On 13 November 2019, Peugeot announced its return to the WEC and the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans for 2022 in the new Hypercar category, this debut was subsequently delayed, with Peugeot stating "Team PEUGEOT TotalEnergies’ PEUGEOT 9X8 Hybrid Hypercar will not race at the 2022 24 Hours of Le Mans and will instead make its racing debut in the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) this summer".[5] The car eventually made its debut at the 2022 6 Hours of Monza on the 6th of July.
Succeeding the 905 and 908, the 9X8 was designed to take full advantage of the freedoms allowed by the new regulations for the Hypercar category. The first area to benefit from the new regulations is aerodynamics. Indeed, the latter allows the vehicle to have only one adjustable aerodynamic element without specifying what it should be, thus allowing Peugeot to do without the rear spoiler.[6][7]
The 9X8 is equipped with a 680 hp (500 kW) twin-turbo 2.6L V6 internal combustion engine mated to a 272 hp (200 kW) electric motor, all assembled in a 7-speed sequential gearbox.[8] Peugeot explains the name
"9X8" for several reasons: the 9 symbolizes the brand's high-performance models, the X represents all-wheel drive and electric drive technologies, and the 8 corresponds to the brand's contemporary models.[8]
Since 2022, the Peugeot 9X8 are using race numbers 93 and 94, in WEC and at Le Mans. 93 refers to Peugeot's podium sweep at the 1993 24 Hours of Le Mans, their second win in succession, but as #92 was already taken in 2022, #94 is used since.[10]
In April 2023, a Lego Technic model of the 9X8 was announced. The car has been reproduced in 1:10 scale, and the set consists of 1,775 pieces. It was released on May 1, 2023.[11]
On 25 March 2024 Peugeot presented an updated version of the 9X8 car with the introduction of a rear spoiler, since the previous version of 9X8 proved uncompetitive due to its dependency on ground effect, especially harmed by bumpy surfaces, like at Sebring (where WEC did not race in 2024). Peugeot also abandoned equal tyre widths, using 29cm tyres at the front and 34cm at the rear like all its competitors, instead of 31 cm tyres on both axles in the first model.[12]
Complete World Endurance Championship results
(key) Races in bold indicates pole position. Races in italics indicates fastest lap.