Peugeot 908 RC: Angry Cat Built From Scratch For Paris Auto Show

By Motoring Channel Staff - 28/Sep/2006

Paris, France — The French Motor Show is unlike a lot of auto shows that appear every year, for the simple fact that it's not a yearly event, but a biennial event. Every two years Peugeot, Citroën, and Renault do their best to outshine all other marques in their own backyard, and Peugeot has already fired the first shot with its imperious 908 RC, a huge luxury sports limo powered by a huge engine.

Peugeot isn't know for turning concepts into reality (see the Quark and Hoggar), but the new 908 RC is evidence that the French car maker wants to be at the forefront of the performance diesel engine arena, if not up on the stage stealing the show.

Powered by a 5.5-litre V12 diesel engine featuring twin turbos and intercoolers, Peugeot says that it has been tuned to create more than 700 brake horsepower, or 515kW. This is the kind of power that would make a Ferrari blush, and though it doesn't list what engine speed such incredible power is created at, it's likely to be about 5000rpm or possibly even lower. Meanwhile, the torque output for this Le Mans-destined engine is even more flabbergasting, representing "in excess of 1200Nm". 

Peugeot hopes to have the 5.5-litre V12 HDi engine running in the 2007 Le Mans Race Series, which would add much credibility to its diesel passenger cars. As the saying goes, "Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday". 

The turbocharged 12-cylinder diesel engine has 100° vee angle, and Peugeot says the engine's centre of gravity is as low as possible to reduce its mass effect on the chassis, and two particulate filters are located at the end of each exhaust system ensuring the car's environmentally-friendly credentials.

For the 908 RC concept car, it's high performance diesel V12 engine is set transversely in a rear central position, which is expected to give the concept car positive handing. Power is transferred from the engine to the rear wheels through a compact 6-speed electronically controlled sequential gearbox that, as Peugeot explains, has been specially adapted to withstand the phenomenal torque and is  located underneath the engine.

Peugeot claims the position of the powertrain allows the enabling of a spacious boot, which is found behind the final drive assembly and as a result doesn't impinge on the generous interior space of the passenger compartment. As well as allowing for a decent boot, this design means that because there's no engine over the car's front axle, the driving position can to be moved forward as well, which goes a long way to "maximising the driving experience for both the driver and the passengers".

Created and built in the 'inner sanctum' of the Peugeot Design Centre in Paris, even parts of the chassis are drop-dead stunning. Peugeot hasn't said how much the 908 RC weighs, but considering it utilises a very expensive, lightweight and stiff pre-impregnated carbon composite and vacuum-polymerised aluminium honeycomb body structure, it's unlikely to be grossly overweight.

The rear section of the ominous Peugeot is a "self-supporting shell incorporating a sub-frame consisting of a tubular structure on which the engine and suspension are assembled". And the suspension consists of drop link double wishbone type suspension, which was in fact derived from the 407 model.

The brakes are also made of expensively exotic materials, ceramic carbon composite discs, surrounded by 20/21-inch wheels fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tyres measuring 255/35 R20 at the front and 285/30 R21 at the rear.

Though the engine is destined for a Le Mans motorsports application, the rest of the car isn't likely to see the light of day, yet the intimidating design and sheer size of the vehicle make it hard to ignore at the 2006 Mondial de l'Automobile (Paris Motor Show).

As Peugeot explains, the design of the 908 RC creates a particularly low-lying exterior body with a stylish tapered design at the front of the vehicle. Its proportions create an elegant and dynamic statement says the French car maker, and sitting on large diameter 20-inch alloy wheels (21-inch at the rear) the overall effect is that of a big cat, from the nose at the front to the tip of the rear lights.

In relation to this big cat effect, Peugeot also reasons that the Lion emblem that dominates its badge has played a large part in the smaller design details. Example: at the front of the car, the lion's character seems to emanate from the design of the headlights, which are comprised of many LEDs (light-emitting diodes), which create a "dazzling appearance" due to the special finish given to the internal components.

Peugeot insists that the 908 RC's hood draws inspiration from the head of a big cat, while the areas either side of the front end hood create the effect of the cat's cheeks with the bonnet tapering down to the nose, highlighted by the large chromed emblem of the marque. Has Peugeot's design team been overdosing on Whiskers cat food? Renault might agree.

Viewed as a whole, the bold design combines modern styling with an element of grandeur that was indicative of luxury and sports motor vehicles built in Europe in the 1940s, and this is helped by smaller details like the lack of door handles that create surfaces of great simplicity and purity. Aligned with the curves of the car's pronounced “hindquarters” and the sleek shoulder line, the rear LED lights incorporate a polished aluminium insert that evokes the shape of a powerful claw according to Peugeot. Highlighting the 908 RC concept car's performance core is the unsubtle rear air diffuser, bordered by a four exhaust outlets. Finished in a glossy jet black coat of paint, the 908 RC maintains an altogether menacing profile, and one that Peugeot will be glad to have on its exhibit at the biggest motor show in France.

Aerodynamics also played a large role in the creation of the car's bodywork, and Peugeot mentions that the 908 RC's aerodynamics have been particularly fine-tuned to attain an excellent drag coefficient. The car's various air ducts were designed in a wind tunnel to optimise the car's performance and fuel consumption, while ensuring the necessary cooling of the mid-rear mounted V12 engine.

Ensuring that its twin radiators are given enough at the front end, a two-part front air intake directs air flow and this also improves the car's aerodynamic performance says Peugeot, by controlling the internal and external flow by means of the black anodised aluminium vents located upstream of the front wheels.

Other aero/cooling measures include the vents in the rear quarter panels that allow the engine to breathe, and the 908 RC's twin intercoolers also get a direct stream of air directed from the rear wheel arches and then out through the vents behind the wheel arch. As well as the rear diffuser that helps improve air flow out from underneath the vehicle, a controllable rear spoiler incorporated into the boot lid can be raised by the driver to improve road holding at high speeds.

Headquartered in Paris, Peugeot's original idea was to come up with an imposing limousine that offered four occupants the fuel efficiency of diesel, but without sacrificing performance. The final design, says Peugeot, is an uncompromising (and priceless) mode of transport that combines dynamic performance, environmental protection, luxury and comfort that it believes will capture the imagination of both occupants and onlookers.

Peugeot new concept is very much a luxury car that mirrors its grandiose exterior styling. "Thanks to a forward-positioned passenger compartment made possible by the car's architecture, and a large glazed surface area of three metres squared, occupants are truly at one with the road and the passing landscape," says Peugeot. Featuring a massive windscreen that gives all occupants - and especially the driver - an unparalleled view of the road, it's not hard to envision this, and the front windscreen doesn't stop there. It stretches back beyond behind the driver's head all the way to the central door pillars where the glazed roof begins, and the end result is something that's not too far away from production. Though this is a concept car, already vehicles like the 407 Touring are reaching this almost complete glass roof, as can be seen in Feann's review of the diesel-powered car here. 

As well as the airy sensation of the interior, Peugeot has ensured that luxury and technology are well entrenched. In addition to the high-quality amethyst-grey leather seats, the 908 RC features polished aluminium inserts, dark oak surrounds, and a luxury timepiece (Bell & Ross clock). With the luxury aspect covered, Peugeot also wanted to include the latest in technology, and all vehicle functions like the satellite navigation, the MP3 player and quad-zone air conditioning are controlled via a single GUI (graphical user interface), not unlike BMW's iDrive. The high resolution LCD touch-screen system is called the MMI [Audi will be interested in that naming convention - Ed], which stands for the Man/Machine Interface, and is accessible to the rear passengers via a second LCD touch-screen.