In about three months time, professional racers and teams from across the globe will descend upon the western coast of South America for the annual running of the Dakar Rally. While it’s now half a world away from its namesake city, the Dakar Rally remains amongst the planet’s most hardcore endurance competitions. Two-thirds of competitors regularly don’t finish the trek that last year covered about 5,600 miles of harsh, and often uninhabited terrain.

Among the teams returning to Dakar is Peugeot Sport with its 2008 DKR racer. Bigger and badder than ever before, the French automaker sought to make improvements to every aspect of the car that debuted just last year.

The 2008 DKR is now lower, wider, and longer than before, with a more aerodynamically effective carbon fiber body that includes new hood and roof-mounted air scoops, as well as reducing front and rear overhangs to increase ground clearance. Under the skin is a completely revised suspension setup with better weight balance and a better ability to handle the wide-ranging terrain that Dakar forces racers to endure. The 2008 DKR is also using sturdy-and-light magnesium one-piece wheels for the first time.

The 3.0 liter turbodiesel has been worked over as well, resulting in increased output of up to 350 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. More importantly, drivability is said to have been improved, which is even more important than extra power when you’ve got to wrestle a racing machine over icy roads and scorching sand dunes for hundreds of miles at a time.

The new 2008 DKR just got its first overall win at the China Silk Road Rally with driver Stephane Peterhansel at the helm, a feat Peugeot hopes to repeat at Dakar in January. How do you think this vehicle will handle Dakar? Tell us in the comments below!