Peugeot's new Le Mans Hypercar powertrain, the Peugeot Hybrid4 500kW

Partners for 25 years, Peugeot Sport and Total have released the main technical characteristics of the powertrain of their Le Mans Hypercar for the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC).

Their respective teams have pooled their experience and expertise in the fields of hybridisation and world-class motor racing to develop a powertrain, the Peugeot Hybrid4 500kW, in compliance with the new FIA WEC regulations.

The main features of the Peugeot Hybrid4 500kW are hybrid technology, with a rear mid-mounted 2.6-litre twin-turbocharged V6 petrol internal combustion engine producing 670bhp combined with a front-mounted motor generator unit producing 268bhp.

A high-power-density battery co-developed jointly by Peugeot Sport and Total, four-wheel drive transmission and a sequential seven-speed gearbox, smart powertrain and energy flow management round out the powertrain.

Peugeot Sport has leveraged its experience of endurance racing and that of Groupe PSA Motorsport in the FIA World Rally Championship to develop the new 2.6-litre twin-turbocharged V6. Positioned behind the driver, this 670bhp powertrain will tip the scales at 165kg and drive the rear wheels.

The robotised sequential seven-speed gearbox will be controlled by steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, and a brake-by-wire system will also be managed electronically.

The driver will be able to adjust the level of engine-braking generated by the electric motor under deceleration and the force applied by the pads to the braking discs to achieve the optimum electric regenerative/hydraulic braking split.

Optimal energy management, both under acceleration and during energy recovery, will consequently be key to the car's performance and efficiency.

Before the track-testing programme begins at the end of 2021, Peugeot Sport and Total will continue their engineering which is expected to see the powertrain run on the bench and simulator in the course of the first half of 2021.