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Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s Peugeot’s entrant into the 2015 Dakar rally, the 2008 DKR. It’s based, loosely, on the 2008 crossover SUV and will be taking on the dunes using two-wheel drive rather than the usual four-wheel drive used to traverse such heavy terrain.
The advantages of the two-wheel drive setup include lighter weight, bigger wheels and tyres, a short front overhang, and longer suspension travel of 460mm as opposed to the 250mm of the 4×4 competitors. All of these will hopefully give Peugeot an advantage over their four-wheel driven counterparts. Also, the larger wheels and tyres means that air pressures can be adjusted remotely from the cabin, saving precious time mid-race.
Powering the 2008 DKR will be a turbo-diesel V6 engine, developing 253.5kW and 800Nm, longitudinally mounted in a mid-rear position. The engine redlines at 5000 rpm, and the 2008 DKR has a top speed of 200km/h.
With all that power, rear-wheel drive, and tons of grip, could the Peugeot 2008 DKR become the first two-wheel drive car to win the Dakar?
You can read our road review of the production Peugeot 2008 here: Peugeot 2008 1.6 Allure
