2023 Peugeot 9X8 Hypercar: Further details released, Monza debut confirmed

Peugeot has officially unveiled the 9X8 Hypercar, confirming it is now poised for racing action.

The brand has revealed the 9X8 will first debut at the Six Hours of Monza in July – the fourth round of the World Endurance Championship – ahead of its appearance at Le Mans in 2023.

It was originally set to race at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, however, Peugeot delayed the launch to ensure reliability before homologation.

4

However, the French marque has announced the 9X8 will still appear at the 2022 event, but as a static display only.

Showcasing a futuristic design, the 9X8 foregoes a traditional rear-wing, instead placing a strong reliance on underbody aerodynamics for downforce.

Earlier this year, Peugeot’s technical director, Olivier Jansonnie, said this was a step in the correct direction.

4

"Our calculations and wind-tunnel work have confirmed the pertinence of our decision to run without a rear wing,” he said.

Despite being a race-ready hypercar, the 9X8 shares elements with the road-going Peugeot line-up, including the brand’s signature ‘three-claw’ light design and a dashboard inspired by its ‘i-Cockpit’ layout.

Featuring an all-wheel-drive petrol-electric hybrid system, the 9X8 includes a rear-mid-mounted 2.6-litre twin-turbo V6 engine producing 520kW, and a 200kW electric motor-generator on the front axle.

4

The internal-combustion engine is matched with a seven-speed sequential transmission with paddle shifters sending power to the rear wheels.

Set to compete against entries from Toyota and Glickenhaus in ACO and FIA’s newly-created Le Mans Hypercar (LMH) category, the 9X8 is relatively large – as with the remainder of the field – at 4995mm long and 2000mm wide.

Peugeot is expected to face additional competition from Ferrari, Porsche and Cadillac when it finally returns to the famous French racetrack in 2023.