Peugeot has unveiled pictures and a video of the special-edition 208 T16, which will be included in this year's Pikes Peak hill-climb Unlimited division.
The second oldest auto race in the U.S., the Pikes Peak Hill climb takes place in Colorado across a 12.4-mile mountain track with 156 turns. Decreasing oxygen is a concern for racers, given the 9,390 foot climb to the 14,110 foot summit.
The new special-edition vehicle to be featured at Pikes Peak is a modified Peugeot 208. The vehicle sports a rear wing from the Peugeot 908. The car also has a carbon fiber effects package and centrally located cockpit. According to Peugeot, it won't be long before we see performance specifications for the car. It should have plenty of power and the number 208 on its sides.
"Its proportions are very different to those of the production 208," Michael Trouve, who heads silhouette design at Peugeot's Styling Center, said in a statement. "This difference gives it an almost beast-like appearance."
According to Trouve, the special-edition is an "extreme take" on the 208.
The introduction of the special-edition 208 T16 marks a return after Peugeot's 14-year absence from the race. The car will be driven by multiple race winner Sebastien Loeb, who has proven familiarity with the type of paved route we'll see at Pikes Peak. Loeb placed third in the French GT Championship last year, later winning the opening race of this year's FIA GT series in a McLaren MP4-12C.
You can watch a video of the Peugeot special-edition 208 T16 heading to Pikes Peak below.
