Although the paternity of sports cars with the GTI name is undoubtedly due to the Volkswagen Golf in 1976, it has to be admitted that from its launch in 1984, the Peugeot 205 GTI 1.6 has definitely beaten it in terms of popularity. Two years later, a 1.9 version offering 25 additional hp compensated for the lack of power that could be reproached to its main rivals. Since its launch, with its 105 hp power, the 205 GTI 1.6 lacks a little punch compared to its direct rivals. So, from spring 1986 onwards, it received a new version with 115 bhp. At the same time, PTS (Peugeot Talbot Sport) offered a conversion kit for competition purposes, allowing the car to reach 125 hp. This kit was installed in Peugeot dealerships and therefore benefited from the manufacturer's warranty like a standard version.

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A logical evolution

At that time, the GTI craze was a huge success. Peugeot listened to the demands of its customers and decided to meet their expectations by bringing out a Peugeot 205 GTI with an even more powerful 1.9 litre capacity. This 130 bhp version will further strengthen the myth that has been created around this car, which will mark a whole generation. Competition was fierce in the small sports car segment at the time, and new models were being produced by various manufacturers in order to stay in the commercial race. Peugeot did not want to lose the lead it had with its 205 GTI and in March 1986, the prototypes of the 1.9 litre version were completed. Its forthcoming release was announced during the month of August in order to keep the journalists waiting and above all to whet their curiosity. The 205 GTI 1.9 with 130 bhp was presented to the press on the following 22 September, then exhibited to the public at the Paris Motor Show in October, with sales scheduled to start on 5 December. The career of the new little bomb from Sochaux was launched and the model was to undergo a number of changes during its life. In particular, the special "Griffe" series presented in October 1990 had more luxurious equipment and fittings.

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What differs from the 1.6 to the 1.9

On the outside, what distinguishes the two versions at first glance are the new 15-inch openwork aluminium alloy wheels borrowed from the 309 GTI 16 and fitted with Michelin tyres in size 188/55 VR 15. In the cabin, customers can now choose between bucket seats in fabric or with leather upholstery. The steering wheel is now leather-wrapped and the gearstick lever specific, while certain equipment is fitted as standard, such as electric windows and central door locking. The driving experience is quite spectacular, thanks to a number of chassis modifications, mainly to the rear axle: modified suspension, disc brakes and wider tracks. The reactions of the car in sporty driving are no longer within the reach of the average person and many former owners of the 205 GTI 1.6 who switched to the 1.9 version had a good scare when they almost ended up in the scenery!

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A more powerful engine

It was the 1.9 version presented at the Paris Motor Show in October of the same year that would definitively bring this model into the realm of benchmark sports cars. The 1,905 cc XU9 JA (D6B) engine, which it shares with the new Peugeot 309 GTI, now develops 130 bhp at 6,000 rpm, i.e. a specific power of 68.2 bhp/litre. The maximum torque of 16.8 mkg at 4,750 rpm is available over a wide rpm range. The engine, designed by PSA in 1982, has an aluminium block and cylinder heads with wet liners and a 5-bearing crankshaft. It is mounted at the front of the vehicle in a transverse position and tilted 30° towards the rear. The timing system is an overhead camshaft driven by a toothed belt. The transmission is a 5-speed synchronised manual gearbox with an axle torque of 16.59. It is coupled to a 200 mm diameter dry single-plate diaphragm clutch. Thanks to its good weight/power ratio of 6.9 kg/hp, the 205 GTI 1.9 reached a top speed of 206 km/h and accelerated from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.6 seconds, while the 1,000 metres from a standing start took 29.6 seconds! In 1993, when the 1.6 litre version was definitively withdrawn from the catalogue, a 1.9 version with catalytic converter (Type XU9 JAZ) developing 122 bhp was proposed, without much success.

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