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Peugeot Unveils Hybrid Le Mans Racer

By Ben Whitworth Motor Industry 07 October 2008 13:03 Peugeot used the final round of this season’s Le Mans Series at Silverstone this weekend to show off its new hybrid-powered 908 HDi FAP racer, which features a similar kinetic energy recovery setup to next year’s Formula 1 system.The 908’s ‘HY’ undertook a number of demonstration laps in front of the packed grandstands and showed how Peugeot’s passenger car technology is filtering through to its motorsport activities.Over the weekend, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest – the company that runs the Le Mans series – announced a raft of aerodynamic and air-intake changes to next year’s regulations to even out the advantages of diesel over petrol. But rather frustratingly for Peugeot, there were no moves to incorporate hybrid powertrains in the 2009 season.But Peugeot claims that it will enter the 908 HY into next year’s Le Mans Series as a ‘Double Oh’ non-competitor to further evaluate the car’s hybrid technology.The HY’s layout comprises three key components - an 80bhp gear-driven electric motor-generator which replaces the conventional starter motor, 10 lithium-ion battery stacks to store the recovered power (six in the cockpit instead of the conventional battery and four on the left-hand side of the floor pan) and an electronic power converter, located in the rear part of the front left wing, which controls the flow of energy between batteries and motor.The result is a 3-5% mechanical energy recovery – and the associated economy and performance benefits. Over a single lap of Le Mans, for example, the system will recoup lost energy for up to 30seconds.This is then converted into a 20second 80bhp kick can either be meted out automatically by the car’s electronics to bolster acceleration throughout the lap or be selectively used by the driver using a ‘push to pass’ boost button.The additional and modified components add a further 65kg to the car’s weight, but Peugeot’s engineers claim the racecar will still easily meet the minimum regulated weight. “As a car manufacturer we can use motor sport as a research and development tool for the Peugeot brand as a whole,” said Michel Barge, Peugeot Sport’s director.

1990s supercars

By Tim Pollard and Ben Oliver 10 July 2008 16:01 Supercars in the Nineties By now well and truly established, the supercar regulars continued to offer ever more outrageous products. The recession bit in the early ’90s, but thereafter some of the landmark cars were launched: the McLaren F1 is, for many, the definitive supercar of all time – a one-off conceived with all the purity of a grand prix racer. Others dabbled (remember the Jag XJ220?), but none achieved the Macca’s astonishing single-mindedness.Browse our GBU-style pick of the decade's landmarks below – and vote for your favourite supercar decade in our poll  Make and model Year Price Engine 0-60mph Top speed 1990 £156,000 5707cc V12, 492bhp, 428lb ft   4.1sec 202mph  For   The Audi-fettled 6.0 VT was the last, and best Against   A playboy's plaything; never gained real credibility Verdict   Lambo's thinking looked slow after the F40 and 959   Lamborghinis third mid-engined V12 supercar lacked the impact of the first two.

Bentley at Geneva: Bentley Mulsanne – all the details

Bentley has release comprehensive specs for the 2010 Mulsanne Bentley has now finished producing cars of the pre-VW era. The last of the old-school Bentleys have now rolled off the production line and we now have a clean sweep of modern-day Bentleys. The Continental GT has spawned umpteen variants – including the Continental Supersports Convertible which is also here at Geneva – but the real focus at Geneva is on the replacement for the venerable Arnage.