Peugeot, which is more well-known for its urban eco cruisers and cutesy city cars, isnât afraid to let its hair loose every so often. Theyâve dabbled in the racy arts of rally and endurance racing, as well as F1 for decades now. Adding to that provenance, remember that back in 1895, Peugeot won the worldâs first timed race, ever. That long lineage of tradition is where its latest incarnation draws inspiration.
Meet the 9X8 hypercar, which will soon join the ranks of the World Endurance Championshipâs new hypercar class. Itâs just as extreme as youâd expect, and being a Peugeot, similarly quirky. For a start, how about the fact that this out-and-out racer doesnât even have a rear wing? Just so weâre clear of how crucial that is⊠No car has ever won at Le Mans without a wing since 1971, half a century ago!
No Wing, More Power
Yet, that left-field audacity is whatâs always set Peugeot apart. Although, we can imagine that those folks working on the 9X8 havenât completely forgotten about aerodynamics. Compared to Peugeotâs old Le Mans racers with their V10s and V12s, the 9X8 has downsized quite a bit. Still, it doesnât mean that theyâve neutered this angry lion. Underneath, youâll find a pokey hybrid V6 engine.
The mid-ship, 2.6-litre, twin-turbocharged mill cranks out around 680hp. This is supplemented by an electric motor-slash-generator up in the front, adding another 270hp. Thus, working in tandem with a clever all-wheel-drive system. As far as looks are concerned, the 9X8 is a winner in my books. With that being said, letâs hope that the 9X8 is just as fast on tarmac, as it looks in the flesh.
