Team Peugeot-Total released first details about the 2008 DKR for 2015 Dakar Rally back in April.

Today details about the inner workings of this wild racer have been released and they are quite surprising.

First of all the 2008 DKR is not a 4×4 rally car as most four-wheel drive vehicles competing on the extreme desert rally.

The 2008 DKR is a two-wheel drive vehicle and the plans are big as the Peugeot Sport Director Bruno Famin told: “This bold decision will enable the team to try to become the first to win the Dakar with two-wheel drive & diesel engine”.

The rules of the Dakar rally compensate the inherent advantage of 4×4 vehicles by allowing two-wheel-drive machinery to benefit from certain advantages like a lower weight, use of bigger wheels and minimising the front overhang.

According to Team Peugeot-Total, the 2008 DKR can practically climb vertical walls, while longer suspension travel of 460mm instead of 250mm enhances its ability over dunes and on uneven ground.

The rear wheels are driven by a 340bhp, V6 twin-turbo diesel in mid-rear engine configuration.

This wild rear-wheel drive off-road beast will be driven by Carlos Sainz and Cyril Despres on next January’s Dakar.