Peugeot reboots its Eighties rally legend: E-T16 concept is an 816bhp electric hyperhatch that hits 186mph in just 16 seconds

Peugeot has unveiled a bonkers electric concept car inspired by the brand’s most ferocious hot hatch – and its performance numbers are jaw dropping.The E-T16 Concept debuted on the eve of the Paris Motor Show is the modern interpretation of the legendary 205 T16 – the uncompromised performance car that became a force in the infamously dangerous Group B rally era of the mid-Eighties.Some 200 ‘homologation special’ road cars were produced to meet competition requirements, spawning one of the most aggressive machines ever allowed on public highways. Today, the street legal variants are worth in the region of £300,000 while one collector paid over £875k in 2021 for one of the official racers.But while the 1980s hot hatch boasted a detuned – though then staggering – 197bhp from a turbocharged 1.8-litre petrol engine, the battery-powered E-T16 hyperhatch is more than four times as potent.Driven by three electric motors and all-wheel drive, it puts out a whopping 816bhp. That makes it the most powerful road-going Peugeot conceived.The wild EV is capable of accelerating from 0 to 62mph in just 2.5 seconds, while Peugeot claims it can rocket to 186mph (300km/h) from a standing start in a mere 16 seconds.The concept has been created to celebrate 40 years since the 205 T16 stormed to back-to-back World Rally Championship titles in 1985 and 1986 in the hands of Finnish drivers Timo Salonen and Juha Kankkunen respectively.And while it’s just a concept for now, rival Renault’s decision to produce a limited run of its own reborn Group B legends might inspire Peugeot to do the same. Electric reboot of hot hatch royalty: This is Peugeot's new E-T16 concept - a monumentally powerful small electric car paying homage to its biggest rallying icon The new E-T16 is the spiritual - and electrified - successor to the 205 T16. This was Peugeot's 'homologation special' road car produced between 1983-986 that allowed the French brand to take back-to-back World Rally Championship titles in 1985 and 1986Renault in late 2024 confirmed its own 5 3e Turbo would evolve from concept to production car of 1,980 global units (a nod to the original’s 1980 launch) of which 100 have been promised to the UK market.With 533bhp and staggering performance statistics, it’s proof that EVs don’t always need to be a sensible option.Peugeot too could be inclined to make the E-T16 a reality.The concept is driven by one electric motor at the front axle and two powering the rear wheels. An advanced torque-vectoring system delivers its monumental torque to all four wheels independently.Peugeot says the setup gives the E-T16 a power-to-weight ratio of less than 2kg per horsepower, placing it firmly in supercar territory. While the 1980s hot hatch boasted 197bhp from a turbocharged 1.8-litre petrol engine, the battery-powered E-T16 hyperhatch is more than four times as potent Driven by three electric motors and all-wheel drive, it puts out a whopping 816bhp. That makes it the most powerful road-going Peugeot conceived The wild EV is capable of accelerating from 0 to 62mph in just 2.5 seconds, while Peugeot claims it can rocket to 186mph (300km/h) from a standing start in a mere 16 secondsDespite being electric, the French manufacturer insists it has engineered the car to withstand sustained periods of high-performance driving.The battery pack benefits from side cooling tech developed in motorsport to channel cooling around the sides of battery cells rather than underneath them.As a result, Peugeot claims the E-T16 can complete three laps of Germany's fearsome Nürburgring Nordschleife, covering more than 60 kilometres, without suffering a reduction in power output.For drivers wanting to explore the car's full potential, there are three dedicated driving modes, including a track-focused setting, plus a custom mode that allows owners to tailor the powertrain, suspension and torque distribution settings.Staying true to the original’s rally-car credentials, it has a vertically mounted hydraulic handbrake, grippy Michelin tyres and giant 380mm brake discs at all four corners. The E-T16 is only a concept for now but could become an electric hyperhatch rival to Renault's £140,000 5 3e Turbo. Just 1,990 examples are being produced with only 100 coming to the UK The bodywork is suitably extreme too. Heavily flared wheelarches, gaping air vents, a sculpted bonnet, massive diffusers and a towering rear wing all exaggerate the car’s appearance Winchester Matte Grey paint is a nod to the colour of the original T16, while its red illuminated line around the bodywork pays homage to the pinstripe found on the classic modelA Peugeot e-208 on steroidsWe've recently driven Peugeot's e208 GTi. But the T16 concept effectively takes that car and pumps it full of steroids. The bodywork is nothing short of extreme.Heavily flared wheelarches, gaping air vents, a sculpted bonnet, massive diffusers and a towering rear wing are exaggerations of the original T16's aggressive stance.The Winchester Matte Grey paint echoes the colour of the Eighties rally hero, while a red illuminated line running around the car pays homage to the pinstripe found on the classic model.Like the combustion-engined T16, the entire rear section lifts up to reveal the mechanical components beneath.But instead of a turbocharged petrol unit, owners are greeted by two rear-mounted electric motors and exposed suspension hardware. Peugeot hasn’t confirmed if it will put the E-T16 into production. But the fact it is a reboot of one of the French brand's most iconic models, we expect plenty of enthusiasts calling for it to become reality What the concept does suggest is that Peugeot is prepared to lean on its competition heritage for future models with electrified powertrains The concept has been created to celebrate 40 years since the 205 T16 stormed to back-to-back WRC titles in 1985 and 1986 in the hands of Finnish drivers Timo Salonen (pictured) and Juha Kankkunen respectivelyInside, the E-T16 is equally dramatic.It features an expansive 21-inch curved display that dominates the cockpit.The car uses Peugeot's upcoming Hypersquare steering wheel, which is set to be offered as an alternative to a conventional round steering wheel in some of its upcoming models.The cabin materials are a nod to the stripped-back 205 T16. This sees lots of carbon fibre, anodised aluminium and technical fabrics, while deeply sculpted bucket seats are mounted within carbon-fibre shells.The dramatic red theme runs throughout the interior, from the roll cage to the roof lining, reinforcing the concept's motorsport-inspired character. The E-T16 features Peugeot's Hypersquare steering wheel, which is set to be offered as an alternative to a conventional round steering wheel in some of its upcoming models Staying true to the original’s rally-car credentials, it has a vertically mounted hydraulic handbrake Built around an 800-volt electrical architecture and an 85kWh battery pack, the concept offers a claimed 248-mile rangeFast charging and 248-mile rangeDespite its high-performance DNA, Peugeot claims the E-T16 is practical enough for everyday driving.Built around an 800-volt electrical architecture and an 85kWh battery pack, the concept offers a claimed 248-mile (400km) range.The firm says charging from 10 to 80 per cent can be completed in less than 15 minutes when connected to a suitably powerful charger.Will it be built?Peugeot hasn’t confirmed if it will put the E-T16 into production.That said, nor did Renault when it first showcased its R5 3e Turbo, only announcing its limited public availability months later.What the concept does suggest is that Peugeot is prepared to lean on its competition heritage for future models with electrified powertrains. Puegeot has also unveiled on the eve of the Paris Motor Show an RCZ Vision concept - an electric take on what its 2+2 sports car (which was killed off in 2015) could look like as an EVPeugeot has also debuted on the eve of the Paris Motor Show its RCZ Vision concept – an electric two-2+2 coupe using the sportscar nameplate it killed off in 2015.It boasts a 1,000-volt architecture and solid-state battery pack to provide blistering performance in tandem with 373 miles of range and a 10-80 per cent charge time of just 10 minutes.Like the E-T16, it deploys the steer-by-wire Hypersquare controller, which has no physical connection between what the driver handles and what turns the wheels.RCZ Vision is also the first Peugeot showcased with brake-by-wire tech, which similarly connects the pedal to the calipers using software rather than hardware.