automotivebriefs
9:18in productionCh. 1 · What it is/ 9:18 · ceiling 15 min
Endurance · Racing

Peugeot 9X8

Matthias Hossann · 2022

A wingless endurance racer that had to grow a wing—and wider rear tyres—to survive the track.

The Peugeot 9X8 is a Le Mans Hypercar-class sports prototype developed by Peugeot for the FIA World Endurance Championship. It marks their return to top-tier endurance racing after 11 years. It features a hybrid powertrain combining a twin-turbo 2.6-litre V6 engine with a front-axle electric motor. It was initially notable for its wingless aerodynamic design exploiting Hypercar regulation freedoms—though this concept was later revised with a rear wing and asymmetric tyre widths to improve competitiveness. The car debuted at the 2022 6 Hours of Monza and achieved its first podium in 2023 at Monza, followed by further podiums in 2024 and 2025.

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Chapters & takeaways5
  1. 0:51
    What it is

    The 9X8 is Peugeot’s first sports prototype in 11 years, built for the Le Mans Hypercar class.

  2. 2:12
    How it began

    It was designed to exploit Hypercar regulation freedoms—starting with no rear wing.

  3. 3:39
    How it moves

    Its hybrid powertrain and asymmetric tyres define its mechanical logic.

  4. 5:06
    Why it changed

    It abandoned wingless aerodynamics after ground-effect dependency proved uncompetitive.

  5. 6:11
    What the name means

    Its name encodes its purpose: 9 for performance, X for electric and all-wheel drive, 8 for contemporary identity.

Worth your time?

Yes. Drive the whole thing.

3.5/ 5
What works
  • interprets Hypercar regulation freedoms correctly—first by omitting the rear wing, then by adapting with one when required
  • links naming to function: '9' for performance, 'X' for all-wheel and electric drive, '8' for contemporary identity
What does not
  • deliver consistent competitiveness with its original wingless layout
  • retain the original aerodynamic philosophy beyond 2024
  • use the same tyre widths as its initial specification
Drive it if
  • engineers
  • rule-book readers
  • endurance-racing observers
Skip it if
  • those seeking a finished, stable race car
  • those seeking a road-legal machine
The written brief1 min read

What the car is and where it came from

The Peugeot 9X8 is a Le Mans Hypercar-class sports prototype. It is Peugeot’s first sports prototype in 11 years. It succeeded the 905, 908 HDi FAP, and 908.

How it works, in terms someone would actually use

It uses a twin-turbo 2.6-litre V6 engine driving the rear wheels and a 200 kW electric motor driving the front wheels. It runs on asymmetric tyres: 29 cm front, 34 cm rear. Its aerodynamics shifted from wingless ground-effect reliance to a rear-wing configuration.

What it gets right

It correctly interprets Hypercar regulation freedoms—first by omitting the rear wing, then by adapting with one when required. It correctly links naming to function: ‘9’ for performance, ‘X’ for all-wheel and electric drive, ‘8’ for contemporary identity.

What it does not

It does not deliver consistent competitiveness with its original wingless layout. It does not use the same tyre widths as its initial specification. It does not retain the original aerodynamic philosophy beyond 2024.

What it changed

It changed Peugeot’s top-tier endurance approach: abandoning the wingless concept and equal tyre widths after real-world track performance exposed ground-effect fragility on uneven surfaces.

Who it is for, and who it is not

It is for engineers, rule-book readers, and endurance-racing observers who track how design intent evolves under pressure. It is not for those seeking a finished, stable race car or a road-legal machine.

Is it worth your time

Yes—if you care about how regulation freedoms shape race-car design, and how quickly theory meets tarmac in endurance racing.

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