Peugeot 308 R leaked ahead of Frankfurt debut

A leak has prematurely revealed the Peugeot 308 R ahead of its scheduled debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month.  The hot hatch is based on the second-generation 308 that was unveiled last May.

Aimed squarely at the new Volkswagen Golf R, the 308 R is one of the most aggressive-looking Peugeots in recent memory thanks to muscular bumpers on both ends that incorporate wide air dams, side skirts, dual hood scoops and large alloy wheels.  R emblems on the fenders, the wheels and the hatch, and a race-inspired two-tone paint job finish off the look.

Technical details were not leaked but it is safe to assume the 308 R is powered by a tuned variant of the 1.6-liter four-cylinder THP mill developed jointly by BMW and PSA.  The four-banger sends around 260 horsepower to the front wheels via a six-speed manual transmission and a limited-slip differential.

Upgraded brakes and a stiffer suspension help keep the extra power in check.

Although the R is billed as a concept, Peugeot has a history of building close-to-production show cars and adding them to its catalog shortly after.  We wouldn’t be surprised to see a mildly revised variant of the R bow in Geneva next year as a regular-production model.  

Official details about the 308 R will emerge in the coming days. <![CDATA[
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