Peugeot plans to enter the highly competitive Hypercar class of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). Fans and race enthusiasts are all but chomping at the bit to see what this

supercar

can do.

The French automaker revealed its new 9X8 Peugeot hypercar and showed it on the racetrack for the first time this year. It is gearing up for the 2022 season taking its time refining and fine-tuning before its anticipated racing debut this summer.

You will want to make sure you have the

right car insurance

on your own car so you can attend this summer's event.

What is the hypercar class of the World Endurance Championship?

The FIA World Endurance Championship is an international sports car racing competition now in its tenth season. It offers automobile manufacturers the opportunity to showcase advances in new car design, technology, and safety features.

The addition of the Hypercar class only debuted in 2021 when the Toyota GR010 took the lead in the race

Peugeot is entering with a Le Mans Hypercar racer this year. It plans to enter two 9X8s and has enlisted some of the top drivers in the race car world, according to

Motor Authority

These include Loic Duval who was the 2013 LeMans winner and ex-Formula One drivers Kevin Magnussen and Paul Di Resta.

The Peugeot hypercar is set to give competitors a run for their money with its state-of-the-art hybrid powertrain. The French automaker certainly seems up to the challenge of tackling an endurance race destined for the auto racing history books.

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How is the Peugeot 9X8 hypercar powered?

The Peugeot 9X8 features a hybrid drivetrain with a 2.6-liter twin-turbo V6 that easily makes 670 horsepower. The front wheels are driven by an electric motor able to generate 268 horsepower on its own.

In compliance with the FIA rules, the combined power cannot exceed 671 horses in the race limiting the output.

The 2022 Peugeot hypercar will be powered by a high-density, 900-volt battery pack.

The battery is being developed in collaboration with Saft, a world leader in battery manufacturing and a subsidy of Total Energies. The battery pack is located in a carbon casing underneath the fuel tank.

When it comes to aerodynamics, the Peugeot 9X8 is taking the unusual approach of forgoing the expected rear wing to reduce drag. Peugeot hasn't revealed the details of the hypercar's design yet.

But it looks like its design plans include aerodynamic efficiency and high performance even without the rear wings.

MORE:

Can Electric Hypercars Live up to the Hype?

Will the new Peugeot hypercar be available for public purchase?

One of the current FIA rules mandates that teams entered in the race must build road-legal variants of their vehicles for public sale within two years. The hypercars are to be offered with a similar powertrain to the LMH race cars.

Peugeot's 9X8 street model version is certainly something to look forward to in 2024.

So far only Glickenhaus has developed a road-worthy version from a previous race while Toyota abandoned its plan late last year. Peugeot has every intention of introducing kindred concept hybrid models in the future. Enthusiasts hope they won't be much different than the 9X8 supercar.

Participating in endurance races isn't a new experience for Peugeot. It has a successful history of both entering and winning top-tier endurance races since the 1980s.

Three of Peugeot's wins were at Le Mans. Supercar and race fans alike can't wait to see what the new Peugeot hypercar can do this year at the World Endurance Championship competition.

MORE: These Self-Driving Racing Cars Go 180 Miles per Hour