Peugeot E-T16 Concept: A tribute to the legendary 205 Group B with 816 PS

The concept car, developed in collaboration with Peugeot Sport, delivers 600 kW (816 PS) and accelerates from 0 to 300 kilometres per hour in just 16 seconds.

This makes the Peugeot E-T16 Concept one of the most powerful Peugeots of all time, surpassed only by the Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak prototype (875 PS), which triumphed at the 2013 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado (USA) with Sébastien Loeb, triumphing and setting a new record.

Wuchtige Seitenansicht: Peugeot E-T16-A

Foto: Stellantis

This pays homage to Peugeot’s successful rallying era under the legendary team principal Jean Todt, when Timo Salonen in 1985 and Juha Kankkunen a year later won both the Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ World Championships with the Peugeot 205 T16.

With this concept car, which has just been unveiled to the public at the Paris Motor Show, Peugeot is introducing its new ‘Peugeot Feline Future’ design language. With this new design philosophy, the brand with the lion emblem aims to make its vehicles more emotive, dynamic and distinctive. With its lighting signature and the new generation of digital cockpit featuring a Hypersquare steering wheel, the Peugeot E-T16 Concept also offers a glimpse of the next-generation Peugeot E-208.

Ari Vatanen im Gruppe B-Peugeot 205 TF 16 bei der Rallye Monte Carlo 1985

Foto: XPB

The car is powered by three electric motors – one at the front and two at the rear – which drive the concept car. With its total power output, the concept car achieves an exceptional power-to-weight ratio of less than two kilograms per PS. It is said to accelerate from zero to 100 kilometres per hour in 2.5 seconds.

In combination with the torque vectoring system, the electric drivetrain with its three motors distributes torque in real time both between the two rear wheels and between the front and rear axles, depending on grip conditions. There are three driving modes available, which adjust power delivery, torque distribution between the two axles and chassis settings – including a Track mode for unrestricted driving even on challenging surfaces. A fourth mode can be fully customised by the driver.

Peugeot E-T16: Hommage an die Gruppe B

Foto: Stellnatis

Four 380-mm disc brakes ensure safe braking and good grip, a vertically mounted hydraulic handbrake – just like on rally cars – and the generously sized Michelin tyres, 275 millimetres wide at the front and 315 millimetres wide at the rear, provide the necessary control.

Inspired by the steering wheel of the Peugeot 9X8 hypercar, which competes in the FIA World Endurance Championship, the E-T16 Concept’s Hypersquare steering wheel demonstrates the adaptability of the new steer-by-wire technology.

Sebastien Loeb gewann 2013 mit dem 875 PS-Peugeot beim Pikes Peak-Rennen

Foto: Red Bull

Performance remains consistently available even under heavy use. The engineers at Peugeot Sport have paid particular attention to battery cooling to prevent a power reduction, whereby power is throttled to protect against overheating. Drawing on expertise from motorsport, the thermal battery management system has been optimised. This involved the use of side-cooling technology, derived from racing, which cools the battery cells via their side walls rather than via their base, as is the case with conventional systems.

The results have already proved impressive: in Performance mode, the Peugeot E-T16 Concept completes three laps of the Nürburgring Nordschleife – more than 60 kilometres – without any power limitation.