First drive: Peugeot 207 GT THP 150
Tom Stewart :: 23 November 2006 :: Filed under Hatchback, Peugeot, Peugeot 207, Europe & UK
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Pussy cat?
The original eighties Golf GTi spawned the cult of the hot hatch. On that we can surely all agree. But it was Peugeot’s 1.6 and 1.9 205 GTIs which came to define the genre. Cat-flap-in-a-tornado build quality aside, the 205 GTI remains one of the great drives. Not something you can say about the manifestly mundane 206, a car which tore up the rally scene but never came close to the impact or status of its 205 predecessor on Real Street. What hope, therefore for the 207? Well, the hottest 207 has yet to be released. But warmed-over new 207 GT has arrived…
More accurately, it’s the [deep breath] 207 GT THP - Terrifically High Power, perhaps Terrified Hapless Pilot? Nope, it actually stands for Turbo High Pressure - 150. To recap, that’s the 207 GT THP 150. Good. Anywho, with 150bhp and a thumping 240lb/ft of torque on tap, plus a 130mph Vmax, you could be forgiven for mistaking the GT for the performance flagship of the new 207 range. But no, there’s a 175bhp GTI on the cards for 2007. The GT is therefore more tepid tabby than genuine hot cat.
Not that it’s lacking in outright shove. As is often the case, the headline 0-62mph time (for the record, 8.1secs) says little about the real world performance. The more astute will have already clocked that this motor’s torque figure is substantial. It’s also achieved at incredibly low crank speeds – just 1,400rpm. And, unusually in this respect, we’re talking petrol here, not diesel. Assuming you’re in roughly the right gear, therefore, a squeeze of the right-side pedal results in instant, enthusiastic and gratifying acceleration. It’s the kind of grunt that thrusts you out of corners quicker than you’d thought and sweeps the needles effortlessly around the dials. Cracking good fun, in other words. In fact, according to Peugeot, the 207 GT accelerates from 50-75mph in 5th in 8.2secs, almost two seconds faster than the lighter 206 GTI.
Aiding and abetting this athleticism are strong brakes, a responsive electronic power steering system, a surprising absence of torque steer and inside front wheel spin, supportive front seats, grippy tyres and suspension which keeps things neat and tidy, even at three figure speeds on bumpy, rural B roads. With a more positive gearchange action, the GT would be a pretty complete driving package.
Having tested the new 175bhp MINI Cooper S recently, and driven the lower spec 120bhp Cooper, all of which use essentially the same Peugeot/BMW-developed four cylinder engine, there are some interesting comparisons to be made. The pricier Cooper S makes more horsepower than the 207 GT 150 and in a straight drag race the S would cross the finish line first. However, the 207’s 48lb/ft torque advantage would undoubtedly close the gap on real roads. As for the Cooper ordinaire (sans S), it looses out to the 207 GT on power and performance, and its engine feels strained and unwilling when spanked. This isn’t an issue on the turbocharged 207 GT or Cooper S. As ever, the turbo has a calming effect on noise output.
Another point in the 207’s favour is plain old practicality. It can comfortably accommodate two fully-grown adults in the rear, a trick the poorly packaged MINI can’t pull off. Of course, the 207 does lack the MINIs’ retro chic vibe, which may or may not be a good thing depending on your personal taste. However, there’s no getting away from that ghastly, oversized, black plastic, grinning front air intake. It’s an eyesore shared with other recently introduced Peugeot models and symptomatic of the French firm’s transparent desperation to achieve a distinct aesthetic identity. Problem is, it comes at the total expense of subtly and attractiveness. History will record that of the 205, 206 and 207, it was the 207 which was the ugly sister. And be warned, there’s worse to come in the form of Peugeot’s forthcoming SUV. It’s Ssang-Yong-fugly.
Still, the 207’s an accomplished bit of kit. It’s fast, a decent driver, practical, and reasonably priced and specced. Yes, the interior lacks the feel and perceived quality of the MINI, but it’s the choice your head would make, if not your heart. Quite how well it bodes for the full-on GTI model is hard to say. The basic ingredients for a car capable of taking on the Clio 192 are there. Whether Peugeot has the guts and determination to produce a real driving tool like the Clio, however, remains to be seen.
Peugeot 207 GT THP 150
| Price: | £14,345 |
| Capacity: | 1,598cc 4cyl 16v turbo |
| Power: | 150bhp @ 5,800rpm |
| Torque: | 240lb/ft @ 1,400rpm |
| Transmission: | 5-speed manual |
| 0-62mph: | 8.1secs |
| Max speed: | 131mph |
| Fuel consumption: | 40.3mpg combined |
| CO2: | 166g/km |
| On sale in UK: | Now |
