The Peugeot 9X8 is ready to compete.
The Peugeot 9X8, the ‘Hypercar’ prototype with which the French brand returns to the highest category of endurance racing, already has a debut date. It will be on July 10 at the 6 Hours of Monza (Italy), the test after the 24 Hours of Le Mans and where the journey of this innovative hybrid vehicle without a rear spoiler and with a futuristic appearance will begin.
Just two months after seeing it roll in its final phase of development during a test day at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, the final 9X8 has been unveiled today at the Circuit de Portimao (Portugal). This will be the car with which Peugeot will try to fight for its fourth victory at La Sarthe after those achieved in 1992, 1993 and 2009, this last time with Marc Gené in the team.
The 9X8 has undergone intense preparation in recent months to start competing in the best possible condition, both in terms of performance and reliability. He has completed more than 10,000 kilometers spread over 25 days of testing in circuits such as Le Castellet, Magny Cours (France), MotorLand Aragón, Barcelona (Spain) or Portimao (Portugal).
Despite the Le Mans 24 Hours being held in June, Peugeot has decided not to compete in the legendary race this year in order to maximize testing time and obtain the best technical solution for FIA homologation. which freezes prototype development until 2025.
A futuristic-looking, spoilerless hybrid hypercar
The Peugeot 9X8 is a hybrid beast with all-wheel drive and a hybrid powertrain that has been developed by Peugeot Sport. The combustion engine, V6 biturbo of 2.6 liters and 707 CV of power (powered by 100% renewable fuel), is in charge of moving the rear wheels; while the custom-made electric motor drives the front wheels.
Like the motor, the inverter, made of silicon carbide, has been developed in collaboration with Marelli. The 900-volt high-voltage battery has been developed together with TotalEnergies/Saft. Michelin is responsible for supplying the tires according to the regulations of the Hypercar category.
The visual aspect of the prototype could not be more striking. The first thing that jumps out is the absence of a rear wing, but there are also details that allow the 9X8 to be identified as a genuine Peugeot, with an elegant ‘feline’ silhouette and the light signature of the three claws. For the brand, this prototype underlines its commitment to excellence both in competition and on the street.
Peugeot’s entry into the World Endurance Championship will mean its return to Le Mans in 2023 after 12 years with the sole objective of fighting for victory again against rivals such as Toyota (next season) and those that will come after: Ferrari, Porsche, Lamborghini, BMW…
“Peugeot’s participation in the FIA World Endurance Championship is further proof of the brand’s ingenuity and passion for racing,” said Linda Jackson, CEO of Peugeot. “It will also contribute to the essential transfer of technology from racing to our road cars, especially in the field of electrification”.
“In the end there is no substitute for racing and we can’t wait to discover the potential of our hybrid Hypercar, developed in-house to demonstrate our capabilities in the field of hybridization as well as in other areas,” said Olivier Jansonnie, technical director of Peugeot Sports.
The next date marked in red on the Peugeot Sport calendar is the 6 Hours of Monza, on July 10, where the real adventure for the 9X8 will begin. At the wheel of the two units will be Paul di Resta, Loïc Duval, Mikkel Jensen, Gustavo Menezes, James Rossiter and Jean Éric Vergne, although the composition of each of the cars has not yet been confirmed.
After Monza, Peugeot has announced that it will also participate in the last two races of the WEC 2022 calendar, the 6 Hours of Fuji (Japan), in September, and the 8 Hours of Bahrain, which takes place in November.
