When the new Peugeot 208 GTi arrives in UK dealers on April 18, it will start from £18,895 OTR, which is £1,900 more than Ford’s 180hp (182PS) (rivaling Fiesta ST (£16,995), but on par with other competitors including the 178hp (180PS) Seat Ibiza Cupra (£18,825) and the 178hp (180PS) VW Polo GTI (£19,430).

Available exclusively in three-door guise, the French hatch sports a 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-four engine that produces a maximum output of 197hp (200PS) and peak torque of 275Nm (203 lb-ft), and is connected to a six-speed manual transmission turning the froth wheels.

Peugeot quotes a 0-100 km/h (62mph) sprint in 6.8 seconds, with the 1,000m (0.62 miles) mark arriving after 27 seconds.

Among other standard comfort, safety and styling features, are the unique 17-inch wheels, LED daytime running lights, sports seats with black half leather, digital radio (DAB) and a rear parking aid.

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