But Peugeot, as we know, has lost the plot as far as its hot hatches are concerned. It used to vie with Renault as top hot-hatch maker, but while its rival never lost faith, Peugeot went soft-focus and pretended the market didn’t exist any more. The 206 GTI 180 was not a car created with conviction. So, as far as evo readers are concerned, Peugeot is now in the last-chance saloon. How it escapes will be evident next spring, when the 207 GTI appears with its 175bhp turbo engine (shared with the new Mini Cooper S) and the promise of genuinely engaging chassis dynamics, but for the moment there’s the 207

But Peugeot, as we know, has lost the plot as far as its hot hatches are concerned. It used to vie with Renault as top hot-hatch maker, but while its rival never lost faith, Peugeot went soft-focus and pretended the market didn’t exist any more. The 206 GTI 180 was not a car created with conviction. So, as far as evo readers are concerned, Peugeot is now in the last-chance saloon. How it escapes will be evident next spring, when the 207 GTI appears with its 175bhp turbo engine (shared with the new Mini Cooper S) and the promise of genuinely engaging chassis dynamics, but for the moment there’s the 207

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