Peugeot has released photos of its new beast: a 208 T16 that will be driven by nine-time World Rally Champion, Sebastien Loeb in this year’s Pike Peak hill climb, June 30.
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| Photo: Peugeot Sport |
The Frenchman will tackle the world’s highest hill climb – which culminates at an altitude of 4,301 metres – at the wheel of the 208 T16 Pikes Peak which was specially engineered and built by Peugeot Sport. The event marks the French team’s return to the classic American event after its memorable victories there in 1988 and 1989.
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| Photo: Peugeot Sport |
“Its proportions are very different to those of the production 208,” said Michael Trouvé who is in charge of silhouette design at Peugeot’s Styling Centre.
“This difference gives it an almost beast-like appearance. Peugeot Sport provided us with a number of technical constraints, such as the width, body height, location of the wheels and engine, and we worked to this brief to produce an extreme take on the 208.”
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| Photo: Peugeot Sport |
The start line of the Pikes Peak is located at an altitude of 2,800 metres, which means that competitors face an altitude difference of some 1,500 metres. Meanwhile, the lack of oxygen is a challenge not only for the engines – which can lose up to 30 per cent of their power.
Peugeot will soon release information about the engine and the final livery of the 208 T16.
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| Photo: Peugeot Sport |
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| Photo: Peugeot Sport |
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| Photo: Peugeot Sport |
