A 205 GTi With Modern Internals - The World's Most Perfect Hot Hatch?

2013 is Year Of The Hot Hatch. We've had the sublime Ford Fiesta ST, controversial RS Clio 200, and at last a decent driver's Peugeot: the 208 GTi. The Pug had the most pressure on it, all thanks to the 205 GTI of the late 1980s: often praised as the best hot hatch of all time.

Problem is, they show their age these days. 205s rust, and the GTis suffer from engine idle issues that make the revs misbehave in town. It's also down on power compared with the 200bhp class of 2013 - until now. Welcome to the best of both worlds.

Fittingly, it's British hot hatch specialists who've gone to work on the 205 GTi. Called Pug1Off, they offer a complete 205 GTi overhaul: lightweight flywheels, racing engine mounts, and upgraded brakes from the 206 GTi.

What of the engine? Pug1Off offers the possibility of ditching the old 1.6- or 1.9-litre engines in place of the 2.0-litre motor from the 306 GTi-6. That means 170-190bhp (itself upgradeable with strengthened internals and a 7800rpm rev limit). You also get the six-speed gearbox from the hot 306, meaning a bit more motorway refinement than the old five-speed cars. The engine upgrades cost up to £2000 depending on how crazy you go. Want adjustable racing suspension? That'll be £2750.

Sure, it's not cheap: it's half the cost again of a decent 205 GTi. But it does futureproof the car, and in leaving it looking totally standard, could catch out a few modern hot hatches too. It's possibly the perfect hot hatch. The want is strong with this one.