Performance Review: Peugeot 208 1.6 THP - [2012]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Peugeot 208 Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Peugeot 208 1.6 THP is the 6 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 2012. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2012 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse and the 2013 Caterham 7 620 R 2.0 L Supercharged.This particular Peugeot 208 has a 1598cc Turbo Petrol powerplant with 4 cylinders in a St formation.

Alternative Petrol St4's includes the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo

The 208 shares its Petrol St4 engine configuration with the likes of the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo and the 2013 Caterham 7 620 R 2.0 L Supercharged. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the 208's Front Wheel Drive, Hatchback combination then how about the 2022 Volkswagen-VW Golf R Performance 2.0 Turbo or the 2020 Toyota Avalon TRD 3.5 V6.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1090 kgs (2403 lbs) this makes the Peugeot 208 1.6 THP in the same weight category as the 2020 Lotus Exige Sport 410 3.5 V6 or the give or take 50kg.

The Peugeot 208 shares the same bhp with the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 1.5 Turbo (134 bhp)

In terms of power the 1598cc 16V St4 engine produces 155 bhp (115 kW) @ 6000 rpm similar to the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 1.5 Turbo (134 bhp) or the 2020 Abarth 695 70th Anniversario 1.4 Turbo (177 bhp).

The Turbo St4 throws out 192 lb-ft (260.3 Nm) @ 1750 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2020 Audi A1 A1 Sportback 35 TFSI S tronic S line (184 lb-ft) or the 2020 Abarth 695 70th Anniversario 1.4 Turbo (184 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Peugeot 208 you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2008 Mini Cooper S John Cooper Works (167.2 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Peugeot 208.

The Peugeot 208 has a Power to weight ratio of 142.2 bhp per ton and 176.1 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2012 208 competing with the 2008 Mini Cooper S John Cooper Works (167.2 bhp per ton) or the 1986 Ford Sierra RS Cosworth (167.2 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Peugeot 208 generating around 176.1 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 1989 Jaguar XJ R-S 6.0 V12 (201.1 lb-ft per ton) or the 1958 Ford Thunderbird 352 Special Overdrive 2nd Gen. (201.0 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 7.20 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 7.4 secs, this made the Peugeot 208 1.6 THP as fast as the 2018 Abarth 695 XSR Yamaha Automated (7.20 secs) the 2015 Volkswagen-VW Golf GTD 2.0 TDI DSG (7.20 secs) the 2014 Peugeot 308 GT 1.6 Turbo (7.20 secs) the or the 2013 Volvo S60 T5 2.5 Turbo (7.20 secs). This Peugeot 208 1.6 THP is also faster than the 2019 Peugeot 508 PureTech 225 GT S and S (7.30 secs) the 2013 Seat Leon SC 2.0 TDI FR (7.30 secs) the 2013 Subaru BRZ 2L 210ps (7.30 secs) the and the 2013 Volkswagen-VW Golf GTD DSG 2.0 Turbo Diesel (7.30 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the 208 and the 2006 Dodge Charger 5.7 V8 R/T

When talking about the performance of the Peugeot 208 on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 15.46 secs @ 88.5 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 2006 Dodge Charger 5.7 V8 R/T (15.38 secs), the 2000 Mitsubishi FTO 2.0 GPX (15.39 secs), and the 1968 Alpine A110 1300 (15.40 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2012 version of the Peugeot 208 1.6 THP has a maximum speed of 134mph.

Top Speed of the 2012 208 equals the 2020 Lotus Elise Sport 220 1.8 Supercharged (145 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2012 Peugeot 208 1.6 THP then how about the 2020 Lotus Elise Sport 220 1.8 Supercharged (145 mph), the 2019 Lotus Exige Sport 350 Roadster 3.5 V6 (145 mph), or the 2018 Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD (145 mph).

Related Links:

2012 208 Rivals List.

A Brief History of Peugeot

Car Comparison