Peugeot’s 'Affordable' New Rally Starlet Has 1200cc And A Big Turbo

Built for customers who want to go rallying without the insane price tag, the all-new 208R2 uses a turbocharged, three-cylinder 1.2-litre petrol engine…
Peugeot’s 'Affordable' New Rally Starlet Has 1200cc And A Big Turbo

Peugeot has released images of its new entry-level rally car ahead of customer sales starting later this year.

The 208R2 replaces a car of the same name, but is based on the all-new 208 that was revealed at Geneva last month. Instead of the old car’s 185bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine there’s now a mere 1.2 litres to play with, but the PureTech lump has been upgraded with a larger turbo, a sequential gearbox and a motorsport ECU.

Peugeot’s 'Affordable' New Rally Starlet Has 1200cc And A Big Turbo

Peugeot Sport director Bruno Famin says the new R2 car will have a “substantial increase in performance.” It’s fair to expect a power figure close enough to the outgoing model’s, but with much more torque. The new 208R2 is also boosted by a weight cut inherent to the new car’s chassis.

Rally cars also need to be road-registered to legally travel on public roads between stages. You can see where we’re going with this: here’s a Peugeot 208 we really think we’d like to daily. Adjustable suspension is included, too.

Peugeot’s 'Affordable' New Rally Starlet Has 1200cc And A Big Turbo

More than 450 units were built of the old R2C-class 208, making it the most commercially successful rally car Peugeot has ever built. The new one has big shoes to fill in the world of (relatively) affordable rallying.

As for the price, the last 208 R2 was available as a kit for £30,500 back in 2012, but the new one is likely to be closer to £36,000. Peugeot Sport will deliver it ready-built for around £44,000.

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Comments

RWB Dude

Hell freakin yes i would love to own this if i lived in Europe

04/15/2019 - 12:08 |
48 | 0

Considering it is a rally car you can probably buy it in the US for sport purposes.

04/15/2019 - 13:10 |
28 | 0
The Stigs Homeless Cousin

In reply to by RWB Dude

Thats it… I’m moving to the UK.

04/15/2019 - 15:14 |
6 | 0
Chewbacca_buddy (McLaren squad)(VW GTI Clubsport)(McLaren 60

44k for a ready to go rally car? Sign me the f**k up

04/15/2019 - 12:09 |
20 | 0
Harry Fletcher

How many miles is a car with an engine that small putting out that much hp going to last before the engine breaks though?

04/15/2019 - 12:54 |
2 | 0

Wait, so in the UK it wouldn’t be a problem to drive it on the road outside of rally events ? What about the MOT or if you encounter the police ?

04/15/2019 - 12:59 |
0 | 0

I guess we should ask renault with their 1.6 220hp Clio

04/15/2019 - 13:11 |
6 | 0

200hp from 1.2 isn’t that extreme. Scaled up that would be 333hp from a 2.0 which is not unusual these days for a super-hatch. A BMW M3 has similar power density.

04/16/2019 - 07:28 |
0 | 0
Rotary Fanboy

I thought they ment Toyota Starlet…

04/15/2019 - 12:55 |
10 | 0
Anonymous

Still can’t afford it :(

04/15/2019 - 13:00 |
4 | 0
Elliot.J99

Peugeot have been on fire lately!

04/15/2019 - 13:10 |
6 | 0

Takes your breath away doesn’t it.

04/15/2019 - 19:49 |
4 | 0
BL4CKF0X

Poor thing is missing a cylinder.

04/15/2019 - 14:35 |
14 | 0
Dominik Maslyk (Euro & JDM Addict) (Autistic boi)

In reply to by BL4CKF0X

3 is more than enough! A 126p has 2 and it can run in rally races

04/17/2019 - 23:35 |
2 | 0
Inspector

Could this be… Peugeot bringing back the rallye!?

04/15/2019 - 22:12 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

Small, affordable, ready to race? I NEED IT

04/15/2019 - 22:37 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

Also that ROOF SCOOP

04/15/2019 - 22:38 |
0 | 0