearknob to the fascia. In contrast, there is blue mood lighting along both sides of the panoramic glass sunroof.
Travelling in the GTI is never a hardship.The refined cabin is quiet, even at fast motorway speeds. Pick-up in sixth gear on the motorway, at the legal limit, is crisp while on B-roads it will eagerly punch up steep hills in third gear without raising a sweat.
It may be refined but it is still sharp and agile to drive. The chassis is supple, and the car seems to come alive on roller coaster roads where it can be really slung about without fear.
The variable electric power steering is light in town for low speed manoeuvring but weights up nicely when you hit the open road. The GTI is great fun and always feels ready to play. It is as good to drive as its legendary predecessor.
Spring and damper settings have been tweaked to bring them up to sure-footed GTI spec with 8mm chopped olff from the ride height and wider tracks front and rear. It always stays stable whether travelling at speed or decelerating under hard braking.