In preparation for the 2022 WEC (World Endurance Championship) racing season starting later this year, Peugeot has finally announced the hypercar that will be used to compete in its LMH segment, called the 9X8.
This is not the first time Peugeot has participated in the FIA WEC in general and the Le Mans 24h in particular. 10 years ago was the last time the French team participated in this race with the 908 using a hybrid drive system to defend the title they won in 2010. Now, Peugeot is once again participating in the LMH class of the WEC with the all-new 9X8. Here, the car will compete with the likes of Glickenhaus, Toyota and ByKolles before facing Ferrari in 2023.
From the outside, the Peugeot 9X8 impresses with its bold aerodynamic cuts. The most noticeable feature is the rear of the car, which lacks a wing like other racing cars. However, the team says they were able to generate the necessary downforce to keep the car competitive despite the lack of this detail.
“The disappearance of the rear wing on the Peugeot 9X8 is a major development,” said Jean-Marc Finot, Stellantis’s motorsport director. “We have achieved the necessary aerodynamic efficiency to allow this. But don’t ask why! We really wanted to keep this a secret for as long as possible!”
Leaving the spoiler aside, let’s continue to look at the “wild” exterior of the car with large cuts above the wheel wells, which can help reduce air pressure inside this area. In addition, the racing team from France focuses on using a square design for many details, typically the air intake on the roof as well as the diffuser and taillights at the rear. The car has three shark fins at the rear, two on the sides and one in the middle. At the front, the front of the car still has the appearance of Peugeot’s signature hook-shaped headlights.
The racing team also confirmed that the interior of the 9X8 is inspired by the i-Cockpit on its commercial vehicles so that fans can easily recognize this as a Peugeot when watching racing with a camera angle from inside the cockpit.
Powering the 9X8 is a 2.6-liter V6 engine capable of producing a maximum output of 671 horsepower. Combined with this engine is a 268-horsepower electric motor. The internal combustion engine will transmit power directly to the rear wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission while the electric motor uses 900V to operate the front axle.
As for the name, 9X8 is explained by Peugeot as follows. 9 represents the company’s racing line with names like 905 and 908 in the past. X represents the AWD drive system and also symbolizes the intersection between electric and gasoline. Finally, the number 8 is simply the number of commercial models that the company is selling.
The Peugeot team with the 9X8 will include Formula 1 poles Kevin Magnussen, Paul di Resta, Jean-Eric Vergne and three drivers Loic Duval, Gustavo Menezes and Mikken Jensen.
