Peugeot's new 9X8 hypercar will compete in the Le Mans 24 Hours in June. The hybrid powertrain in the Porsche 9X8 hypercar produces 670 horsepower.
Peugeot's previous appearance at Le Mans was in 2011. It will compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship with two Le Mans Hypercar (LMH) cars next year, taking on the Toyota GR010 Hybrid.
The new LMH rules include limitations on critical bodywork sections and a total powertrain output cap of 670bhp, but they also allow manufacturers a lot of leeways to show off different designs and technologies. To strive to level the playing field between the LMH and LMP2-based LMDh machines, performance balancing will be implemented.
Although rear wings have long been one of the most important aerodynamic equipment for generating downforce, Peugeot Sport claims that the 9X8's outstanding aerodynamic efficiency allows it to operate without one.
The 9X8 has aerodynamically shaped bodywork, including sculpted wheel rims, wing vents above the tires, and integrated mirrors. The appearance includes a variety of Peugeot design elements, such as the 'claw-like' headlights.
Peugeot says it dedicated special attention to interior design, which includes a cockpit based on the company's i-Cockpit concept.
The choice was made, according to Peugeot design director Matthias Hossann, so that the 9X8 will be instantly identified as a Peugeot in onboard camera images.
The 9X8 moniker relates to the company's motorsport origins as well as its electrified logo. Peugeot's previous Le Mans contenders, the 905 and 908, were given the 9 prefixes, while the X stands for Peugeot's four-wheel-drive technology and a hybrid powertrain. The 8 suffix refers to the company's current lineup of road cars.