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Image credits: © Peugeot.
2007 Peugeot 908 Le Mans news, pictures, and information | ||
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On 14 June 2005, Peugeot announced its decision to accept a new technological challenge: to win one of the world's most prestigious and demanding motor races, the Le Mans 24 Hours, wîth a car powered by an HDi diesel engine equipped wîth a diesel particulate filter system (DPFS).This legendary race, which every year attracts more than 200,000 spectators, will provide Peugeot wîth an opportunity to express fully the values enshrined in its philosophy: excellence, demonstrated by the choice of endurance coupled wîth reliability, dynamism, emphasised by a team challenge based on performance, looks, illustrated by the car's feline profile, and lastly innovation, expressed amongst other ways through the use of technology designed to protect the environment.
The car that will display the Peugeot colours in the Le Mans 24 Hours race and in the 'Le Mans Series' in 2007 will be the Peugeot 908. The choice of number comes from, '90' designating an exceptional Peugeot model and 8 the next number in sequence after the 907 concept car.
The choice of body style is that of a closed car, in line wîth changes to the regulations announced by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest on 16 June 2006.
Equally there was also a desire to keep a link wîth the two-times winner of the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1992 and 1993, the Peugeot 905.
While from a technical point of view this solution presents a number of drawbacks (weight, height of the centre of gravity, operational problems), the Peugeot Sport team felt that it also
offers advantages, particularly in terms of chassis rigidity and aerodynamics.
The monocoque body:
The monocoque body is made of carbon and presents a truly closed structure, contrary to the 905, which was a 'racing car' wîth a detachable tubular rollover bar. This type of
structure offers strong natural rigidity (the 'eggshell' effect) and allows the weight of the monocoque body to be optimised.
Body and aerodynamics:
Created from scratch at the beginning of 2006, Peugeot Sport's aerodynamics department had the difficult task of designing in just a few weeks an exterior body that was both original
and aerodynamically efficient.
Three months after the appointment of the aerodynamics project team leader, a model of the car was undergoing the first tests in the wind tunnel!
The car's profile results not only from the necessary compromise between aerodynamic efficiency and drag, but also the need to provide optimum airflow to the different radiators
and intercoolers located within the generously dimensioned bodywork.
Suspension, §teering, brakes:
Given the challenge of designing a complete car in record time and the particular constraints of the HDi DPFS engine, the Peugeot Sport team relied on proven solutions for the front and
rear suspension design, the electric power §teering and the brakes.
The gearbox:
This is positioned longitudinally and will allow the fitment of up to 6 gear ratios, the limit laid down by the regulations.
It has been designed to withstand the enormous torque of the engine, while ensuring optimum weight and size characteristics.
The gearbox is controlled electro-pneumatically.
The engine:
 | Vital Stats |
| Engine : 5.5 L., 12-cylinder Power: 700 hp Torque: 885 ft-lbs | |
6-speed Manual | |
This is the maximum capacity permitted by the regulations and was chosen due to its greater internal airflow at low engine speeds. It also gives potential future development opportunities
to use different grade fuels.
The choice of a twelve cylinder engine helps keep the cylinder bore diameter very close to that of a production series engine. In doing so, Peugeot can call on its extensive knowledge
of diesel combustion and also ensure the engine has a reasonable piston stroke. The V12 architecture, well known for its good balance, also reduces vibrations to a minimum.
The 100° V angle, like the V12 architecture, makes it possible to lower the height of the centre of gravity without affecting the engine's torsional rigidity.
Two diesel particulate filters are located at the end of each exhaust system and guarantee 'smoke-free' operation of the engine under all conditions.
The two exhaust systems are as short as possible. On each side a 6 into 1 exhaust manifold is connected to a Garrett turbocharger, then to a very compact diesel particulate filter before
ending in a side exhaust pipe, located in front of the rear wheel.
The expected level of performance – a power of more than 515 kW (700 bhp) and a torque in excess of 1200 Nm, which is unprecedented for a diesel engine – is a direct results
of Peugeot's diesel engine expertise, combined wîth the mechanical specification of the V12 engine.
Electronics:
The 908 will benefit fully from Peugeot Sport's considerable expertise and knowledge in electronics, acquired as a result of its extensive experience wîth WRC cars – which are generously equipped wîth electronic systems – and in particular wîth respect to their experience of electronically controlled differentials.
Peugeot Sport will also benefit from the experience of the main supplier Bosch, who will be supplying and developing the 'car system' on the basis of specifications provided by Peugeot
Sport.
A high level of performance is therefore expected in terms of 'traction control', a key function for controlling engine torque in a race track environment, whilst also ensuring optimum performance of the Michelin tyres.Source - Peugeot
On 14 June 2005, Peugeot announced its decision to take up a new technological challenge: to win one of the most prestigious and most demanding motor races in the world, the Le Mans 24 Hours, wîth a car powered by an HDi diesel engine, equipped wîth a diesel particulate filter system.This symbolic race, wîth attracts more than 200.000 spectators every year, will be used by Peugeot as an opportunity to showcase their brand values: reliability, dynamic performance, style illustrated by the feline lines and, finally, innovation expressed, amongst other means, by the use of environmentally
friendly technology.
Why will Peugeot be at Le Mans wîth a diesel engine?
The PSA Peugeot Citroën group is today a world leader in diesel technology. « Common rail direct injection » HDi technology can be found on more than 60% of vehicles sold by the brand in Europe in 2005 and more than 70% in France. In 2000, Peugeot confirmed its commitment and strategic policy to reduce exhaust emissions, by fitting as standard equipment on the HDi engine in the 607 a diesel particulate filter system. In December 2005, Peugeot celebrated the production of the millionthvehicle fitted wîth 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 Peugeot HDi diesel DPFS:
The choice of engine architecture has been based on a 100° twelve-cylinder V design, wîth a 5.5 litre cylinder capacity.This is the maximum cylinder capacity that regulations allow and was chosen for it efficient operation at low speed. It also enables engine power to be limited in the first instance, but also enables further development.
The number of cylinders results, on the one hand, from the wish to keep bore diameter very close to that of a production series engine, in order to make best use of Peugeot's diesel combustion knowledge and, on the other hand, to limit the stroke to a reasonable value. The V12 architecture, well known for its good balance, also reduces vibration to a minimum.
The 100° V angle, of the V12 architecture, allows the height of the centre of gravity to be lowered without affecting the torsional rigidity of the engine.
Two diesel particulate filters are mounted at the end of each of the exhaust systems. Through technology which has come directly from production cars, they will provide a guaranteed control of exhaust emissions under all operating conditions.
The two diesel particulate filters fitted to the engine being presented, carry the numbers 1.195.520 and 1.195.521 which are the numeric production numbers of the filters in the overall production total of all filters since the introduction on to Peugeot vehicles.
The level of performance expected – more than 515kW (700 bhp) of power and a torque output greater than 1.200 Nm – is without precedent in a diesel engine and is a direct result of Peugeot's current level of know-how in diesel technology, linked to the mechanical characteristics of the V12.
Bosch is one of Peugeot Sport's essential partners on this project, making an active contribution to the specification of the fuel injection components and to the engine management system.
Peugeot Sport's engine department:
With the arrival of this new challenge, Peugeot Sport was re-organised at the end of the 2005 World Rally Championship.Claude Guillois, under the supervision of technical manager Bruno Famin, was named as manager of the engine department thanks to his experience of race engines, supercharged engines and knowledge of production engine design. The department is based at Peugeot Sport's Vélizy facility, which includes three engine test beds, including one for simulation.
The next important dates:
28 September 2006: presentation of the scale model at the Paris MotorShow.
30 September 2006: Peugeot V12 HDi DPFS engine to be run on engine
test bed.
Beginning December 2006: first drive of the car by test driver Éric Hélary.
In addition to Peugeot's three main technical partners, Total, Michelin and Bosch,
Eurodatacar will be working wîth them on the Le Mans Series programme.Source - Peugeot
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