Peugeot plans Le Mans assault

New diesel more powerful than Audi's

By PH Staff / Monday, 19 June 2006 / Loading comments

Peugeot 908 V12 diesel engine

Peugeot has announced that it plans to win the 24 Heures du Mans with the Peugeot 908, a car powered by a V12 HDi diesel engine, equipped with a diesel particulate filter system (DPFS). And it'll be powered by a diesel even more powerful than Audi's.

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.