Category: Peugeot

Peugeot has continued its long teaser campaign for Sebastien Loeb’s upcoming attempt to conquer the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Here we have some new 2000px super images of Loeb’s 875hp 208 T16 along with a video of him testing the car on Mont Ventoux in France, which may be known to some of our cycling readers.

We got an amateur preview of this video shoot a while back, so it’s nice to see the edited final version from Peugeot.

The next time we see the 208 T16 it will be in Colorado for more testing in early–mid June, before the competition is run and won on 30 June.

You get the feeling the marketing department at Peugeot is going to be pretty pissed off if Loeb doesn’t bring home le bacon.

Sebastien Loeb is faced with the luxury of trying many different kinds of racing cars in 2013 as he makes the transition from WRC conqueror to circuit racer. One of those cars is the Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak. Firstly, it’s been given a new lick of paint, Which is a shame, because it looked much more striking in its previous monochrome livery, we think.

Anyway, Loeb has been zipping around the hills of France for a filming day in the 208 T16. Also on hand was the legendary 405 T16 which rocketed to Pikes Peak victory and global stardom thanks to Ari Vatanen back in 1988.

The amateur clip can be seen after the break and we expect Peugeot’s official version will come to light some time before the official running of the 2013 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (30 June).

Sebastien Loeb’s plaything for next month’s Pikes Peak International Hill Climb has been further detailed by Peugeot. After offering a teaser of the 208 T16 Pikes Peak last week we now have more details to pass on.

Here’s the T16’s key stat: one horsepower per kilogram. Impressive, right? Now let’s consider the 208 T16 Pikes Peak weighs a mere 875kg. Yes, you’ve worked it out, that means the twin-turbo V6 engine lurking in the mid-rear of the car produces 875hp. Vive la cool!

On top of the quite staggering 1:1 power to weight ratio the 208 T16 features an all-wheel drive system and quite extreme aero package to ensure as much of that gobsmacking power as possible is used. Features such as the brakes, air intake and massive two metre rear wing have been developed further from the Le Mans winning 908 HDi rcaecar.

It’s also worth noting the extreme conditions in which the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb takes place. The start line is at 2865m above sea level and 156 corners later, on a now fully bitumised course, the finish line is at 4301m. That’s some altitude. And it also partly explains why Loeb needs such a huge headline power figure in his chase for outright victory in the Unlimited category.

Bruno Famin, Peugeot Sport Director, puts the demands of racing at altitude into some context: “In the case of a normally-aspirated engine, you basically lose one percent of the available power every 100 metres you climb.”

Peugeot has revealed Sebatsien Loeb’s newest plaything, the 208 T16 Pikes Peak. As the name suggests this is the car Loeb will drive in this year’s Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. It doesn’t look much like a garden variety 208 GTi anymore does it.

For the technically minded you’ll just have to make do with the pics for now. Peugeot is keeping the surprises regarding engine specs, power and even the racing livery for closer to the event, which takes place at the end of June.

We can tell you the massive rear wing has been adapted from Peugeot’s former 908 LMP1 racecars used during the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which in itself is kinda cool.

Jean Louis Mourey’s Climb Dance is one of motorsport’s most enduring short films. It features rally legend Ari Vatanen at the wheel of a Peugeot 405 T16 and was shot during the 1988 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.

Peugeot is heading back to Pikes Peak in June this year with a factory-backed team to be led by none other than the 21st century rally legend Sebastien Loeb. The car he will use is a specially created 208 T16, expected to have around 600hp ready to tackle the (now) all-tarmac course.

Declaring their intent Peugeot says: “The Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak has been entered in the premier ‘Unlimited’ class and has been given the start number ‘208’. Its sole objective is victory!”

Maxime Picat, Director General Automobiles Peugeot explains the rationale behind securing Loeb: “Our objective is to win, so we needed to stack up as many cards as possible in our favour by joining forces with the very best partners for this unique project, namely Total, Red Bull, Michelin and Sébastien Loeb.

“Indeed, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Citroën for this one-off ‘loan’ of its exceptional champion. Citroën’s support is emblematic of the cohesion that reigns within the PSA Peugeot Citroën Group.”