THE 80´ES PEUGEOT 206 GTi 1.6 was the King of GTi´s. Later the GTi 1.9 did it again – and so did the even later 309 GTi with 130 HP and 170 HP. Peugeot has the biggest GTi-tradition of all.

Now comes the first true hot hatch from the Frenchmen, the new 206 RC (in the UK GTi) with the all-new 2.0-litre, 180 HP 16 valves power unit. 180 HP – that is 40 HP less than Focus RS, 30 HP less than Leon Cupra R and 20 less than Honda Civic Type-R.

But a lack of power or not – we expect the new 206 RC to be the best handling hot hatch of them all. But the car has a problem named Focus RS thanks to the diflock. of the RS. Coming test drives will tell us if we are right or not.

FACTS
· 4-seater hatch
· Front engine, front wheel drive
· 2.0-litre 16 valve inline
· 180 HP
· 5-speed
· 17-inch wheels