Peugeot 407 RANGE
Peugeot's Boldly Styled 407 Looks To Put The Company Back In The Box
Seat In The Medium Range Saloon Sector. Andy Enright Reports
Heres a test that will define your age. If Peugeot means Gallic luxury and sophistication, youre probably over forty. If the brand instead conjures up images of manic hot hatches, youre likely thirtysomething. If, on the other hand, it means sensible, well built but largely unspectacular cars, youre in a younger age group again.
With the 407 medium range car, Peugeot are aiming to fuse the best of all these generations, offering a sophisticated, well built car thats as good to drive as it is to look at. Its a tall order and one that many rivals have fallen short of achieving.
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The 406 was undoubtedly a good looking car upon its launch in 1996, although opinions over the effectiveness of the 1999 styling makeover are often divided. It spawned a coupe with some styling cues that brought to mind the
Ferrari 456 and in a strange case of history repeating itself, the front end of the latest 407 is not dissimilar in execution to Ferraris 456 successor, the 612 Scaglietti. Coincidence? Undoubtedly, but there are worse cars to be likened to. The front is dominated by a gaping maw the like of which has not been seen since Jonah commented on surprisingly heavy swell conditions.
As with all the best Peugeots of yore, the lines are elegant, sleek and fluid. The windscreen is steeply raked back, giving a very sporting appearance. A Coupe version has been developed and aside from the four-door saloon, weve also borne witness to the 407SW estate which is, if anything, even better looking. With its canted back C-pillar, the SW looks impossibly fast an automotive Exocet amid a sea of lumbering trebuchets.
Peugeot are keen to stress that the 407, priced from £15,255, is their very first car to feature double wishbone front suspension, which may not mean a great deal to many but in essence sums up the French companys commitment to handling excellence. Many cars these days have so-called multilink rear suspension systems, but most persevere with a simple strut front set up. In offering a more sophisticated front suspension system, Peugeot have raised the bar again. Four petrol engines and two diesel units are offered, the diesels including a particulate emission filter, those with manual gearboxes compliant with Euro4 standards, thus neatly sidestepping the three per cent benefit in kind surcharge.
These HDi diesels consist of a 1.6-litre unit that cranks out 110bhp and 240Nm of torque (260Nm of temporary overboost) and a 2.0-litre powerplant that develops 136bhp and 320Nm of torque (340Nm on overboost). Through a strategic link with
Ford, Peugeot will in future have access to the 2.
7-litre V6 HDi engine which should make for a very desirable 407 diesel model indeed.
"The front is dominated by a gaping maw the like of which has not been seen since Jonah commented on surprisingly heavy swell conditions"
Petrol buyers are well catered for with a range that opens with a 16-valve 1.8-litre unit with 117bhp, mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. Step up to the 2.0-litre engine and youll have access to 136bhp and the choice of either a conventional five-speed manual box or a four-speed automatic autoadaptive gearbox with
Porsche Tiptronic System control.
If you do fancy the automatic gearbox, the 160bhp 2.2-litre engine is probably a better candidate, although if you prefer a manual gearbox, this model boasts a six-speeder. The range-topping 211bhp 3.0-litre V6 also offers the choice between the six-speed manual and the automatic and features variable valve timing (VVT) to ensure that power and torque are evenly distributed across a wide rev range.
Peugeot have set something of a precedent to follow with some very good previous Euro NCAP crash test results but the 407 again takes a big step forward. Active safety in the form of brake discs with a diameter of up to 330mm and next-generation ESP stability control which is standard on every model. As well as marshalling the anti-skid function, ESP also acts as a controller for the anti lock braking system, the emergency brake assist and the electronic brakeforce distribution to each individual wheel. The chassis itself incorporates not only the highest level of torsional rigidity ever seen on a Peugeot saloon as you might expect but it also features a device known as an impactor that anchors the engine to the subframe and prevents it being shunted into the passenger cell in the event of a crash.
Pedestrian protection is a major design criterion these days and the 407 features foam padded bumper bars and a bonnet that deforms to absorb shock, the top of the engine a good distance below that sweeping bonnet line. Up to nine air bags can be specified twin fronts, side, curtain and steering column units offer optimum protection. The cabin looks very Peugeot - which is possibly the weakest part of the 407 make up. Its neat and everything seems to work very nicely but there isnt a great deal of showroom wow factor to it.
Sophisticated multiplexed electronics allow for a huge amount of individual customisation when specifying your 407, with such features as rear view mirrors linked to reverse gear, parking sensors, self-imposed speed limiters, low tyre pressure monitors and variable cruise control systems all capable of being fitted quickly and, just as importantly, at very modest expense. Its not often that we comment upon a cars air conditioning system most set ups being much of a muchness but the 407s deserves special mention. A humidity sensor constantly monitors the air in the interior to prevent fogging and a gentle dash-top diffuser dehumidifies the air without subjecting the passengers to the usual gritty blast. Peugeot have also developed an externally controlled compressor that uses atmospheric conditions to reduce the work the system has to do, thus reducing fuel consumption.
A pollen filter also keeps summer trips bearable for those afflicted by hay fever. If the 407 replicates the success of the 406, Peugeot should be well pleased. Although its a hugely superior proposition, the market has moved on and the 407 finds itself up against some tough rivals. An extended drive should give a definitive answer on how it stacks up.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Peugeot 407 range
PRICES: [4dr/Est] £15,255-£24,355 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 8-16
CO2 EMISSIONS: 155-233g/km
PERFORMANCE: [3.0] Max Speed 147mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [110bhp HDi] (urban) 36.9mpg/ (extra urban) 57.9mpg / (combined) 48.1mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags, ABS, ESP
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: [saloon] length/width/heightmm 4676/1811/1445
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