The new Peugeot E-T16 Concept was revealed at Paris motor show 2026, and now it seems that Peugeot will produce this exclusive, 816hp, rally-inspired electric super-hatch in limited numbers.
Peugeot CEO, Alain Favey, told Electrifying that “we would love to make the E-T16. It’s a really special car for us, and doing a limited run would make a lot of sense. We have obviously got a lot of sporting heritage, and we’re very involved in motorsport today with WEC, and we with the E-T16 and the RCZ show cars we are clearly making a statement about Peugeot being a sporting brand.”
Stellantis has used the 2026 Paris motor show to demonstrate how it plans to lean into the heritage of its brands – which include Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Citroen, DS and Vauxhall / Opel, among others. It has shown concepts including the Citroen 2CV, Fiat Multiplay and Alfa Cuorerosso, all of which are modern-retro takes on much-loved historic models.
“Nothing is confirmed,” Favey said of the Peugeot E-T16, “but I’m very happy for you to spread the message that we want to make it!”
While the E-T16 is a snap shot of some of the design cues and interior features that we can expect from the next Peugeot 208, a production run of the Peugeot E-T16 would only be offered in limited numbers. It would, effectively, be Peugeot’s equivalent of the Renault Turbo 3E – which I am a massive fan of, but if there’s anything that can rival it for sheer ‘want one’ factor and desirability among collectors of rare, high-performance cars, I’d say that the new E-T16 is it.
With three electric motors – two at the back and one at the front – it gets 816hp and is capable of hitting 186mph in 18 seconds, and gets a range of 248 miles from an 85kWh battery. The hydraulic handbrake is a nod to the Peugeot E-T16’s WRC heritage (the original 205 T16 won the rally championship in 1985 and 1986), but could also hint at serious drift potential. Again, rather like the Renault 5 Turbo 3E!
When asked if the company would do a run of 1,986 examples of the E-T16 - in deference to the year that the T16 won the WRC for the second time - he explained that "we won't go to 1,986, I don't think, but I'm serious. We can make that car, and I would love to be able to do that!"
I had a look around the Peugeot E-T16 at the 2026 Paris motor show, where it was one of the most popular concepts despite a landslide of new concepts from parent group, Stellantis. The huge, clam-shell rear opens up to reveal the suspension and rear electric motors, and I love the horizontal light design that is also going to be a feature on the next Peugeot E-208.
Inside, the materials also offer a nod to the hot Peugeot hatches of the past, with lots of red detailing. While the curved touchscreen behind the fly-by-wire Hypersquare steering wheels look very concept-car futuristic, you're actually looking at the dash layout for the next generation E-208.
There's been no mention of what platform the E-T16 would sit on if it does go into production, but it's likely to the new STLA One
Peugeot design boss, Matthias Hossan, told us that "not just the wheel and the curved screen behind, but also the dash - it's pretty much what we'll have in 208. We'll have to offer buyers a more conventional steering wheel, but we haven't quiet decided yet if the Hypersquare will be standard with an optional 'normal' wheel, or the other way around."
Anyway, while next year's Peugeot E-208 is going to be really exciting, the idea of a limited run of Peugeot E-T16 hyper hatches is right up my street. I absolutely love the idea of the French brand doing this, and taking the fight to Renault - who has shown the way with modern retro cars like the Renault 5, and the extreme Renault 5 Turbo 3E. I mean, if anyone can show Renault that it isn't alone in knowing how to channel its heritage and motorsport roots, it's Peugeot... French hyper-hatch shootout, anyone?!
The Peugeot 205 T16 won two WRC championships 40 years ago, and could now come back as an electric super-hatch 
