At the Pikes Peak hill climb in June, nine-time World Rally Champion, Sebastien Loeb will drive a mighty Peugeot 208 T16 powered by a 875-horsepower engine, that tips the scales at just 875kg, and benefits from all-wheel drive, plus a spectacular aerodynamic package.
The Pikes Peak Hill Climb is the only race in the world that permits the fantasy of freeing the beast that lurks at the back of every engineer’s mind to become reality! The very mention of the event and its celebrated ‘Unlimited’ class is enough to bring a twinkle to the eyes of any designer. “Your imagination is the only limit when you set out to design a car for Pikes Peak,” grins Jean-Christophe Pallier, the Peugeot Sport engineer tasked with the 208 T16 Pikes Peak project. “Designing this car was a tremendously rewarding experience, even though we still had to take the ‘time’ factor into account…”
Peugeot Sport produced a derivative of the bi-turbo V6 which was designed for endurance racing. With this 875-horsepower powerplant under the bonnet, the 208 T16 Pikes Peak will boast even more power than a Formula 1 single-seater.
In its bid to reach out to the clouds, Peugeot Sport has also paid careful attention to providing Loeb with a particularly lightweight car. “We’ve shaved it down to 875kg,” observes Jean-Christophe Pallier. “As a result, we have achieved the magic and symbolic power-to-weight ratio of 1:1!”
Meanwhile, to be sure that the car’s handling is as agile as possible, the weight distribution of the tubular-framed machine has been meticulously fine-tuned, with the engine sitting in a mid-rear position, like the famous Group B rally cars of the 1980s and like endurance racing prototypes.
The 208 T16 Pikes Peak effectively shares its genes with those of the Le Mans 24 Hours-winning 908 in several areas. Indeed, last year’s Pikes Peak took place for the first time on an entirely asphalted course, so the machine conceived by Peugeot Sport is practically an out-and-out endurance racing prototype. Common areas include the running gear, brakes and aerodynamic features like the air-intake and the spectacular two-metre wide rear wing which was originally used for the first-generation 908 HDi FAP.
The 208 T16 Pikes Peak’s hallmark rear wing and front splitter are not only extremely spectacular, but they are also awesomely efficient, in addition to bestowing the car with a truly beastlike stance. Meanwhile, although invisible, the design of the car’s under-tray is responsible for generating almost half the car’s downforce…
Last but by no means least, the Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak sits on bespoke Michelin tires which provide the four driven wheels with invaluable grip.
Technical specifications - 208 T16 Pikes Peak
ENGINE
Type: V6 bi-turbo
Cubic capacity: 3.2 litres
Number of valves: 24
Position: Mid-rear
Number of cylinders: V6 (60°)
Maximum power: 875hp
Torque: 90mkg
Maximum rpm: 7,800rpm
Top speed: 240kph
0-100kph: 1.8s
0-200kph: 4.8s
0-240kph: 7.0s
TRANSMISSION
Type: Four-wheel drive
Gearbox: Longitudinally-mounted six-speed sequential gearbox with steering wheel-mounted paddle-shift
CHASSIS
Frame: Tubular steel
Bodywork: Carbon fibre
SUSPENSION / BRAKES / STEERING
Suspension: Double wishbones and pushrod/rocker arm actuation at all four corners
Springs: Torsion bars
Dampers: Pressurised dampers
Anti-roll bars Front and rear
Steering: Hydraulic power steering
Brakes: Hydraulic double circuit brake system with one-piece light alloy callipers
Brake discs: Vented carbon discs front and rear
Diameter (front): 380mm
Diameter (rear): 355mm
Wheels: Specific 18x13 magnesium alloy wheels derived from F1 technology
Tires : Michelin (31/71x18)
DIMENSIONS
Length: 4,500mm
Width: 2,000mm
Height: 1,300mm
Front overhang: 1,690mm
Rear overhang: 1,690mm
Wheelbase: 2,695mm
Wing: 2,000mm (based on the rear wing of the Peugeot 908)
Fuel tank: 40 litres
Weight: 875kg
The Pikes Peak Hill Climb is the only race in the world that permits the fantasy of freeing the beast that lurks at the back of every engineer’s mind to become reality! The very mention of the event and its celebrated ‘Unlimited’ class is enough to bring a twinkle to the eyes of any designer. “Your imagination is the only limit when you set out to design a car for Pikes Peak,” grins Jean-Christophe Pallier, the Peugeot Sport engineer tasked with the 208 T16 Pikes Peak project. “Designing this car was a tremendously rewarding experience, even though we still had to take the ‘time’ factor into account…”
 |
| Photo: Peugeot Sport |
Peugeot Sport produced a derivative of the bi-turbo V6 which was designed for endurance racing. With this 875-horsepower powerplant under the bonnet, the 208 T16 Pikes Peak will boast even more power than a Formula 1 single-seater.
In its bid to reach out to the clouds, Peugeot Sport has also paid careful attention to providing Loeb with a particularly lightweight car. “We’ve shaved it down to 875kg,” observes Jean-Christophe Pallier. “As a result, we have achieved the magic and symbolic power-to-weight ratio of 1:1!”
Meanwhile, to be sure that the car’s handling is as agile as possible, the weight distribution of the tubular-framed machine has been meticulously fine-tuned, with the engine sitting in a mid-rear position, like the famous Group B rally cars of the 1980s and like endurance racing prototypes.
The 208 T16 Pikes Peak effectively shares its genes with those of the Le Mans 24 Hours-winning 908 in several areas. Indeed, last year’s Pikes Peak took place for the first time on an entirely asphalted course, so the machine conceived by Peugeot Sport is practically an out-and-out endurance racing prototype. Common areas include the running gear, brakes and aerodynamic features like the air-intake and the spectacular two-metre wide rear wing which was originally used for the first-generation 908 HDi FAP.
 |
| Photo: Peugeot Sport |
The 208 T16 Pikes Peak’s hallmark rear wing and front splitter are not only extremely spectacular, but they are also awesomely efficient, in addition to bestowing the car with a truly beastlike stance. Meanwhile, although invisible, the design of the car’s under-tray is responsible for generating almost half the car’s downforce…
Last but by no means least, the Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak sits on bespoke Michelin tires which provide the four driven wheels with invaluable grip.
 |
| Photo: Peugeot Sport |
Technical specifications - 208 T16 Pikes Peak
ENGINE
Type: V6 bi-turbo
Cubic capacity: 3.2 litres
Number of valves: 24
Position: Mid-rear
Number of cylinders: V6 (60°)
Maximum power: 875hp
Torque: 90mkg
Maximum rpm: 7,800rpm
Top speed: 240kph
0-100kph: 1.8s
0-200kph: 4.8s
0-240kph: 7.0s
TRANSMISSION
Type: Four-wheel drive
Gearbox: Longitudinally-mounted six-speed sequential gearbox with steering wheel-mounted paddle-shift
CHASSIS
Frame: Tubular steel
Bodywork: Carbon fibre
SUSPENSION / BRAKES / STEERING
Suspension: Double wishbones and pushrod/rocker arm actuation at all four corners
Springs: Torsion bars
Dampers: Pressurised dampers
Anti-roll bars Front and rear
Steering: Hydraulic power steering
Brakes: Hydraulic double circuit brake system with one-piece light alloy callipers
Brake discs: Vented carbon discs front and rear
Diameter (front): 380mm
Diameter (rear): 355mm
Wheels: Specific 18x13 magnesium alloy wheels derived from F1 technology
Tires : Michelin (31/71x18)
DIMENSIONS
Length: 4,500mm
Width: 2,000mm
Height: 1,300mm
Front overhang: 1,690mm
Rear overhang: 1,690mm
Wheelbase: 2,695mm
Wing: 2,000mm (based on the rear wing of the Peugeot 908)
Fuel tank: 40 litres
Weight: 875kg