Last January, just before his departure at the head of Alfa romeo, Jean-Philippe Imparato confirmed the release of the 208 PSE during its restyling in 2023. His replacement, Linda Jackson, froze the project due to the context of the ‘automobile industry.
If Jean-Philippe Imparato had fun last January by saying that all the models in the catalog were eligible, it is clear that the PSE program has since gone wrong. The former boss, who left at the start of 2021 at Alfa Romeo, confirmed to us that the success of the 508 PSE conditioned the future of future sports cars. At the time, the project for a 308 PSE had already fallen by the wayside in favor of its electric version, the e-308 scheduled for 2023. That of a 3008 PSE had also fizzled out.
Reason prevails over passion
Only the electric e-208 remained, which by his confession would appear on the occasion of its restyling in the fall of 2023. Regarding it, the boss of Peugeot Sport, François Wales, declared at the beginning of 2020 that it would be more efficient than the Peugeot 208 GTi by Peugeot Sport. At least in terms of torque, not power, in order to deliver sharp acceleration. But at a time when Linda Jackson presented her roadmap for the years to come to Carlos Tavares, the little electric sportswoman remained on the sidelines according to our information. Due to the semiconductor crisis which penalizes global sales and the profitability of manufacturers, and this, until at least the end of 2022, the boss of Stellantis is screwing up and makes frank cuts in budgets, especially those of development. In addition, priority is given to the electrification of high volume models. To celebrate its 40th anniversary, the Peugeot Sport division would have expected better news.
