have suggested by the slightly forward-tilting cockpit . The overall lines of the PEUGEOT 9X8 express the brand ’ s styling cues , while its sleek , racy , elegant forms inspire emotion and dynamism .
“ Inside , we wanted to take a special approach to the cockpit which , until now , has tended to be a purely functional and indistinctive aspect of racing cars , with no brand identity whatsoever . The combination of our colour scheme and PEUGEOT ’ s i-Cockpit interior styling signature have provided the 9X8 ’ s cockpit with a distinctive feel and make it immediately identifiable as a PEUGEOT .”
PEUGEOT ’ s Chief Executive Officer Linda Jackson , said : “ I know the teams at PEUGEOT Design and PEUGEOT Sport and they always produce quality , innovative work , but I have to admit to being blown away by the 9X8 . It is simply magnificent . The way its innovative , flowing lines exude such a powerful brand identity is masterful .”
The finely-chiselled details of the PEUGEOT 9X8 ’ s rear-end design includes the quip “ We didn ’ t want a rear wing ” above a wide diffuser . Rear wings were first seen at the Le Mans 24 Hours on the Chaparral 2F which contested the race in 1967 , meaning this is the first time their use has been questioned in more than half-a-century . The 9X8 ’ s innovative rear stems from research carried out by PEUGEOT Sport ’ s engineering team as they worked to ensure the model was as aerodynamic as possible , whilst maintaining an eye-catching style .
Stellantis Motorsport Director , Jean-Marc Finot said : “ The absence of a rear wing on the PEUGEOT 9X8 is a major innovative step . We have achieved a degree of aerodynamic efficiency that allows us to do away with this feature . Don ’ t ask how , though ! We have every intention of keeping that a secret as long as we possibly can !”
Hyper-efficient hybrid powertrain
Since the announcement in September 2020 of PEUGEOT ’ s entry into the new Le Mans Hypercar class , the factory in Versailles , near Paris , has been working tirelessly on the 9X8 .
As planned , the car ’ s rear-mounted , 2.6-litre , bi-turbo , 500kW ( 680hp ), 90-degree V6 – the internal-combustion engine part of the PEUGEOT HYBRID4 500kW powertrain – has been clocking up miles since April .
Meanwhile , the front-mounted 200kW motor-generator unit , seven-speed sequential gearbox and battery are in the process of being assembled , keeping with the bench-testing validation schedule . The powerful , technologically-sophisticated , highvoltage ( 900 volts ), high-density battery is being co-developed by PEUGEOT Sport and Saft , a subsidiary of TotalEnergies .
Le Mans , a laboratory for PEUGEOT
In addition to its aerodynamic , mechanical and electronic efficiency , the new car will serve to showcase PEUGEOT ’ s extensive engineering expertise in the world of endurance racing . The Le Mans 24 Hours is a notoriously demanding event , and with the cars covering over 3,300 miles , they come close to the distance seen in a full season of Formula 1 .
Linda Jackson said : “ There ’ s more to PEUGEOT ’ s involvement in endurance racing than the sporting aspect . Endurance racing is a form of motorsport that provides us with an extreme laboratory , which explains why our association with Le Mans is so strong . More significant perhaps than the results we obtain on the racetrack are the opportunities it provides to prove our technology and the fruit of our research work in a race that throws extreme conditions at you for 24 hours .
“ Le Mans gives us a competitive environment to validate the hybrid systems and technologies we are currently developing to reduce the fuel consumption – and therefore CO2 emissions – of our road cars . The teams at PEUGEOT Sport are proud when they see their research carried over to our production models . For our customers , Le Mans is a laboratory that testifies to the quality of our cars .”
In the drivers ’ own words …
Paul DI RESTA – Scotland / 35 / former Formula 1 driver / 2010 DTM Champion :
“ Everyone wondered what the Hypercars would look like and now they ’ re here . The 9X8 ’ s aggressive , innovative stance and strong brand identity are a big surprise .”
Loïc DUVAL – France / 39 / 2013 Le Mans 24 Hours winner / 2013 World Endurance Champion :
“ There are cars that you look at and say they ’ re nice from the three-quarters front view , say , or from the side , from the front or from the back . The 9X8 looks terrific from every angle !”
Mikkel JENSEN – Denmark / 26 / endurance racing driver / 2019 ELMS LMP3 Champion :
“ The 9X8 ’ s lines are very different to those that have been unveiled or hinted at in recent months . It will be a historic moment if we succeed in winning with this car because nothing in this style has ever been attempted before .”
Kevin MAGNUSSEN – Denmark / 28 / former Formula 1 driver / IMSA endurance racing driver :
“ There ’ s been nothing like it before . It really looks like the future of racing . It ’ s the first time so much work has gone into a racing car ’ s actual design . The absence of a rear wing was as a huge surprise . It feels like the beginning of a new era .”
Gustavo MENEZES – United States / 26 / World Endurance Championship driver / 2016 LMP2 Le Mans 24 Hours winner / 2016 LMP2 World Champion :
“ The 9X8 signals the beginning of a new chapter in motor racing . These past 10 or so years have been marked by LMP1 prototypes . It was time to invent an iconic future with the 9X8 .”
James ROSSITER – Great Britain / 37 / former Formula 1 , ALMS and Super GT driver :
“ I really wasn ’ t expecting this much creativity . Its design is really disruptive . PEUGEOT ’ s Hypercar has pushed the envelope .”
Jean-Eric VERGNE – France / 31 / former Formula 1 driver / two-time Formula E Champion :
“ The PEUGEOT 9X8 is revolutionary . The teams responsible for its design have taken it in a direction that hasn ’ t been seen in motor racing for a long time . Magnificent !”
To find out more , visit : https :// www . peugeot . co . uk /
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