Peugeot plans Le Mans assault
New diesel more powerful than Audi's
Peugeot 908 V12 diesel engine
Peugeot's keen to talk up its motorsport credentials, especially the Peugeot 905 that won the C1 class at Le Mans in 1992 and grabbed the top three C1 places in 1993. Unlike the 905 which was powered by a 3.5-litre V10 petrol engine, the new contender will be powered by a 5.5-litre 100-degree V12 HDi diesel engine. This is the maximum engine size that regulations allow and was chosen for its efficient operation at low engine speeds. It also enables engine power to be limited in the first instance, but also enables further development. While it's similar to the motor that Audi used, whose bank angle is however 90 degrees, Peugeot expects its engine to deliver 700bhp and a torque output of over 885lb-ft – more than the Audi's output.
Peugeot reckons that the choice of an inherently well-balanced V12 helps keep cylinder bore diameters close to those of a production series engine, allowing it to call on its knowledge of diesel combustion, obtained during the development of the current HDi diesel engines. It also ensures the engine has a reasonable length piston stroke. The 100-degree V angle also lowers the centre of gravity.
Two diesel particulate filters are mounted at the end of each of the exhaust systems. Through technology which directly derived from production cars, they will provide a guaranteed control of exhaust emissions under all operating conditions.
According to the French company, back in 2000, its confirmed its commitment and strategic policy to reduce exhaust emissions, with the fitment of a diesel particulate filter system (DPFS) as standard equipment on the HDi diesel engine in the 607. In December 2005, Peugeot celebrated the production of the one-millionth vehicle fitted with a diesel particulate filter system.
Today, it is the production car which brings its HDi diesel particulate filter technology to the competition arena, in order to show its qualities in extreme conditions of endurance and performance, all the while respecting the environment.
The company reckons it'll be presenting a scale model of the engine at the Paris motor show in September, will test bed run a real engine shortly afterwards and have a driveable car by December 2006.
Just like in F1 with turbos, ground effect, active suspension. Once someone produced a technology advantage or spotted o loophole in the rules they all jump on the bandwagon.
Audi dont make cars in the UK, does that make their achievement any less impressive, or maybe we should all boycott audi also? If people such as yourself put their money where their mouth is would rover have gone under? the fact of the matter is we all like the idea of supporting british jobs but none of us want to pay through the nose for it, i for one would rather buy a 7 grand 206 made in wherever than a 12 grand one made by in britain.
and for the record Peugeot announced its intention to enter a diesel car in le mans before audi. maybe you should slate audi for "copying and improving" the tried and tested formula of a wheel in each corner and 3 pedals fo the driver???
on another note the roar of a diesel engine isnt quite the same is it agree
Audi dont make cars in the UK, does that make their achievement any less impressive, or maybe we should all boycott audi also? If people such as yourself put their money where their mouth is would rover have gone under? the fact of the matter is we all like the idea of supporting british jobs but none of us want to pay through the nose for it, i for one would rather buy a 7 grand 206 made in wherever than a 12 grand one made by in britain.
i agree with the british jobs bit but i wouldnt drive round in a piece of shite rover to prove that i am loyal to my home land, especially as the directors were taking the pi$$.
i have got a lotus and a honda lump in the back / hope that counts
As for the Peugeot copying Audi (or the other way round as it could be seen), so what? Of COURSE all manufacturers are going to jump on the bandwagon. The rules are so tightly regulated nowadays that if one company makes a breakthrough or finds a loophole in the rules that clearly gives them an advantage, no of the other manufacturers are not going to sit there and say "Actually, I think we should just keep developing what we have or maybe, just maybe we can scrap everything and come up with something completely revolutionary. It will probably cost us maybe 10 times more than developing existing technology and it might not actually work, but hey, lets give it a go anyway eh"?
Sheesh.........utter madness. Evolution of racing cars or road car technology has always been of the copying kind. One company develops something, another sees it, improves it, then THEY come up with something, another company sees it, improves it ad nauseum........To think that Peugeot has no innovation is like saying Ferrari don't make fast cars.............
Audi dont make cars in the UK, does that make their achievement any less impressive, or maybe we should all boycott audi also? If people such as yourself put their money where their mouth is would rover have gone under? the fact of the matter is we all like the idea of supporting british jobs but none of us want to pay through the nose for it, i for one would rather buy a 7 grand 206 made in wherever than a 12 grand one made by in britain.
and for the record Peugeot announced its intention to enter a diesel car in le mans before audi. maybe you should slate audi for "copying and improving" the tried and tested formula of a wheel in each corner and 3 pedals fo the driver???
on another note the roar of a diesel engine isnt quite the same is it agree
Not really a ridiculous comment. I totally agree with your points: i.e. if British products were that good, such as Rover, we'd all be driving them. I have two VAG cars so can hardly be said to be fully supporting British industry; and as such I can agree with the other guys on here about British marques.
Audi's achivement is fantastic and will go down in history........ but would a Peugeot victory? Will it help Peugeot sell any more cars? Would keeping Ryton open help sell more cars? Who knows!
The point I was trying to make was that it was reported that it was too expensive to keep the Ryton factory open. Fair enough. But then it how much will it cost to develop a Le Mans racecar from scratch? It's anyone's guess.
I have no axe to grind on this subject - I know no-one laid of from either Peugeot or Rover, and I have no axe to grind with anyone on here.
The observation I made is that Peugeot can shut down a factory - wherever it is in the world (not just the UK) - then just a few months later announce that they are chasing a dream.
Give me a flaming if you want - I don't know the all the facts - It's just my opinion.
When I first went to Le Mans in '97, I yearned to see/hear the old Group C kit, or at least prototypes racing in the top-classes (McLarens were the car of choice then with Mr Belm, et-al)...now we've got them, I'm almost wishing we go back to the GT-1 class being the premier category. Indecisive?...Moi?!
The CAT diesel-powered car from a few years back sounded a tad more interesting...for the few hours it lasted.
At least it'll be quite some years before Aston, Corvette and Ferrari decide to install and homologate weasel lumps in their cars.
Pug / Audi - sell more diesels in Europe than petrol engines : so it makes commercial sence to make a successful diesel racer.
Win's sell cars.. fact.
Unless the ACO change the equilivence factors between petrol and diesel then the diesel will rule for a long time.
I suspect many others will now be looking at this and making plans for the future...
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