Tuesday 23rd September 2014

Peugeot 2008 DKR testing vid

So how does 2WD really cope with off-roading? See here!

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'Built for desert. Built for Dakar' concludes Peugeot's latest video for the 2008 DKR. It's been testing out in more challenging terrain (well, more challenging for France) in preparation for its Dakar debut in January.

The DKR is notable for being a two-wheel drive rally raid car. Yep, it's taking on the Dakar without the advantage of four driven wheels. You'll see in the video the advantages that should bring while conveniently ignoring what appears a significant traction problem.

But having said that, it looks more than comfortable through the wind turbines of on the dirt tracks of Chateau de Lastours. It looks fantastic actually, shrugging off undulations, sliding everywhere and appearing rather quick indeed.

With the European cars leaving for Argentina on November 19 the 2008 DKR will now be entering its final stages of testing. The event itself begins on January 4, with Peugeot keen to prove 2WD can work on the Dakar and continue its recent rallying success from the Pikes Peak victory. We can't wait to see it!

Watch the vid here.

 

[Theallotmentman]

It's great that's it's being different but at the end of the day why risk not having 4wd? Also I can't stand the pretentiousness or calling a driver a pilot. Pilots fly planes, drivers drive cars. So am I a pilot now?

I'll reserve final judgement after seeing it in deep sand dunes....

[DM525i]

Why do they need all that computer rubbish. Compare the driving in that video to the driveing in the Scottish rallying video. Which is better considering the amount of technical know how is being invested in the cars and drivers?

[appletonn]

Looks like Batman's weekend wheels!

[FQH]

What's new? There's been 2wd cars in the Dakar for ever...
Is this based on Sainz's '14 car?

[Turbobanana]

On the questionable ommission of 4WD, I seem to recall that 2WD cars are afforded some other benefits, such as an on board variable tyre pressure system, to help equalise the performance difference to a 4WD.

Also VW entered some 2WD buggies not long ago, with great success. Robbie Gordon's (and Nasser al-Attiyah's) Hummers are quick and a crowd favourite.

PSA know a bit about winning rallies, too.

[renaultgeek]

all that fake augmented reality crap makes a really annoying video. Also +1 on the "pilot" crap

[anonymous-user]

3/10. Not enough swimwear models........

[threespires]

Theallotmentman said:

Also I can't stand the pretentiousness or calling a driver a pilot. Pilots fly planes, drivers drive cars. So am I a pilot now?

Not pretentious at all from this French company.

English = Racing Driver
French = Pilote de Course

Want to discuss "Pretentious"
This is what I'd call pretentious :-

Edited by threespires on Tuesday 23 September 14:24

[mrclav]

threespires said:

Theallotmentman said:

Also I can't stand the pretentiousness or calling a driver a pilot. Pilots fly planes, drivers drive cars. So am I a pilot now?

Not pretentious at all.

If you're a racing car driver then Yes, you're a pilote.

English = Racing Driver
French = Pilote de Course

Edited by threespires on Tuesday 23 September 14:08

Thank you - some-one who actually gets it.

People's myopia when it comes to language is something that grates me - not everyone uses English as their mother tongue (and certainly not the French!).

[chrisironside]

threespires said:

Not pretentious at all.

If you're a racing car driver then Yes, you're a pilote.

English = Racing Driver
French = Pilote de Course

Edited by threespires on Tuesday 23 September 14:08

There's still some difference between "pilote" (French for pilot) and "pilot de course" (pilot of the ground / driver).
A Company Secretary is quite different to a Secretary, you can't just pick which parts of a phrase to acknowledge to suit!

They didn't say "pilote", they said pilot - I think they're saying exactly what they mean.
I imagine they want to give the impression this vehicle is so incredible it can't be compared to your average car and to control it you don't just drive, you pilot.

I think we're all going to continue to call people who drive cars "drivers" and people who fly planes "pilots" so why bother with the theatrics?!

[HereBeMonsters]

OK, daft question. Which two wheels are driven?

[articulatedj]

It may not be the best spectator sport, but this has got to be the best form of driving ever.

As long as the car doesn't break. Or the human, for that matter.

[Theallotmentman]

chrisironside said:

threespires said:

Not pretentious at all.

If you're a racing car driver then Yes, you're a pilote.

English = Racing Driver
French = Pilote de Course

Edited by threespires on Tuesday 23 September 14:08

There's still some difference between "pilote" (French for pilot) and "pilot de course" (pilot of the ground / driver).
A Company Secretary is quite different to a Secretary, you can't just pick which parts of a phrase to acknowledge to suit!

They didn't say "pilote", they said pilot - I think they're saying exactly what they mean.
I imagine they want to give the impression this vehicle is so incredible it can't be compared to your average car and to control it you don't just drive, you pilot.

I think we're all going to continue to call people who drive cars "drivers" and people who fly planes "pilots" so why bother with the theatrics?!

I can't put it any better. I'm in England and it's Pilot. Don't patronise me about the English Language, I know the difference. I mentioned pompousness and it's just been somewhat amplified.....

[Theallotmentman]

HereBeMonsters said:

OK, daft question. Which two wheels are driven?

Not daft at all. For an event like this it's rear as you want drive and a little uplift from the rear. Pushing is better than pulling in driving.

[Turbobanana]

The front three-quarter shot in the article makes it look like the door has fallen off.

[Steff]

HereBeMonsters said:

OK, daft question. Which two wheels are driven?

front left and rear right.

[HereBeMonsters]

Theallotmentman said:

HereBeMonsters said:

OK, daft question. Which two wheels are driven?

Not daft at all. For an event like this it's rear as you want drive and a little uplift from the rear. Pushing is better than pulling in driving.

I did think rear from the video (what little automatically played before I managed to stop it deafening the office), but then I would guess the original car has the engine and drive up front, so it might have had homologation rules or something to make it front drive. That, and if indeed the engine of this one is up front, it might make sense for driven wheels to have weight over them, but then I guess you can chuck the fuel tanks, 4 spare wheels and the toolkit over the back to balance it out...

[bnracing]

I am really starting to wonder what's happening to this forum.
I was hoping for some interesting posts and comments about this interesting car.
But no silly me we have few questioning why Peugeot have chosen 2WD when it's fairly clear in the Video and then Pilot, Pilote issue!!!!!

I know we all like freedom of speech but if you have nothing good to say, say nothing!!!!

The way I see the 2WD choice is down to the regulation. 2WD are allowed wider tyres and also on board tyre pressuring kit that can adjust the tyres pressure when they are driving. So they can us very low pressures for the sand dunes etc. There may also be other advantages maybe a lower weight limit etc.
Peugeot will have run lots of simulations and done testing they will know which is the best for them.

[shalmaneser]

DM525i said:

Why do they need all that computer rubbish. Compare the driving in that video to the driveing in the Scottish rallying video. Which is better considering the amount of technical know how is being invested in the cars and drivers?

What a load of B*llocks.

The organisers should issue each team a chisel and a block of wood only and let them have at it. Welding stuff together is unnatural. Things were better in my day, etc etc.

They've got computers so they can go faster!

And as far as I understand it there are plenty of benefits to going RWD for the teams, longer suspension travel is an additional one I think?

[Fury1630]

As I understand it (& that's not much) 4WD will get you moving, after that it's just unsprung weight / mechanical drag. So if you're rock crawling or trialling where there's a lot of stopping & starting 4WD is an advantage. If you're batting along at high speed for long periods, it's not. Sure there's places where 4WD would be nice, slippery uphills & such, but I guess Pug have done thier sums & think the speed over distance will more than compensate for a loss of traction.

I know it's "a bit" different but I had a rickman Ranger - a RWD jeep thing, OK I never took it green-laneing, but I never once had a problem with traction off road, traction seems to be as much down to tyre pattern & ground clearance as the number of driven wheels. I also used to race radio controlled buggies & there again the 2WD cars were as fast as the 4WD once - just in different places on the track.

One thing's for sure, it'll be interesting.