peugeot l500 r hybrid profile
peugeot l500 r hybrid hero
peugeot l500 r hybrid front
peugeot l500 r hybrid cockpit
peugeot l500 r hybrid rear
Carsales Staff30 May 2016
NEWS

Peugeot reveals 1000kg motorsport concept

Wild Peugeot L500 R Hybrid concept claimed to hit 100km/h in 2.5 seconds

Peugeot has revealed a futuristic race car concept to commemorate 100 years since it won the 1916 Indianapolis 500.

Unveiled on the same weekend as the 2016 running of what's widely referred to as the world's greatest motor race, the L500 R HYbrid is claimed to weigh just 1000kg.

It's powered by a plug-in hybrid drivetrain incorporating a 201kW four-cylinder petrol engine augmented by an electric motor for each axle, delivering a maximum total output of 373kW (500bhp) of power and 730Nm of torque.

peugeot l500 r hybrid front

The result, claims the French car-maker, is performance to match just about any road car, including 0-100km/h acceleration in just 2.5 seconds and the standing-kilometre in only 19 seconds.

Painted blue and black paint like the original L45, the low-slung L500 measures just a metre high. While it comes with only one seat, Peugeot says its driver can employ a virtual co-driver via the vehicle's virtual reality headset.

Naturally, Pug says the L500 R HYbrid concept pays tribute to the century-old two-seat L45 racer driven by Dario Resta. It was powered by a 4.5-litre engine that pushed the open-top Peugeot racer to an average speed of 135km/h in the 1916 Indy 500.

peugeot l500 r hybrid hero


Resta was part of the 'Charlatans' team that brought Peugeot three US victories at the Indy 500 speedway – the world's second oldest race track -- from 1913 to 1919.

In 1912, the L45 replaced the L76, which was the first modern racing car to reach 190 km/h. The L76 was also the world's first car to employ a four-cylinder engine with four valves per cylinder and a dual overhead camshaft.

"With Peugeot L500 R HYbrid we’re paying tribute to PEUGEOT racing exploits dating to the early 20th century," said Peugeot's concept car and advanced technology chief Matthias Hossann.

"Inspired by this spirit of performance and innovation we wanted to convey a sculptural, elegant and technological view of the future of Peugeot motor sport."

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