Arias Pistons 12.5:1 Compression 82mm Bore Honda B-series on 2040-parts.com

Peugeot Unveils Hybrid Le Mans Racer

By Ben Whitworth Motor Industry 07 October 2008 13:03 Peugeot used the final round of this season’s Le Mans Series at Silverstone this weekend to show off its new hybrid-powered 908 HDi FAP racer, which features a similar kinetic energy recovery setup to next year’s Formula 1 system.The 908’s ‘HY’ undertook a number of demonstration laps in front of the packed grandstands and showed how Peugeot’s passenger car technology is filtering through to its motorsport activities.Over the weekend, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest – the company that runs the Le Mans series – announced a raft of aerodynamic and air-intake changes to next year’s regulations to even out the advantages of diesel over petrol. But rather frustratingly for Peugeot, there were no moves to incorporate hybrid powertrains in the 2009 season.But Peugeot claims that it will enter the 908 HY into next year’s Le Mans Series as a ‘Double Oh’ non-competitor to further evaluate the car’s hybrid technology.The HY’s layout comprises three key components - an 80bhp gear-driven electric motor-generator which replaces the conventional starter motor, 10 lithium-ion battery stacks to store the recovered power (six in the cockpit instead of the conventional battery and four on the left-hand side of the floor pan) and an electronic power converter, located in the rear part of the front left wing, which controls the flow of energy between batteries and motor.The result is a 3-5% mechanical energy recovery – and the associated economy and performance benefits. Over a single lap of Le Mans, for example, the system will recoup lost energy for up to 30seconds.This is then converted into a 20second 80bhp kick can either be meted out automatically by the car’s electronics to bolster acceleration throughout the lap or be selectively used by the driver using a ‘push to pass’ boost button.The additional and modified components add a further 65kg to the car’s weight, but Peugeot’s engineers claim the racecar will still easily meet the minimum regulated weight. “As a car manufacturer we can use motor sport as a research and development tool for the Peugeot brand as a whole,” said Michel Barge, Peugeot Sport’s director.

Citroën Cactus concept with Air Bump technology confirmed for Frankfurt debut [w/Video]

Citroën's Cactus concept featuring a mysterious sounding 'Air Bump' technology will be taking center stage at the carmaker's stand at this year's Frankfurt motor show. The carmaker has released just one image of the concept along with a 21-second video (see left) showing a spongy panel labeled ‘Air Bump' being poked. Although this doesn't really tell us much about what this new technology actually does, we suspect the panels featured in the video are inserted into the bumper and can protect it from the smaller-scale collisions that can happen in everyday life.

Pagani Huayra Roadster still 2 years away

The Pagani Huayra Roadster is still 2 years away (Coupe pictured) The Pagani Huayra arrived three years ago as Pagani’s replacement for the Zonda (in fact, is was three years ago in January we exclusively revealed the first ever Huayra photo), and despite assurances from Pagani that a Huayra Roadster would arrive by 2014 there’s still no sign of it. We did have a little moment of anticipation that the Huayra Roadster was on its way when Pagani teased something new for Geneva 2013, but that turned out to be nothing more than a (posh) new set of speakers for the Huayra Coupe. In fact, the Sonus Faber Sound System for the Huayra Roadster is about the only Pagani news on anything new we’ve had in the three years since the Huayra arrived – although there have been plenty of problems for the Huayra along the way.