Peugeot puts up Le Mans fighter

Peugeot has released specification details of its 908 V12 HDi DPFS Le Mans race car.

Revealed at the Paris motor show, the 908 is powered by a Peugeot-designed V12 HDi diesel engine producing over 515kW and more than 1200Nm of torque. The car will compete next year's Le Mans 24-hour race (June 16-17) and the 2007 Le Mans Series.

Peugeot says the choice of a 12-cylinder engine helps keep the cylinder bore diameter close to that of a production series engine. The V12 architecture, known for its good balance, keeps engine vibrations to a minimum while its 100-degrees V angle makes it possible to lower the height of the engine's centre of gravity without affecting the engine's torsional rigidity. Two diesel particulate filters are located at the end of each exhaust system to enable smoke-free operation of the engine under all conditions. The engine is mated to an electro-pneumatice gearbox, located longitudinally and designed to accommodate up to six gear ratios.

The 908 is a closed-car design (as opposed to the open-top design used by Audi's R10s) reminiscent of the two-times victorious 905 and in line with changes to the regulations announced by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest for next year's endurance race. The 908 is however a 'truly closed-car' design compared to the 905, which was a racing car with a detachable tubular rollover bar.

PEUGEOT 908 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Engine
Rear central longitudinal position
All-aluminium with one-piece aluminium cylinder block
12 cylinders, V angle 100°
Capacity: 5.5 litre
Common rail high pressure direct injection (HDi)
Engine management system: Bosch MS17
Power: 515kW
Torque: 1200Nm

Transmission
Gearbox: longitudinal with a maximum of 6 gear ratios
Electro-pneumatic gearbox control
Differential: self-locking