Peugeot 308 GTi and 308 Racing Cup, different sisters – Sports Cars
When someone claims a road car “looks like a race car”, they are either lying or have never driven. racing car... The precision, brutality and performance of a racing car is unmatched for a road car. The reason is simple: a sports car, no matter how extreme and powerful it is, was created to be able to drive in traffic, overcome bumps and keep the road at any temperature. The race car is built for fast driving: the stop point. The piano cannot ride (or does it very badly), it wears out, makes noise, is hard and requires the ability to drive.
This is how we came to our two stars: Peugeot 308 GTi, Leo's sportiest compact house, and Peugeot 308 Racing Cup, his racing sister. Two cars that, despite their different paths, have a lot in common. I tried both of them on the track, indeed with the Race Cup I also did the race TCR Italy the company Stefano Accorsi, But that's another story.
WITH OBLIGATORY DIFFERENCES
La Peugeot 308 GTi, with a price 35.000 euro, offers an interesting package. It has a sporty look, but not too flashy, even too low-key for the performance it is capable of. His engine the four-cylinder 1.6 Turbo THP produces 272 hp. at 6.000 rpm. and a torque of 330 Nm at 1.900 rpm. The front wheels are the only ones tasked with grounding the power, but thankfully there's a mechanical limited-slip differential that thinks about doing the dirty work. The Peugeot 308 GTi is also one of the lightest hot hatches in the C segment: with suns. 1280 kg on the scales, each horse must push only 4,7 kg; not to mention, the light weight allows it to brake better and have better grip when cornering. The data indicates one 0-100 km / h in 6,0 seconds and 250 km / h maximum speed. Luckily, the only transmission available is a 6-speed manual.
La Peugeot 308 Race Cupinstead with his huge aileron и widened carriageways, it could never look like a road car. Without any seats, comfort and upholstery - Racing Cup weighs only 1.100 kg... Inside, we find a crossbar, an Alcantara racing wheel, digital racing gauges, and basic buttons such as fan, headlights and various engine circuits.
Il engine such as 308 GTi standard, no, thanks turbine of Peugeot 208 T16 R5 from Rally Paolo Andreucci and the modifications made to it, it produces 308 hp. Traction is always forward, but the Torsen racing differential is much more aggressive than the road differential. The sleek tires are then fitted onto 18-inch wheels that hide huge discs with brakes. Brembo, without ABS and brake booster. Oops, I forgot: the Peugeot 308 GTi Racing Cup costs money 74.900 euro. It may seem like a lot, but in fact, this is the price at the level of competitors in this category, if not slightly lower.
ON THE WAY ON THE ROAD
End of submissions, it goes down through lane, Peugeot 308 GTi it will have all the necessary amenities, but it will not look uncomfortable or uncomfortable between the borders. The engine has a hint of turbo lag, but then it pulls hard to the red zone, so I hit the limiter several times. It's hard to believe that this is only "one thousand and six". THE short reports they certainly help keep the pointer in place, but the gear lever should not be used forcefully or it will stick.
I arrive at the first squad, rather hanged, and am glad to find thatbraking system The GTi has also been designed for those with heavy legs. It is not the braking power that amazes me so much as the modulation and stability of the pedal. Small steering wheel i-Cockpit it allows you to steer the car to the desired location with small movements of your wrists, and this is undoubtedly an advantage. But I don't always understand exactly what the front wheels are doing, especially when limited slip differential starts working. From tight turns traction a lot and the torque response on the steering wheel forces you to open the steering wheel forcefully. This is all a lot of fun. The tuning is thus a good compromise: it is tough, but allows for that minimum of roll and that pinch of obedience that satisfies the savvy as well as newcomers to the steering wheel. And if you want to help her, just raise the throttle slightly to bring the rear towards you and close the line.
LA RACING CUP
ThePeugeot 308 Racing Cup interior helps to get rid of all thoughts. No distractions: the only thing you should be interested in is the sequentially lit tachometer indicators and the number of the selected gear. The first lap on the track is always behind the wheel on tiptoe: Cold, slippery tires are a disaster, and every slightest collision with the steering wheel equates to harsh oversteer that requires all the steering wheel turns to correct. However, when the tires heat up, the car comes to life and you feel at ease.
The first difference from the standard GTi that you will notice: turn: 6-stage SADEV sequential throws crazy punches, but that's why it's a real pleasure. IN engine thanks to Anti-lag system it has no feed holes and reacts as if it were atmospheric, with the difference that it has much more torque at the bottom. Obviously, it goes a lot faster than the standard GTi, but the frame is so strong and the grip is so high that power takes a back seat. There is something great about rthe activity and precision of the racing car, what absolutely gives drug addiction. My favorite part is the braking. Without a power brake, you have to use all the power of the quadriceps to brake properly, but you can be sure that even after fifteen laps (when the road fails) the braking point will not move one meter. But, above all, you can drive off a few meters later, achieving much faster speed.
There is another important difference between the two vehicles. Where 308 GTi makes mistakes, a racing cup requires safety and a steady hand... The Cup device is designed to make the most of the car, and without having to deal with pedestrians, traffic lights or bumps, it's practically a board. Not only that: to make the turn more flexible and turn the rear, the Cup uses a bend that a road car cannot afford. If you increase throttle in the middle of a turn or are unsure, you will find yourself looking at the track in the opposite direction. And this is not good.
Finally there is engine sound. The sound in a road sports car is something to be explored, something that makes it satisfying. In a racing car, this is a side effect, and therefore even more wonderful.
It's not just a question decibel: from the side it seems that it is just the engine block roars and publishes New Year's bursts, without filters and censorship. At the same time, from the inside, everything is more muffled; the roar is growing, but muffled by the soundproofing of the helmet, the only one you have. But it's not just the engine that makes the music: the hiss of the transmission, the jumps in the differential, the clones of gear shifting. Each sound corresponds to vibration, haptic feedback, and everything contributes to the fact that you feel one with the car. For this reason, as with many others, you will never want to get off.
