Ready to race: Peugeot announces return to endurance racing with 9X8

Peugeot has revealed details of the new 9X8, its latest generation hypercar that is set to make its debut in the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2022.

Powered by hybrid technology and featuring all-wheel drive, the new 9X8 hypercar is the French automaker's latest endurance racing contender. It is a direct successor to the Peugeot 905, winner of the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1992 and 1993, and the Peugeot 908, which won the iconic race in 2009.

The 9X8 Hypercar project is underpinned by Peugeot's 'Neo-Performance' vision, which is built around carrying over its motorsport pedigree, styling excellence, efficiency and technological expertise to Peugeot road cars.

Peugeot's design and engineering teams have worked in collaboration with its racing division, Peugeot Sport, developing novel aerodynamic solutions and styling ideas to create a completely original race car.

The 9X8's name honours the past, present and future in equal measure. The '9' continues the naming convention of its legacy race cars, the 'X' refers to Peugeot's all-wheel drive technology and hybrid powertrains, and '8' is a nod to its existing model lineup, for instance, the Peugeot 508.

The 9X8's front and rear lighting signatures, which take the form of three claw-like lines, are familiar Peugeot trademarks on its passenger cars. Similarly, the Selenium Grey and contrasting Kryptonite acid green and yellow highlights, featured outside and inside, echo the colour scheme chosen for the new Peugeot SPORT ENGINEERED line for the 508 and 508 SW.