Peugeot Says 208 T16 Pikes Peak Will Hit 100km/h in 1.8 Seconds

A week after revealing the car and Sebastien Loeb as the driver, PeugeotPeugeotFrance, 1882 > present120 models
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has revealed the full specs for the Peugeot 208 T16 that will race up Pikes Peak on June 30. The car is powered by an 875hp 3.2-liter, twin-turbo V6 mounted in the middle of the car that will propel it to 100km/h in 1.8 seconds or to its top speed of 240km/h in 7.0 seconds. Power is sent to all four wheels via a six-speed sequential transmission with steering wheel-mounted paddles. The chassis is made from tubular steel covered in a carbon fiber body with a total weight of 875kg (1929lbs)

Peugeot said that its engineers actually had fun creating the 208 T16 because the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is one of the few events left in the world where there are truly no rules about what can be entered. The cars have to pass a safety inspection before the hill climb, but other than that nothing is off limits. 

“Your imagination is the only limit when you set out to design a car for Pikes Peak. Designing this car was a tremendously rewarding experience, even though we still had to take the ‘time’ factor into account," said Jean-Christophe Pallie who led the 208 T16 Pikes Peak project. 

The 208 T16 borrows many parts from the 908Peugeot 908France, 2011 > present3 photos
prototype including the brakes, running gear, air intake and rear wing. Peugeot claims that half of the car's downforce comes not from the rear wing or front splitter but from the under-tray and rear diffuser. Michelin is providing the bespoke tires that are meant to provide maximum grip for each run.

Loeb has quite a challenge on his hands because the 208 T16 will be the most power racecar he has every competed in. 

The 208 T16 hopes to set a new record up Pikes Peak with its 1hp:1kg power-to-weight ratio. 

There is only one fully factory-backed car in the Unlimited class this year - a Hyundai Genesis CoupeHyundai Genesis CoupéRepublic of Korea, 2013 > present6 photos
that will be driven by Rhys Millen. HondaHondaJapan, 1948 > present102 models
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America is also supporting one of its employees in a first-gen Acura NSXHonda NSXJapan, 1990 > present1 photo
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who will compete in the class. Other entries in the Unlimited class this year include two Ford RS200sFord RS200United Kingdom, 1984 > 19861 photo
, a Mini CountrymanMINI (BMW) Countryman Gen.1 [R60]Germany, 2010 > present54 versions
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and several homebuilt cars.