With the 205 GTI held in such high esteem as one of the leading hot hatches of the 1980s, it would be so easy to dismiss the ‘warm’ versions that were also part of the range. However, for enthusiasts in the know, models like the XS and GT appeal in their own right, representing the 205 in a lighter, purer and arguably just as enjoyable form.
The XS didn’t arrive until 1986, but its five-door stablemate – the 1.4-litre GT – was available from the start of 205 production in 1983. Like the early XS, it was adorned with a version of the ageing 1360cc ‘suitcase’
