As if you needed any more reason to visit the Goodwood Festival of Speed on 26 - 29 June, Peugeot has announced its line-up for the event and it includes new models, concept cars, racing cars and a 'gravity drop' ride. In keeping with the festival theme 'Addicted to Winning - The Unbeatable Champions of Motor Sport' there are winning cars and drivers including Sebastien Loeb driving the 208 T16 Pikes Peak car up the Goodwood hill.
Four-wheeled attractions include the Exalt Concept, fresh from its debut at the Beijing Motor Show. The dramatic looking bare steel and textile bodywork conceals a 340hp hybrid driveline based around a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine.
Sharing the same powerplant - also found in the RCZ R - is the Peugeot 308 R Concept. It previews a possible hot version of the 308 with 270hp and a colour scheme designed to echo that of the Exalt concept - the red main colour contrasting with a dark grey rear. The 208 HYbrid FE Concept is said to offer 'the best of both worlds' with a micro hybrid system claimed to give 112mpg, 46g/km of CO2 and 0-100km/h time of 8.0 seconds.
Appearing on the Goodwood Hill course, Sebastien Loeb will be reunited with the 875hp Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak machine. Loeb is driving for Peugeot with the permission of Citroen Racing; the 1.16-mile (1.87-kilometre) Goodwood hill should be easy compared with the 12.42-mile (20-kilometre) Pikes Peak event. Another veteran from the famous Colorado mountain is the 1988 405 T16 GR Pikes Peak, which will be driven by Enda Garvey. Finally, Count Christophe D'Ansembourg will drive the 1992 Peugeot 905 Evo 1B Le Mans car.
The company's stand is located by the Goodwood Bridge and cricket pitch. For a panoramic view visitors can go on the Peugeot Gravity Drop, where they will be lifted 40 feet in the air before experiencing a stomach churning controlled drop back to the ground. Pre-booking for the ride is encouraged and reservations can be made at www.peugeotenjoytheride.co.uk.
Anything else?
Away from the main Peugeot stand the company's 907 V12 Concept Coupé, from the 2004 Paris Motor Show, will be displayed at the Goodwood Cartier 'Style et Luxe' concours d'elegance. Designed as the ultimate GT car it combines traditional styling cues with modern technology and materials.