*This content was translated by AI.
Interest in motorsports in Korea is hotter than ever recently. The movie <F1 The Movie>, released last year, drew over 5 million viewers in Korea alone, and this year, the domestic brand Genesis is competing in the Hypercar class of the World Endurance Championship (hereinafter WEC), creating an atmosphere where public interest in motorsports is rapidly expanding.
WEC is not merely a stage to compete on speed; it is the world's highest-level Gyeongju that simultaneously verifies manufacturers' technological capabilities, brand philosophy, durability, and efficiency. For automakers, it is both a platform to showcase their technological prowess and capabilities and a fierce research and development (R&D) site to test future electrification technologies, HYBE-led systems, energy efficiency, and aerodynamics in extreme real-world conditions.
As interest in WEC and endurance racing grows in Korea, a brand is once again drawing attention. It is France's Peugeot. While the number of brands newly challenging WEC is increasing, Peugeot has deep roots, having made motorsports a core part of its brand identity since the early days of the automotive industry.
■ Peugeot's motorsports DNA, dating back to 1895
Peugeot left a clear mark on motorsports history by winning one of the world's first automobile Gyeongju, the 'Paris-Bordeaux-Paris Race,' held in 1895. Later, in 1913, it topped the Indianapolis 500 in the United States with a Gyeongju car equipped with the then-innovative DOHC 4-valve engine technology, laying the foundation for the future development of high-performance engine technology.
In the 1980s, it dominated the World Rally Championship (WRC) with the legendary '205 Turbo 16,' representing the iconic Group B rally era, and recorded consecutive Dakar Rally victories in 1987 and 1988. Since then, it has solidified its firm position on the endurance racing stage by winning the 24th Hours of Le Mans and WEC with Gyeongju cars like the '905' and '908 HDi.'
Building on this heritage, Peugeot returned to the top-tier Hypercar class of WEC in 2022 with its '9X8' Gyeongju car. The 9X8, featuring an original aerodynamic design that boldly removed the rear wing and based on the HYBE-led system, is evaluated as an innovative challenge that breaks away from the conventional grammar of existing Gyeongju cars.
■ Technical direct approach: choosing 'Independent Design (LMH)' instead of a common chassis
The most notable aspect of Peugeot's racing strategy is the chassis structure that forms the backbone of the Gyeongju car. Many teams recently entering WEC utilize the 'LMDh (Le Mans Daytona hybrid)' regulations, which combine a common chassis with a HYBE-led system. This offers the practical advantage of reducing development costs and time.
In contrast, Peugeot adopted the 'LMH (Le Mans Hypercar)' regulations. This is the so-called 'in-house constructor' method, where the manufacturer independently designs and develops all core elements required for racing, including the engine, transmission, powertrain, and even the chassis structure. This means that Peugeot already possesses unparalleled motorsports R&D capabilities, as it is a manufacturer that competes by building the entire car itself, going beyond simply participating in races.
Currently, in the WEC Hypercar class, the only brands that independently develop core Gyeongju car elements as 'in-house constructors' are Ferrari, Toyota, and Peugeot.
■ Extreme track technology expands to the joy of driving on the road
Peugeot's racing DNA is directly transplanted into the Yangsan cars we encounter on the road. Peugeot has long emphasized 'the joy of driving' as a core brand value. Rather than being obsessed with high output or numerical acceleration performance, it focuses on realizing an intuitive driving sensation where the driver and the car are connected as one.
Sharp steering responsiveness, ideal body weight balance, stable cornering feel, and driver-centric design are all results of know-how accumulated at the forefront of motorsports. The recently expanded 'Smart HYBE-led' system applied across the entire LINE-up can also be understood in the same context.
Peugeot does not pursue electrification solely for fuel efficiency but aims for a HYBE-led system where efficiency and driving sensation are harmonized. In particular, the 'e-DCS6' transmission, which incorporates technology rigorously tested in racing environments, minimizes power loss through an integrated electric motor design and supports smooth driving centered on electric mode. As a result, drivers can experience excellent responsiveness and natural acceleration feel even in daily driving.
Motorsports is no longer just a brand marketing tool. As the automotive industry enters the era of software-defined vehicles (SDV) centered on electrification and software, data and experience accumulated in extreme environments directly translate into the technological competitiveness of Yangsan cars.
Peugeot has already refined its technology, feel, and brand philosophy on this stage for over 130 years. The reason why Peugeot, amidst an increasing number of new challengers on the current WEC stage, is expressing a unique presence beyond being a mere participant is that the technology and values honed without compromise on the track for over 130 years flow directly into Peugeot cars on the road.
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*This content was translated by AI.
