Peugeot E-T16 Concept: 816 hp electric hyperhatch previews the next E-208
Peugeot has unveiled the E-T16 Concept, a three-motor, 816 hp electric tribute to the 205 T16 rally legend that previews the next E-208.
- 816 hp
- 2.5 seconds
- 16 seconds
- 400 km
What Happened
The Peugeot E-T16 Concept pays tribute to the 205 T16, the rally car that won the World Rally Championship in 1985 and 1986, and celebrates the 40th anniversary of that double victory. Peugeot says the concept reinvents the legend for the electric age and offers the ultimate vision of the next-generation E-208. It was developed in collaboration with Peugeot Sport and is described as the most powerful Peugeot in history. Peugeot says it creates its own 'Hyperhatch' segment and is rivalled only by the 208 T16 Pikes Peak prototype, which set a record at the American hill climb in 2013.
816hp
Three electric motors — one at the front, two at the rear — make the E-T16 Concept the most powerful Peugeot ever built, with a power-to-weight ratio of less than 2 kg per horsepower.
- Three electric motors — one front, two rear — deliver 816 hp combined and a power-to-weight ratio of under 2 kg per horsepower.
- A torque vectoring system distributes torque in real time between the two rear wheels and between the front and rear axles, according to grip.
- Three driving modes adjust power delivery, axle torque distribution and suspension settings, including a Track mode for unrestricted driving; a fourth mode is fully customisable by the driver.
- Four 380 mm disc brakes, a vertically mounted hydraulic handbrake like those on rally cars, and oversized Michelin tyres 275 mm wide at the front and 315 mm at the rear.
- Racing-derived 'Side Cooling' cools battery cells through their side walls instead of their base, so the car can run three Nürburgring Nordschleife laps — more than 60 km — in Performance mode with no power limitation.
- An 800V architecture with an 85-kWh battery provides up to 400 km of WLTP combined-cycle range and charges from 10% to 80% in under 15 minutes.
- Winchester Matte Grey body colour, closely matching the original grey.
- Silver microblasted wheels with body-coloured inserts.
- A backlit red line running around the entire car, referencing the 205 T16's red pinstripe.
- The air intake ahead of the rear wheel, once used to feed the combustion engine, now houses the charging port and door-opening mechanism.
- The floating C-pillar concept is retained and optimised so aerodynamic airflow passes freely towards the rear.
- The entire rear body section tilts open to reveal two electric motors and suspension components on a carbon-fibre platform, plus a compartment able to hold two helmets.
“E-T16 CONCEPT reinterprets the lines of the future PEUGEOT E-208, pushing every proportion to the extreme. A radical design that celebrates our heritage and transforms power and sportiness into a true design language.”
The Peugeot 205 T16 wins the World Rally Championship.
The 205 T16 wins the World Rally Championship again, completing a double victory.
The 208 T16 Pikes Peak prototype sets a record at the American hill climb.
Peugeot presents the E-T16 Concept, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the 1985 and 1986 titles.
The E-T16 Concept introduces Peugeot's Feline Future design language, which will debut on the next E-208, led by a new horizontal interpretation of the three-claw light signature front and rear, with three long, slim illuminated bars framing an illuminated Peugeot emblem. Its exterior also brings pronounced wheel arches, an aggressively sculpted bonnet with two large air outlets, a front bumper with three oversized cooling intakes, air extractors behind the front wheels, a rear underbody extractor with a twin diffuser and two adjustable aero blades, and a large cat-ear rear wing. Inside, the next-generation i-Cockpit is fully digital and integrates a 21-inch ultra-slim panoramic HD display above the Hypersquare control, which for the first time includes a configurable central display showing speed and lap timing and here occupies the space normally reserved for the airbag, made unnecessary by four-point safety harnesses. Cabin materials include carbon fibre, anodised aluminium and technical mesh, with carbon-fibre-shell bucket seats in technical woven fabric and PELINOVA recycled leather, red detailing including a vertical seat stripe with a Plexiglas backrest element, a red technical-mesh headliner fading to black and a red tubular roll cage. Peugeot says the seats' PELINOVA leather is made from recycled offcuts from the leather goods industry — untanned animal leather that would otherwise go unused — and that the car's lithium nickel manganese batteries offer very high energy density, storing maximum energy in a compact space at controlled weight.
Previously from Peugeot
Peugeot's 9X8 Hypercar, whose steering wheel inspired the E-T16 Concept's Hypersquare steering control, entered a technical evolution phase to boost performance for the 2027 FIA World Endurance Championship, as announced in July 2026. Peugeot also expanded the 208 family this year: in September 2026 the 208 and 2008 gained an Envy Special Edition with electric, hybrid and petrol options, priced from €24,050 and €30,500.
- Peugeot 9X8 enters next development phase for 2027 WEC season
- Peugeot launches Envy Special Editions for 208 and 2008 with electric, hybrid and petrol options
Background drawn from MotorClaw's earlier coverage of Peugeot's official releases.
Why this matters
The E-T16 Concept is Peugeot's stated vision of the next-generation E-208, so its Feline Future styling, new i-Cockpit and Hypersquare controls preview what buyers of Peugeot's electric hatchback can expect. It also shows Peugeot Sport applying racing-derived battery cooling to a road-legal electric car, for buyers interested in performance EVs.
Terms in This Story
- Hyperhatch
- A marketing term for a high-performance hatchback that combines compact-car bodywork with supercar-level power.
- Torque vectoring
- A system that varies how much drive torque is sent to individual wheels or axles to improve grip and cornering.
- Steer-by-wire
- A steering system with no mechanical link between the steering control and the wheels, where inputs are transmitted electronically.
- WLTP
- Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure, the standardised test cycle used in Europe to measure range and emissions.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.