Peugeot has revealed the E-T16 concept at the 2026 Paris Motor Show. It’s an all-electric vehicle developed in collaboration with Peugeot Sport. The concept serves as an engineering testbed, paying tribute to the 205 T16 Group B rally car while previewing the architectural and design direction for the next-generation E-208 hatchback expected in early 2028.
The vehicle structure features a rear clam-shell bodywork section that hinges upward to expose the rear suspension and powertrain hardware, with the charge port integrated into the side air intake structures. Inside, the E-T16 integrates steer-by-wire technology linked to a rectangular ‘Hypersquare’ steering wheel, eliminating the mechanical steering column connection entirely.
Power comes from a tri-motor electric powertrain, utilising one motor on the front axle and two at the rear to enable active torque vectoring. Total system output is rated at 608kW. With a tare weight of 1600kg, the vehicle achieves a power-to-weight ratio of approximately 380kW per tonne. This yields a claimed 0-100km/h acceleration time of 2.5 seconds, while the 0-300km/h sprint is completed in 16.0 seconds.
Energy is supplied by an 85kWh lithium-nickel-manganese battery pack built on an 800-volt electrical architecture. Peugeot Sport has engineered the battery thermal management system to cool the cells from the side rather than the bottom, a configuration designed to mitigate heat soak during sustained track use. The manufacturer claims this specific cooling layout allows the vehicle to complete three consecutive maximum-speed laps of the Nürburgring Nordschleife without any reduction in power output.
The claimed WLTP range is 400km, with DC fast charging capable of replenishing the battery from 10 to 80 per cent in 15 minutes. Stopping hardware consists of 380mm brake discs at all four corners, complemented by a cabin-mounted vertical hydraulic handbrake. The concept is fitted with Michelin tyres measuring 275mm in width at the front and 315mm at the rear.
The Peugeot E-T16 remains a one-off engineering concept and is not currently confirmed for series production. However, the steer-by-wire hardware, specific styling elements, and architectural footprints preview the platform technologies expected to underpin the production E-208. Local launch timing and pricing for the next-generation E-208 have not yet been confirmed for the Australian market.
