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Peugeot 208 R5 Rally Car Revealed

Peugeot has pulled the wraps from its rally contender that will do battle under the FIA's new cost-saving R5 regulations. Dubbed 208 R5, Peugeot's new monster replaces the 207 S2000 car, and thanks to the new rules, it is a very different b

Mike Stevens

02:3102 October 2012

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Peugeot 208 R5 Rally Car Revealed

Peugeot has pulled the wraps from its rally contender that will do battle under the FIA's new cost-saving R5 regulations.

Dubbed 208 R5, Peugeot's new monster replaces the 207 S2000 car, and thanks to the new rules, it is a very different beast indeed.

While certain S2000 factors will carry over into the new class - including the all-wheel-drive system and wider track, sequential transmission and a minimum 1200kg weight - there have been major changes to powertrain rulles.

Entrants in the R5 class must do away with the naturally-aspirated 2.0 litre engine of past cars, replaced instead with a 1.6 litre turbocharged unit.

In the case of the 208 R5, power is provided by Peugeot's familiar 1.6 litre THP engine, producing 205kW.

“We are aiming for performance which is slightly higher than that of the S2000”, project boss Bertrand Vallat said

“We have serious foundations with this engine and we are aiming for a very high level of durability and reliability between 3,000 and 5,000 km (1,800-3,100 miles), which will also reduce the operating costs.”

The unveiling of the 208 R5 follows the debut earlier this year of the 208 R2, targeted at entry-level rallying and producing 138kW through its 1.6 litre petrol engine.

The 208 R5 will begin testing later this year, with a race debut set for the second half of 2013.