Peugeot CEO: “208 GTi is not an elitist toy”

Le Mans as a stage for the brand

Favey has only just begun his new position. In February, the French brand announced that he was succeeding Linda Jackson as CEO of Peugeot. We speak to him at a special moment: during the 93rd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the stage Peugeot chose to unveil the new 208 GTi.

In addition to the celebratory unveiling, the brand has come to Le Mans to race. Why is the brand actually participating in the world-famous long-distance race? Favey explains: “Le Mans is much more than a race for Peugeot; it is a platform to showcase our brand values. Our brand is all about driving pleasure and motorsport is a natural extension of that. We have been at the starting line in racing since our first cars, and Le Mans is part of our heritage. The 9X8 race car is the ultimate showcase for our performance division.”

The goal for this edition? To learn from last year’s mistakes, when wrong strategic choices and driver errors cost the team points. This time Peugeot wanted to drive a clean race, take advantage of a possible safety car and compete for the podium spots. The first succeeded: both cars neatly crossed the finish line. But a podium finish was not in the cards.

The return of the GTi label

The race weekend was also marked by the unveiling of the all-new e-208 GTi. Forty years after the iconic 205 GTi, the label is making its comeback, and Favey has a clear vision for it. “GTi stands for driving pleasure, agility and accessibility. It is not an elitist toy, but a car you want to drive every day,” he enthuses.

The new, 206 kW (280 hp) strong GTi promises impressive performance, according to the top man. The team behind the 9X8 also collaborated on the sporty hatchback, bringing techniques from racing – such as chassis tuning and a limited slip differential – to the street car.

More GTi’s on the way?

Whether we can expect more GTi models soon remains a mystery for now. “First, we are focusing entirely on the 208 GTi. We want every model with the GTi label to live up to the values that have made the label so legendary. After that, we’ll see,” says Favey.

Market launch

The new Peugeot e-208 GTi will hit the market sometime in 2026. Whether the introduction of competitors, such as the Alpine A290, influenced Peugeot’s decision? Favey says not: “The GTi label has always been in our blood. It made sense to bring the label back, also because the demand has always been there.”

Also watch: Le Mans 2025 – Hydrogen and Peugeot 208 GTI – AutoRAI TV