Peugeot 407 News

Back in 1999, the only diesel-powered vehicles on the Australian market were sports utility vehicles, light commercials and trucks.

And that's unlikely to change if the 407's replacement - the 408 heavily camouflaged in these images captured by Carparazzi - is simply an evolution, rather than the huge step in styling that saw the progression from 406 to 407.A Peugeot insider says the body will have eye-catching detailing and 'hard-edged' cues, but the differences will be subtle. "The car will be an evolution, not revolution," said the source.However Peugeot is not hanging back when it comes to powertrain changes across its ranges, and while there are few details about the engines to be offered, you can be fairly sure the new 408 will feature a hybrid drivetrain in the line-up, most likely with a diesel engine rather than the more usual petrol.The French carmaker is pioneering the diesel hybrid in cars like the 3008 and will extend the technology to its next generation of sedans.  A hybrid 408 should be capable of class-leading economy and CO2 of less than 100g/km.The 408 is expected to use the same platform as the Citroen C5, and could include high-end safety features such as a heads-up display and adaptive headlights. It is expected to be officially revealed and go on sale in 2010.

When it was launched here in 2004, you could not mistake the 407 for anything but a Peugeot. Its distinctive design, long bonnet, huge gaping mouth and feline-looking headlights instantly oozed French sex appeal. Now in its first mid-life update since launch, Peugeot designers have left the car's distinctive looks largely untouched. There's a mild tweak here and there, more chrome and some new engines, but the look is still distinctly Peugeot. Peugeot Automobiles Australia spokesman Mathew McAuley says the new sedan and wagon will probably arrive in showrooms in time for next year's Melbourne Motor Show. Apart from styling updates, Peugeot has added a new 2.0-litre Bioflex engine that runs on E85 ethanol. It will be available in markets where governments provide biofuel tax incentives. But McAuley says the Bioflex engine and a smaller 1.6-litre HDi model are unlikely for Australia. “I expect we will continue with our engine line-up as it is,” he says. That means a 2.2-litre petrol four-cylinder, 2.0-litre HDi, 2.7-litre HDi V6 and 3.0-litre petrol V6. The sedan and station wagon benefit from small exterior upgrades to keep them fresh. There is more chrome detailing, such as the vertical bars in the grille, and redesigned tail-lights. Inside, Peugeot has revised trim and comfort with on-board temperature control, new telematics systems and parking assist, similar to the system introduced in the newly launched Volkswagen Tiguan. The company has also lifted build quality, in line with the new 308 hatch. But the most interesting changes to the 407 are under the bonnet, with the upgraded 2.0-litre HDi engine. The 2.0-litre HDi gets an extra 3kW to lift power to 103kW at 4000 revs, using 5.6 litres of diesel for a 100km and emitting 150g/km of CO2 when mated to the six-speed manual. Torque remains at 320Nm at 2000 revs. The engine meets tough Euro 5 emissions standards. McAuley says the HDi engines will continue to form most 407 sales. More than 50 per cent of all Peugeot models sold in Australia are diesel-powered. coops  

Big and comfortable coupes built for cruising are rare these days. Most cars with two doors are sporty, and are usually set up too firm for a nice loping drive in the country. But the Peugeot 407 Coupe is a stylish cruiser that won't damage your vertebrae when you run over bumpy tarmac. Though it is built off the same base as the 407 sedan, every panel on the Coupe is unique. Engines include a 155kW 3.0-litre petrol V6 and the impressive 150kW 2.7-litre twin turbo-diesel fitted to our test car. The big Peugeot diesel is not cheap, coming in at $72,500, but it is loaded with gear. The goodies include heated leather seats, xenon headlights that point around corners, front and rear parking sensors, dual-zone airconditioning, JBL premium sound system, rain-sensing wipers and tyre pressure sensors. The leather seats are supportive, but there is not much room for those in the back. Another downside is the length and weight of the doors, which hinder getting in and out. The twin turbo-diesel is a cracking engine and is pretty quiet. With 440Nm from as low as 1900 revs, it pulls the car around with little effort and even emits a sporty note when pushed. It combines well with the ZF six-speed automatic, which changes smoothly. All this is achieved with an average of just 7.5 litres for 100km, dropping to 6 litres cruising on the highway. The 407 Coupe has plenty of punch, but it's not really a sports car. It is a bit clumsy in tight turns, with woolly steering feel and a fair amount of body roll on uneven surfaces.

One of the headline acts will be the French star of recent independent crash tests - the Citroen C6 - which has been acclaimed as the safest car yet tested by the New Car Assessment program.The C6, set to go on sale in Australia by the middle of the year, is the fi rst car to earn the maximum four stars from Euro NCAP for its pedestrian safety rating, as well as a maximum fi ve stars for occupant protection.It's also won an award as the world's most beautiful large sedan.The C6 is offering two V6 engines - a 2.7-litre 150kW turbo diesel or a three-litre 155kW petrol engine; both drive the front wheels via a six-speed automatic gearbox.Alfa Romeo's 156 range brought the Italian brand back to the fore in Australia with fl air and passion. It's replacement, the 159, continues in that tradition. It will offer more modern drivetrains - and even a V6 with Australian roots - when it hits the market mid year.Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and the Alfa Romeo Styling Centre, the new car will come in both front and all-wheel drive versions, with the Q4 permanent four-wheel drive system using three diffs to split drive.The Alfa Romeo 159 is the first of a whole family of new Alfas due over the next two years, including the Brera.Lexus will be the fi rst car maker to offer a luxury hybrid model, with its GS petrol-electric hybrid offering plenty of performance with the thirst and emissions of a two-litre.The Toyota-owned luxury brand also has a hybrid version of the RX SUV but the company's stand in Adelaide will feature the RX350 - which sees the looks get a nip and tuck, with a new more-powerful and more fuel-effi cient engine beneath its sculpted snout.When Volkswagen went back to the factoryowned subsidiary, they announced high hopes of surpassing 20,000 units by now. They haven't got there yet but with more than 15,000 sales last year the German car maker is on the right track.The prestige segment will see the Passat return with a vengeance this year, with direct-injection two-litre petrol and turbo-diesel engines, or a V6 petrol engine, on offer in either sedan or wagon body style.The sales have had a boost from the new Golf and the newly-introduced (and keenly-priced) Jetta, giving the German car maker plenty of ammunition to work with.Peugeot will give Adelaide show-goers a look at its new 407 Coupe, a sleek, powerful and attractive 2+2 that will be offered in petrol and diesel models on sale in Australia as the show opens.The coupe will be offered with a three-litre 155kW/290Nm V6 petrol engine with either a sixspeed manual gearbox or new six-speed automatic transmission for $65,990 and $68,190 respectively.The sleek Pug will also be offered with a 2.7-litre V6 HDi twin-turbo diesel offering 150Kw and 440Nm with a six-speed automatic gearbox as standard. It will be priced at $72,500.Porsche chose to introduce the Australian motoring media to the Cayman S in the countryside surrounding Adelaide and its fi tting the German brand returns to the motor show this year with the same model.The Cayman S is more than a Boxster with a roof, sharing inlet systems and some other nice bits with the 911.The bulk of the DNA traces back to the midengined Boxster, which gives the two-seater Cayman the same basic powerplant - although slightly larger - plus the superb road manners and balance that has made the convertible a popular option among Porsche buyers.Chrysler has returned to the Australian market with plenty of enthusiasm and some interesting product, the latest and most powerful example of that statement being the 300C sedan.Soon to be followed by diesel and wagon variants, the V8 300C has serious visual impact and packs plenty of equipment to take on the big locally-built luxury sedans.The Chrysler has the added attraction of displacement on demand, which drops fourcylinders from use to save fuel when light throttle loads are required.

For some reason known only to Peugeot, the French car maker decided to launch the car here without any kind of event, preferring simply to unveil it at the Sydney motor show. Could be an innovative way of getting the attention of the jaded motoring journalists, who are sometimes forced to attend as many as four launches in a single week? If you like the look of the new car which replaces the ageing but highly respected 406, the good news is that it has been worth the wait. We have driven the new 407 and must say that we are mightily impressed. Peugeot had been cranking out the 406 since 1996 and it was long overdue for replacement. The new 407 looks fabulous, goes very well and is extremely well priced when you look at some of the Euro competition. About the only thing mising from the package is satellite navigation which is not available here yet. Our main gripe if you can call it that is that the 407 just doesn't seem as engaging as previous Peugeots which have forged a reputation for being a driver's car. Still this hardly going to bother the average punter looking for something stylish and a little different and the inquiry rate is apparently very high. Pricing for the 407 starts at $42,790 and continues through a number of engine types and specification levels to a ceiling of $55,990 for the top of the line V6 sedan with all the trimmings. There is also station wagon called the Touring model with a whiz bang sunroof that starts at $47,990 and tops out at at $58,990. However if you are after a wagon you will have to wait until later in the year. Engines range from a 2.2-litre four cylinder petrol engine to a 3.0-litre V6, with the option of a hi-tech 2.0-litre turbo diesel. Eight airbags are standard across the 407 range making it a very safe car with a maximum five-star rating in European tests. Electronic stability control with ABS and electronic brake force distribution is also standard, along with hazard lights that activate automatically in emergency braking. Our test car was the top of the line SV V6 sedan which is available only with a six-speed tip shift style auto. If you want a manual (we're talking six-speed here), then you must chose from the four cylinder or diesel powered models. Also note, the auto in four cylinder and diesel models is a four-speed unit. The V6 delivers 155kW of power at 6000rpm and 290Nm of torque from 3750rpm. It lacks a bit of punch down low but is still able to get the car mobile fairly quickly, with a 0-100km/h acceleration figure of 8.4 seconds. In full auto mode, the car is a somewhat slow to respond at low speed, but remember this box provides all the options. You can change to sport which retards change points or flick the lever over to full manual mode which provides much livelier performance. Peugeots are noted for their excellent suspension and the 407 is no exception. In the SV V6 you get variable electronic suspension which adjusts automatically to driving conditions or can be set to a firmer sport setting for flatter, more enthusiastic cornering. It is a deceiving car in the handling department, as it quickly firms up and points nicely in corners, finding its way in and out again with little fuss. Fuel economy, an important issue with rising petrol prices, was an excellent at 11.1L/100km during testing. Nice touches include park distance control, auto- matic headlights and windscreen wipers, plus window blinds for rear seat passengers. Minor annoyances include the windscreen mounted rain sensor which intrudes on the driver's field of vision as well as the extra skirting on the lower edge of the front air dam which is rather low.