Peugeot: Futuristic car for Le Mans 🎥
Sleek HYPERCAR WITHOUT A REAR WING With flowing lines, no rear wing and the strong brand identity it exudes, the Peugeot 9X8 heralds a new generation of sports prototypes. The hypercar features hybrid and all-wheel drive. The new prototype is designed to continue the brand's long and successful involvement in motorsport and specifically endurance racing. Important was [...]
The new prototype is intended to continue the brand's long and successful involvement in motorsport and especially in endurance racing. A strong, recognizable brand identity was important to the engineers and designers.
The shapes and aerodynamic characteristics of the Peugeot 9X8 are the result of the combined input of the development engineers. Their approach was guided by the regulations for the new Le Mans Hypercars (LMH) category, which succeeds the former LMP1 category.
Continuation of the successful series
The number 9 in the type designation continues the series used by the manufacturer for its last high-profile endurance race cars: the 905 (which raced from 1990 to 1993 and won twice at Le Mans) and the diesel-powered 908 (2007 to 2011), which also won once at the classic.
The X refers to the all-wheel drive technology and hybrid drive of the Peugeot hypercar, which embodies the brand's electrification strategy in racing. Finally, the 8 is the distinguishing mark for all of Peugeot's current model designations.
Two Peugeot 9X8s will compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and the 24 Hours of Le Mans as a highlight from 2022. They will face world champions Toyota, Alpine and Glickenhaus and, from 2023, Audi and Porsche.
Unique look and finish
Design Director Matthias Hossann: "Since the 9X8 is a Lion Brand model, the original sketch that guided our work depicted a big cat ready to pounce. It's a stance we suggested with the cockpit tilted slightly forward. The overall lines express the brand's style characteristics, while its sleek, sporty and elegant shapes convey emotion and dynamism."
The light signatures on the front and rear in the form of three claw-like lines are familiar Peugeot trademarks, while the brand's new logo can be seen on the front and sides of the vehicle.
The Selenium Gray and contrasting Kryptonite Acid Green/Yellow body and cockpit accents echo the color scheme of the new line called Peugeot Sport Engineered.
Optimization of performance - without rear wing
The finely crafted details of the rear include the brand's signature claw-look lights, while the lights themselves surround a wide diffuser topped with the slogan "We didn't want a rear wing."
Rear wings were first seen at the 24 Hours of Le Mans on the Chaparral 2F, which contested the 1967 race. For the first time in more than half a century, its use is now being questioned.
Olivier Jansonne, Technical Director: "The regulations stipulate that only one adjustable aerodynamic device is allowed without specifying the rear wing. Our calculations and simulations showed that high performance is effectively possible without one."
Apparently, the engineering team has reached a level of aerodynamic efficiency that allows this detail to be dispensed with.
Working with their engineering colleagues, the designers made the most of the opportunity to create a harmonious blend of dynamic, sculptural shapes that form a clean, curved surface between the distinctive wheel arches.
Hyper-efficient hybrid powertrain
The 2.6-liter V6 biturbo engine installed in the rear produces 680 hp and has been on the test bench since April. Assembly of the 200 kW motor-generator unit, the seven-speed sequential transmission and the battery is proceeding according to the validation schedule.
The high-performance, high-density (900 volts), technologically advanced battery is co-developed by Peugeot Sport and SAFT, a subsidiary of TotalEnergies.
