205 XS SPECIFICATIONS AND COMPARISON TABLE

The specification of the XS was much more sporty than preceeding models. Click here for scans of the original Peugeot spec sheets & advertising for the XS and other sporting 205s from 1990.

Inside the XS had sports seats, a similar steering wheel to the GTi's, 4 speaker stereo (with good quality 5 inch speakers), rev-counter and 5-speed transmission. Central locking and electric windows were optional extras. On the outside, a rear spoiler, alloy wheels and sunroof were optional extras. Similar to the GT, the XS has transfer stickers on the front wings.
The most impressive part of this car is the improved later (post '87) engine. It is a TU3S engine with MA transmission. It has a single twin-choke Solex 32-34 Z2 carburettor which produces 85bhp at 6,400rpm. Top speed increased to 110mph with a 0-62mph time of 10.6 seconds (Peugeot official figures). To compliment this, fuel economy remained good and increased to 32.8mpg on the urban cycle (compared with the old XY8 engine).
Compared to several other cars:

* 0-60 time as recorded in an independent test, stated in Parker's Car Price Guide, Aug '89
+ Figures stated in Revs Issue 48, July 2000
(All other non-205 figures from Parkers Used and New Car Chooser magazine or Max Power magazine.)

CARS SIMILAR TO THE XS

Below are the other 205 models which share similarities and characteristics with the XS and some detail on their individual specification. For more info on a particular model please refer to my links page or do a web search. Not mentioned are the smaller engined, automatic and diesel 205s which sometimes get modified to resemble GTis or XSs and when bits are chopped and changed it can often be difficult to determine the exact 205 model that it originally was.

1.9GTi
Joined the 1.6GTi later with first a 130bhp version, then later a 122bhp Catalysed version. Shares the same external features noticeable on the 1.6GTi except for:

15" speedline alloys rather than 14".

1.9 GTi decals on the rear pillars

Again, there are many websites around with more information on this model.

Dturbo
The 1.8 turbodiesel didn't come into production until the last XSs were produced. It was fitted with similar kit to the XS with the chrome stripe and also the same steel wheels as standard. It also had the same front and rear valance as the XS and was available in both 3 door and 5 door forms. The badge on the tailgate had a silver 'D' and red 'turbo'.

CJ & CTi
The two cabriolet (soft-top) 205 models. The CTi had a 1.6GTi 115bhp engine with similar performance too (a limited number were also produced later with a catalysed variant of the 1.9 GTi engine with monotronic injection, with only 105bhp). The CTi also had similar appearance to 1.6 GTis but didn't have the GTi front suspension. The CJ had a 1.4 engine, though not as powerful (only 70bhp) as the TU3S XS engine. The CJ has the badges on the front wing the same as the XS.

XT, GT, SR, GTX
The XT appeared before (80bhp engine) and after (75bhp engine) the XS, so there is a noticeable gap in production where only XSs were produced and no XTs. Appears much the same as the XS, but with XT badges on the front wings. Only in a 3 door version.
The GT was the 5-door XS and had either the old twin carb XY8 (80bhp) engine, the TU3 (85bhp) engine or the later 1.4i (75bhp) engine. The SR was also a 5 door version with the TU3S engine which replaced the GT for a period. The GT had badges on the front wings, the SR didn't and the GT looked more sporty, with the same seats as the XS.
The GTX was a later limited edition with the XS style body, 3 door with a 1.4i engine, which appeared after the XS had ceased production.

Rallye
There were two versions of the 205 Rallye, only one was commercially available in the UK. The earlier version was produced in France and had a TU24 103bhp 1.3 engine with twin carbs. It had an XS like appearance, except for white steel wheels, squared off wheelarches and Peugeot-Talbot sport stripes. The front fog/driving lamps were usually absent, replaced by plastic grilles. It had a smoothed off rear tailgate panel with 'Rallye' written across in italics-style. Very few of these left-hand drive cars are likely to be in the UK.
The British version only had a 75bhp injection engine* and didn't look quite so amazing. It was more to the 205 standard style, like a limited edition XS or something. It had the front and rear valance and XS steel wheels. The only noticeable differences were the stripes running up diagonally under the rear windows and smoothed off tailgate with 'Rallye' in large italics. It appeared in 1992.
(* I have received an e-mail from a 205 Rallye owner informing me that the very early 205 Rallye UK version actually has the carb TU3 engine, the same as the late XS.)

XR & GR
These two models have hardly anything in common styling wise with the XS. The only big similarity would be the engine. Later models from 1988 on had the XY8 (80bhp) engine the same as the pre-88 XS ('X' indicates a 3 door model, 'G' indicates a 5 door). They may not look like a sporty Peugeot and indeed they're not intended to be, but be aware that they could surprise you at the lights!

T16
If you are lucky enough to see one of these and you somehow think it's an XS then get to the opticians as quick as you can!!! They have very little similarity to the XS at all and the GTis were made to create some similarity to it. It was the pride and joy of Peugeot which won the World Rally Championships as a Group B car from 1984-1986. A 1.8 litre turbocharged, 4 wheel-drive beauty, with the engine in the back. Very different in appearance to all other 205s. There has been mention that at the last count there were only 10 roadgoing T16s in the UK.

International variations of the 205 XS

I have been informed of at least one variant of the 205 XS by someone in Brazil (cheers Andre!). It has got a Bosch monotronic injection 1360cc engine, thus not being a TU3 or XY8. No injection XSs were sold in the UK that I am aware of (If anyone does have one, please let me know). There are chances of injection 205s here being rebadged as XSs though, which doesn't count. In this particular situation the XS has been fitted with a late 205 engine, which may relate to different production schedules in that country (and maybe others?). The Peugeot 1.4i engine is 75bhp and in this instance also has a catalysed exhaust system (The later 1.9GTis had this as well and decreased in power by 8bhp from the early ones). This 1.4 injection engine, I'm quite sure was also continued on in the 106 and 306 ranges. It is also the same as the UK spec 205 Rallye engine.
Again, badging a car at a factory doesn't make it 100% conforming to original stated spec, in this occasion the XS could have been what would have been a post '91 XT in the UK, just continued as an XS, possibly with more demand for the XS model in that country at the time. It also may be that emmission regulations forced the injection 1.4 engine to come into use sooner in that country.