Following the unveiling of the 908 in February, Peugeot has debuted a diesel-hybrid version of its sexy new endurance racer at the Geneva motor show.
And it has set itself an ambitious target for the new car - to run it in public at the official pre-Le Mans 24 Hours test day at the Sarthe circuit on April 24. That will depend, of course, on how well the team's preparations for Le Mans go with the “conventional” 908, and also on how the 908 Hybrid4 performs during its maiden track test at the end of March.
The car complies with endurance racing's latest regulations and could be run in anger - in fact there are plans to do so, to highlight Peugeot's commitment to the environment and the Hybrid4’s combination of diesel and electric power, two fields in which the Lion brand has forged a solid reputation.
The hybrid system recovers the kinetic energy generated under braking and stores up to 500Kj in lithium-ion batteries, then feeds it automatically (there's no “push to pass” button) back into the driveline to provide a 60kW power boost for a few seconds during acceleration.
It's also possible to run silently in electric-only mode along pit lane which, if nothing else, will startle rival teams' mechanics!
908 HYbrid4 Technical Data
Chassis: carbon monocoque.
Engine: 3.7-litre V8 HDi, 405kW (465kW in delivery phase).
Gearbox: Sequential, hydraulic, six speeds plus reverse.