Peugeot 9X8: French brand unveils hybrid Hypercar to take on the Le Mans 24 Hour

Peugeot has taken the covers off its all-new 9X8 Hypercar, set to take on the World Endurance Championship and next year’s Le Mans 24 Hour.

Drive comes from a hybridised 2.6-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine paired with a seven-speed sequential transmission. 

An electric motor resides on the front axle, and draws voltage from a lithium-ion battery pack integrated into the floor (this is charged via an outside power source before the beginning of a race, and then is topped up under regenerative braking).

To avoid an unfair traction advantage owing to its all-wheel drive layout, the Peugeot’s electric motor can only be deployed at speeds above 120km/h.

As per new FIA-sanctioned Hypercar regulations, a maximum combined output of 500kW can be delivered to the road at any time. However a theoretical output of 700kW is claimed. 

Due to this relative lack of power (for reference, modern Formula One cars produced in excess of 730kW at peak battery deployment), large protruding aerodynamic devices were omitted in favour of a wide underfloor diffuser to create downforce with minimal drag. A badge at the tail end of the car says: “We didn’t want a rear wing.” 

In the top-tier Hypercar class next year, two examples of Peugeot 9X8 – driven by ex-Formula One drivers Jean-Eric Vergne, Kevin Magnussen and Paul di Resta among others – will race against Toyota’s GR010 Hybrid, the Glickenhaus 007 LMH, and the ByKolles PMC Project LMH.

In 2023 a yet-to-be-confirmed Ferrari model is expected to join the fray. 

An early version of the FIA’s class regulations mandated manufacturers build at least 20 production examples of the competing race car, however this clause has since been dropped. 

As such, it’s unlikely a road-going variant of the Peugeot 9X8 will be announced anytime soon.