Peugeot shows of new 9X8 Le Mans Hypercar
Peugeot has taken the covers off of the new 9X8 hypercar set to enter into the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in 2022. Naturally, this is an endurance racing car that we will get to see in the upcoming Le Mans 24 Hours, a race that Peugeot has one in 1992 and 1993 with the 905, this 9X8 being its direct successor.
“We didn’t want a rear wing.”
“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!” – Jean-Marc FINOT, Stellantis Motorsport Director
That’s right, this 9X8 is a hypercar with no rear wing and the company is keeping a secret with a cheeky message, “We didn’t want a rear wing.”
This kind of innovative design is thanks to the changes to the very specific rules, regulated by the FIA to keep all the hypercars in check. Another interesting, although less crazy. part of the 9X8 is the integrated mirrors, or cameras, that display just above the windshield.
The Peugeot 9X8 is just waiting to race.
With a rear-mounted petrol engine and a front-mounted electric motor, the 9×8 is an all-wheel-drive monster. The engine a 2,6-litre twin-turbo 90-degree V6 supplying 500 kW. The electric motor adds 200 kW via a 900 volt high-density battery.
“Our target with regard to our energy requirements is flawless reliability and perfect control. Le Mans has become a 24-hour sprint race that can be won or lost by the number of times you pit. The exceptional energy-efficiency of the new Hypercars prefigures what we will see shortly in the world of road cars. This consideration had a fundamental influence on our work on the PEUGEOT 9X8 package, every aspect of which needs to contribute to achieving hyper efficiency, from its powertrain to its aerodynamics.” – Jean-Marc FINOT
Source: Peugeot
