Following the likes of Audi, Peugeot decided to promote their diesel engine technology on the racing track and specifically, on the 24 Hours of The 908 will be powered by a 700 Hp V12 HDi diesel engine, equipped with a diesel particulate filter system.
Peugeot V12 HDi diesel DPFS
The choice of engine architecture has been based on a 100° twelve-cylinder V design, with a 5.5 litre cylinder capacity. This is the maximum cylinder capacity that regulations allow and was chosen for it efficient operation at low speed. It also enables engine power to be limited in the first instance, but also enables further development.
The number of cylinders results, on the one hand, from the wish to keep bore diameter very close to that of a production series engine, in order to make best use of Peugeot’s diesel combustion knowledge and, on the other hand, to limit the stroke to a reasonable value. The V12 architecture, well known for its good balance, also reduces vibration to a minimum while the 100° V angle allows the height of the centre of gravity to be lowered without affecting the torsional rigidity of the engine.
Two diesel particulate filters are mounted at the end of each of the exhaust systems. Through technology which has come directly from production cars, they will provide a guaranteed control of exhaust emissions under all operating conditions.
The level of performance expected – more than 515kW (700 bhp) of power and a torque output greater than 1.200 Nm – is without precedent in a diesel engine and is a direct result of Peugeot’s current level of know-how in diesel technology, linked to the mechanical characteristics of the V12.
