After a disappointing first year at the Dakar Rally in 2015, Team Peugeot Total bounced back this year with Stéphane Peterhansel clinching the overall victory in the Peugeot 2008 DKR16, the first win for the lion brand since 1990.
The Frenchman cruised into his 12th win on the 13th and final stage at the end of the second week, just over half an hour ahead of previous winner Nasser Al-Attiyah in the X-raid MINI Countryman. Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa took third with Giniel de Villiers piloting a Toyota Hilux.
As for Peterhansel’s teammates, five-time bike winner Cyril Despres came in seventh after an issue with the turbocharger on stage 5, while nine-time WRC champion Sébastien Loeb took ninth on his debut.
Loeb led for much of the first week, but then suffered a rollover followed by a number of other troubles. Dakar 2010 winner and former WRC driver Carlos Sainz was next in the lead after Loeb’s misfortunes, but a broken spacer between the engine and gearbox dashed his chances.
To recap, the Peugeot 2008 DKR16 is larger and lower than before and has shorter overhangs, revised aerodynamics and a redesigned suspension system matched to lighter magnesium wheels.
It’s also more powerful than before – the 3.0 litre twin-turbo V6 diesel has been tweaked to produce 10 more horsepower, so outputs now stand at 350 hp and 800 Nm. As before, power is sent through a six-speed sequential manual gearbox to the rear wheels.
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- Sebastien Loeb (FRA) from Team Peugeot Total performs during stage 2 of Rally Dakar 2016 from Villa Carlos Paz to Termas de Rio Hondo, Argentina on January 4, 2016.
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- Sebastien Loeb (FRA) from Team Peugeot Total performs during stage 4 of Rally Dakar 2016 from Jujuy to Jujuy, Argentina on January 6, 2016.
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- Stephane Peterhansel (FRA) from Team Peugeot Total performs during stage 4 of Rally Dakar 2016 from Jujuy to Jujuy, Argentina on January 6, 2016.
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- Carlos Sainz (ESP) from Team Peugeot Total performs during stage 5 of Rally Dakar 2016 from Jujuy, Argentina to Uyuni, Bolivia on January 7, 2016.
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- Sebastien Loeb (FRA) of Team Peugeot-Total races during stage 05 of Rally Dakar 2016 from Jujuy, Argentina to Uyuni, Bolivia on January 7, 2016
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- Cyril Despres from Team Peugeot Total performs during stage 4 of Rally Dakar 2016 from Jujuy to Jujuy, Argentina on January 6, 2016.
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3.0 litre twin turbo v6 diesel….
Is any production model pug comes with that motor