Peugeot E-T16 Revives the 205 T16 Rally Legend With 815 Electric HP

Peugeot has taken one of its most famous rally cars and given it an electric makeover. Meet the E-T16, a wild concept inspired by the legendary 205 T16 that dominated the World Rally Championship in 1985 and 1986. With three electric motors, 815 hp, and enough attitude to make a modern hot hatch look tame, this is Peugeot at its most outrageous.

With 815 hp on tap, the E-T16 needs just 2.5 seconds to reach 62 mph.

The design stays true to its rally roots. The Peugeot E-T16 concept wears huge fenders, an enormous rear wing, and aggressive bodywork that looks ready for a gravel stage. Its matte grey finish, silver wheels, and red illuminated stripe pay tribute to the original 205 T16.

There’s plenty of modern engineering, too, including massive cooling intakes, an adjustable rear diffuser, and a floating C-pillar designed to guide airflow toward the back. The rear bodywork lifts just like it did on the original rally car, although this time it reveals an electric powertrain instead of a combustion engine.

Three electric motors deliver the power, with one driving the front wheels and two powering the rear. The setup produces a combined 815 hp, making the E-T16 the most powerful Peugeot ever built. Torque vectoring helps manage that power across both axles, while three driving modes and a customizable fourth setting let drivers tailor the car to their needs.

Peugeot has also fitted 380 mm brake discs at all four corners, wide Michelin tires, and a vertical hydraulic handbrake. It sounds like a proper rally machine, even without the familiar engine noise.

Keeping that power available on track is another challenge. Peugeot has developed a battery cooling system that removes heat through the sides of the cells rather than from underneath. The company says this allows the E-T16 to complete three consecutive laps of the Nürburgring Nordschleife without reducing power. That’s a useful demonstration of how Peugeot is tackling one of the biggest challenges facing high-performance electric cars.

The Peugeot E-T16 concept is still a concept, but some of its ideas are heading for the road. Peugeot says the next-generation E-208, expected in 2027, will adopt the concept’s horizontal interpretation of the brand’s three-claw lighting signature. Its cabin also previews the future, with a curved 21-inch display and the unusual Hypersquare steering wheel.

The production E-208 is set to get steer-by-wire technology, too. Peugeot calls the E-T16 the beginning of a new breed of “Hyperhatch.” If this is what the brand has in mind, we’re certainly curious to see what comes next.