29 Sep 06 09:28
Audi has reigned supreme at Le Mans for a number of years now (apart from the year the Bentleys went, fellow Volkswagen Group contenders and by no means unrelated). But Peugeot, which won the legendary 24-hour race in 1992 and 1993, wants a share of the action again - and it, like Audi, also wants to promote its diesel technology.
So here it is: the 908 V12 HDI, complete with particulate filters, weighing just 925kg and with a closed top to comply with next year's regulations. The car has been created within a year, and has undergone extensive wind tunnel testing, but in order to bring it to the track quickly, it largely employs proven technology for its six-speed gearbox, suspension and brakes. That engine's pretty unique, though: a 5.5-litre 12-cylinder unit with a 100-degree V, as large as the regulations allow, and appropriate to give a low centre of gravity. Power output is over 700bhp, and torque suitably impressive: 885 lb ft. Helping keep all this under control is traction control by Bosch, also supplier of the engine management system.
Peugeot is also showcasing this engine in a concept car, the 908 RC. This is a large four-door 'coupe' in the vein of the Mercedes-Benz CLS or Porsche Panamera, with a roomy four-seater interior. The 908 RC, as such, is unlikely to go into production, but it's said to give a few clues as to Peugeot's plans for replacing the current 607 saloon.
Thirdly, Peugeot is previewing the coupe-convertible version of its 207 supermini in the guise of the Epure concept car, powered by a hydrogen fuel cell.
This concept is driven by an electric motor that gets its power from Peugeot Citroen's new Genepac 20 kW experimental fuel cell, which has been designed in partnership with the French Atomic Energy Commission. The 207 Epure has a claimed range of more than 200 miles but a top speed of just 81mph. The only emissions will be water.
The show car has a pearl white exterior and a white leather interior with highlights in 'absinthe green'. The instrument panel provides information for monitoring the battery charge level and the quantity of stored hydrogen onboard, while the multi-function colour display mounted in the centre console shows the flow of power between the electric motor, the lithium-ion battery and the fuel cell.
The powertrain is strictly experimental, but the rest of the car will go on sale next spring as Peugeot's replacement for the 206 CC.
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