Peugeot E-T16 concept revives a WRC Group B icon as an 816bhp EV
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If we ask nicely, Peugeot will put it into production, too...
GE
George East
13 October 2026 · 4 min read
Peugeot has unveiled its new E-T16 concept car at this year’s Paris Motor Show as an all-electric tribute to its 205 Turbo 16 (or ‘T16′) Group B World Rally Car.
Introduced for the 1985 WRC season, the 205 T16 claimed the manufacturers’ title and the drivers’ title with Timo Salonen. The following year, Peugeot repeated the double, with fellow Finn, Juha Kankkunen, crowned World Champion.
Thanks to three electric motors, two on the rear axle and one on the front, the E-T16 has 805bhp and and can reportedly reach its maximum speed of 186mph in 16 seconds. The e-motors were developed by Peugeot Sport, which oversees the company’s FIA World Endurance programme.
Moreover, the E-T16’s distinctive design previews the next-generation Peugeot E-208’s styling courtesy of its new, ‘Feline Future’ design language. The upcoming E-208 is set for an early 2027 debut and will go on sale in the second half of the year.
The Peugeot E-T16 remains a concept for now, but Peugeot will reportedly make it if there is enough consumer interest. Should the French hyperhatch enter production, it would square up firmly to the 533bhp Renault 5 Turbo 3: a tri-motor, £135,000 track-focused version of the award-winning supermini.
Peugeot E-T16 concept: Exterior design
The Peugeot E-T16 draws heavily on its Group B predecessor’s lineage, with boxy wheel arches, an indented bonnet, a deep chin spoiler, and side air vents beneath the B-pillar. At the back, a huge diffuser comes with two adjustable blades on either side. Meanwhile, the split rear roof spoiler has been described as a ‘cat ear’ design, tying into Peugeot’s upcoming ‘Feline Future’ design philosophy.
E-T16 branding is finished in a retro ’80s font, while the Winchester matt grey paint and the aggressive 21-inch alloy wheels with Michelin rubber all echo the T16. The backlit red line running around the car is a nod to the original car’s red waistline pinstripe.
Beyond the WRC references, the E-T16 boasts several aesthetic elements that are expected to debut on the next-generation E-208. These include a new take on Peugeot’s ‘lion claw’ lighting signature at the front and rear, plus an illuminated Peugeot badge up front.
The three-bar lighting arrangement has also been spied on the next-generation Peugeot 9X8 FIA WEC challenger, prompting suggestions it’s highly likely to be part of the firm’s future design language across the board.
Peugeot E-T16 concept: Interior and technology
With its ‘Hypersquare’ steering wheel, the E-T16’s cabin is clearly influenced by Peugeot’s 2025 Polygon concept, and its central screen displays performance driving features such as launch control, boost, and wet and dry modes.
Like the new Peugeot E-208 GTI, the E-T16’s Hypersquare screen also shows lap times, speed, and torque output. Meanwhile, the 21-inch screen running atop the dashboard appears to be lifted from the E-3008 and E-5008 SUVs, albeit with information such as G-force and power output.
The leather bucket seats and racing harness seatbelts again point to an emphasis on speed and power, while a hydraulic handbrake suggests the E-208 will let you tune your inner Marcus Grönholm, who won two WRC titles with the Peugeot 206 in 2000 and 2002.
Peugeot E-T16 concept: Performance and range
Like the T16 before it, the E-T16’s rear clamshell opens backwards. Yet in place of a turbocharged 1.8-litre engine, there are two electric motors and an adjustable coilover suspension setup. The rear compartment also provides a glimpse of the car’s carbon fibre platform and storage space for two helmets.
Given the E-T16 remains a concept, Peugeot has been light on the technical specs. It did, however, say the hyperhatch has a power-to-weight ratio of 2kg per bhp, and a torque-vectoring system that distributes the power evenly between the electric motors.
Beyond that, the E-T16 has three driving modes that change power delivery and suspension settings, and the four huge 380mm brake discs promise immense stopping power. Drawing on the Polygon concept once again, steer-by-wire tech is part of the E-T16’s technical make-up.