Peugeot 208 Goes Rallying

Rejoice rally fans, Peugeot will be pulling the wraps off the S2000 spec' 208 R5 at the Paris motor show this month.

The teaser image we've been sent certainly looks promising, and we're sure the more studious among you will notice the colours of Peugeot's familiar livery adorning its flared flanks.

Although the "R5" category in which the 208 will compete in is new for 2013, the 208 R5 will replace the hugely successful 207 S2000 (pictured) as Peugeot's premier rally car.

R5 cars will be only slightly better than S2000 cars in nearly all respects. Four-wheel drive will be fitted, as will a five-speed sequential gearbox, long-travel suspension and two self-locking diffs. Under the bonnet will be Peugeot's existing 1.6-litre THP turbo, but tuned up to a heady 280bhp. The 207 S2000 used a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated motor with the same power output, as conforms to the FIA's strict regulations.

The regulations also stipulate that R5 cars should be derived from production models of which 25,000 examples have been produced, the minimum weight of the cars must be 1200kgs, and that they should cost no more than €180,000.

Expect to see it swooping through a forest near you, if you live in Wales that is, in late 2013.