Peugeot 407 2008 News

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.

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.