Climbing into the Colorado clouds with 875 bhp.
Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is one of those races that separate the men from the boys as drivers ascend 4,720 feet up a mountain, going past dangerous cliffs and sharp turns. The 12.42-mile course with 156 turns also pushes the limits of engineering, especially in the unlimited class, where Peugeot is making a return with a mind-boggling machine.
Unlike some events that put numerous restrictions on automobiles, the Unlimited Class at Pikes Peak allows for teams to use any resource necessary to design and engineer a car with nothing holding it back. The 2013 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb will see the pinnacle of engineering from Peugeot as they will race the 208 T16 Pikes Peak with Sébastien Loeb behind the wheel in hopes of setting records that won’t easily be broken.
“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…”
The altitude at the race presented a problem for the team at Peugeot when designing the 208 T16 Pikes Peak. The thin air results in less power being produced by the car, so engineers opted for a twin-turbocharged motor to force more air into each cylinder to compensate. The 3.2-liter, twin-turbocharged V-6 is based off the same engine designed specifically for endurance racing and was mid-rear mounted in the racer to achieve the optimal weight distribution.
The engine produces a whopping 875 bhp and 651 lb-ft. of torque while revving to a maximum 7,800 RPM. Engineers were also able to cut the weight of the Peugeot 208 T16 down to a mere 875 kg (1,929 lbs.), hitting that oh-so-special 1hp : 1kg power-to-weight ratio. This combined with the astronomical power output and all-wheel drive system gives the racer a 0-62 mph acceleration time of just 1.8 seconds! Going from 0-125 mph takes a mere 4.8 seconds of the clock and 150 mph takes just 8.0 ticks of the clock. Top speed is pegged at 150 mph due to gearing and aerodynamic restrictions.
The legendary battles between Peugeot and Audi from the 24 Hours of Le Mans may be over, but the DNA of the 908 LMP1 race cars still lives on in the Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak. The running gear and brakes and aerodynamics have been taken from the 908 while the rear spoiler is borrowed from the 908 HDi FAP first-generation model. The 208 T16 will also wear specially-designed Michelin tires to ensure maximum grip on the new asphalt run.
“We believe efficient aerodynamics can give us a competitive edge over our rivals,” notes Jean-Christophe Pallier. “The speeds reached during the ascension range from 30 to 150 mph, and aerodynamics play a key role from 60 mph.”
Sébastien Loeb will pilot the Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak on June 30th at the 2013 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb with his sights set on setting new records on the mountain. We’ll keep you updated on his results as he ascends into the clouds!
Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak Specifications
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 (651 lb-ft.)
Maximum revs : 7,800rpm
Top speed: 240kph / 150mph
0-100kph / 0-62mph: 1.8s
0-200kph / 125mph: 4.8s
0-240kph / 150mph: 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
Suspension, Brakes, Steering:
Suspension: Double wishbones & pushrod/rocker arm actuation at all corners
Springs: Torsion bars
Dampers: Pressurized 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 18×13 magnesium alloy wheels derived from F1 technology
Tires: Michelin (31/71×18)
Dimensions:
Length: 4,500mm
Width: 2,000mm
Height: 1,300mm
Front / rear overhang: 1,690mm
Wheelbase: 2,695mm
Wing: 2,000mm (based on the rear wing of the Peugeot 908)
Fuel tank: 40 liters
Weight: 875kg (1,929.04 lbs.)
Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak Specifications
[Source: Peugeot]
Do you think the Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak with Sébastien Loeb behind the wheel will be able to set a new record at Pikes Peak in June?
