First look: Pug 407 Coupe slinks in

LOVERS of full-sized Peugeot coupes will soon have no cause to feel neglected, with news that the French brand’s iconic 406 Coupe will be replaced here by early next year.

Discontinued Down Under in October 2004 after a solid seven-year model life, the 406 Coupe will be replaced by a striking new two-door 407, revealed by Peugeot this week.

Set to debut at September’s Frankfurt motor show, the 407 sedan-mimicking Coupe replaces the facelifted model that was never sold here.

It will make its Australian debut just one month later at the Sydney motor show in October, before going on sale here in the first quarter of 2006.

Described as "a large Grand Tourer that can easily accommodate four passengers and all their luggage," the 407 Coupe will be available with the 407 SV sedan’s 155kW/290Nm 3.0-litre V6 and, for the first time, Peugeot’s pleasing 150kW/440Nm 2.7-litre 24-valve HDi turbo-diesel V6.

An entry-level 120kW/220Nm turbo-diesel – also fitted with a high-tech particle emission filter – will also be available in Europe.

Both models will be available with six-speed transmissions. While the oil-burner will be auto-only, for the first time the V6 will be available in both auto and manual guise.

Of course, the V6 manual is the quickest of the bunch and claims 0-100km/h acceleration in 8.4 seconds (8.9 auto) and a top speed of 243km/h, while the 2.7 HDi is just a tenth slower and has a top speed of 230km/h.

Like the 407 sedan it’s based on, the 407 Coupe features double wishbone front suspension, multi-arm rear suspension and "exceptional torsional rigidity to guarantee optimal driving pleasure".

Similarly, 407 sedan’s comprehensive safety kit is also standard, comprising ABS, traction and stability control, emergency brake assist, six airbags and active front head restraints.

Equipment levels will also be formidable, including front and rear parking assist, directional headlights, auto wipers and headlights and digital climate control.

The 407 Coupe is 4815mm long, 1868mm wide and a squat 1400mm high, while overhangs aren’t the shortest at 1080mm front and 1010mm rear – 55mm and 85mm longer than the sedan respectively.

Peugeot says the 407 Coupe’s passenger comfort is greatly enhanced over that of its predecessor, thanks to a 58mm-longer cabin (at 1720mm).

Likewise, front elbow room is up by 128mm to 1452mm, while rear elbow room increases 142mm to 1234mm. A split-folding rear seats makes the larger (400-litre) boot more flexible.

Further increasing driver comfort over both the 406 Coupe and 407 sedan is a 20mm-lowertched leather trim and real aluminium highlights.

Peugeot claims the new coupe’s torsional rigidity is higher than any of its previous models, including the 407 sedan.