PEUGEOT 406 1999 test drive - 2004 sedan

Lion's chase for the Amazon

After the Debut of the Peugeot 406 model, not so long ago, modifications began to appear one after another.

 

The expansion of the gamut is not only due to an increase in the power of the engines. Not so long ago, the supply of the 406th with a 1.6 liter engine began to the French market. After such a step towards the economical fans of the brand from Peugeot, everyone was waiting for models that would replace the combat 405 Mi16 and T16. Everyone thought that the long -awaited Peugeot 406 Turbo will be a sports version: since there is a turbine, then the car would turn out to be temperamental. Annet. On Peugeot decided that sports drivers would still have to wait.

 

At least until the appearance of the Peugeot 406 V6 Turbo 4x4 on the market. Athletes can be encouraged by the fact that the cultivated version of Peugeot406 had already ready for the debut of the car at the 1995 Frankfurt Auto Show.

 

And if you recall that from the rally PEUGEOT 306 mahi, the top version of 306 s 16 was obtained over time, then we can hope that from the 406th for the ring racing, it will soon be impressive.

 

The modification presented to reporters was equipped with a turbine only to increase elasticity and torque of engine. It became clear from the test description and characteristics of the car issued by each participant in the test that it would not have to be expected from 406 Turbo with breathtaking results. Maximum speed, for example, 210 km/h. Acceleration to 100 km/h in 10.3 seconds. The power compared to an unmistered engine of the same volume increased slightly - by 15 liters. With. But the torque is now now 235 nm instead of 180, and it is maximum shifted towards small revolutions, which should increase acceptance.

 

But in order. At the Geneva Airport, a group of journalists was waiting for about 30 brand new Peugeot 406 Turbo of all colors - from the most neutral to the most enchanting. No strokes hinting at the features of its character were added to the appearance of the new car: no additional spoilers, no air intakes, no wide rubber. PEUGEOT as Peugeot. The equipment is the most different - from the subsistence minimum (only air conditioning) to the respectable maximum (leather, wood and electric drives everything that was possible). The journalists at one time often wondered why the Peugeot 406 on the panel among devices of such a large lion? There is no lion on this version. A very dense combination, there is even an indicator of the oil temperature in the engine.

 

Two we sit around the cars and hit the road.

 

A car starts only after entering a special code on a well -disguised panel. The engine works silently. We slowly enter Geneva. Non -spacious streets on which road signs are no less than cars. It is not very difficult to navigate in the local street movement, but there are large trucks, which are not easy to go around in any country in the world. The conscientious work of the brakes and the steering wheel amplifier with a variable characteristic is perfectly felt. A regular trip around the city leaves no particular impressions - except for the stunning elasticity of the engine. In comparison with the usual two -liter version, 406 Turbo transmission is longer.

 

It seems that they can not be switched at all. To which you touched, you are going on that. If the conscience does not allow you to mock the machine, then you touch the first, slight acceleration to the second, and all further movement from traffic lights to a traffic light and along trucks with trailers on the third. Or differently. You quickly get to the fifth and then smoothly move on it through the same traffic jams and traffic lights. And if there is no need for a complete stop, then even with 20 km/h - the fifth gear. The silent engine is silent in this case. Not even a protest of hints are heard. Payment only in the form of increased fuel consumption.

 

Obeying a general calm mood, observing almost all the rules, we get out of Geneva and go along the autobahn towards France. Here you can already add speed.

 

Judging by the road signs, somewhere near Italy. On all cars of the journalistic caravan, the numbers were French.

 

The Swiss border guards threw an indifferent look in our direction and released them from their Nusengean country.

 

When approaching the next fare, we catch up with an old Volvo Amazon. A little untidy, there is a dent, there is a scratch. The paint faded for a long time, so it was unclear whether Volvo was dark red in his youth, either cherry, or was painted in some kind of brown shade. Too wide rubber of the car caught the eye.

 

The barriers rise, releasing us to the relative, but still the scope of the autobahn. We start at the same time.

 

And here it becomes clear that we are not just Volvo Amazon. Before us is a hot car. The long first gear ended too quickly-the engine speed limiter worked somewhere around 6500 rpm. Barely overtake it straight, after all, Peugeot is much more powerful. A hot-car flies in front, jumping on an openly short-flowing pendant. Of course, it is possible to overtake it, but behind the obvious advantage of our engine is impolite. In turn, and on the autobahns they are quite cool, Volvo enters, spitting with blue smoke again. It is clear that the driver quickly forth the gears and immediately, at the output, with a trained movement, throws them up. We can not fuss, just go to one gear lower, the back suspension will take all other difficulties.

 

He shook off us from the tail very deftly. Approaching the fork, Volvo blinked the right pointer. Speed \u200b\u200babout180 km/h. We are behind him - according to legend, we are also right. At the last moment, without even blinking a turn signal, Volvo abruptly goes to the left.

 

Then we go alone. Around the beauty of the French summer. The foothills of the Alp. Sunny, dry. Gradually collect 210 km/h. Trans -European highways are good for everyone except the width. Even our bad roads are much wider. At first, it is especially unpleasant to overtake hefty and rather high -speed trailers. Suggestions behind them are first pulled under the wheels of the trailer, and in the zone near the tractor itself the flow of air throws our car to the side.

 

According to the marketing service of Peugeot, a turbocharged 406th should be successful in fairly respectable fathers of families aged 35V40 years. On a weekend trip, a solid dad behind the wheel of such a car will be able to make a wife with children.

 

But nevertheless we finally got lost.

 

It's time to turn off the autobahn and go to the mountains, but something is not visible on the congress map. Cooking an unknown path we drive into the city of Albertville and are completely lost. Swaying along the deserted streets in search of a pedestrian, we stop near the stall with shawarma. Three people of the eastern appearance are trying to explain to us lively at what angle the exit on the path we needed is hidden. In the fifth minute of a fruitless dialogue, one of them sits in his Renault and invites you to go along. He leads us to the path that we would not find even during the year of stubborn study of local geography. We say goodbye and go to the mountains temperament.

 

The alpine road has incredibly high -quality coating and very steep turns, most of them are closed. This is where the suspension has completely shown itself. Peugeot was absolutely subject to the driver, perfectly following the chosen trajectory. The road went up cooler and cooler. The height above sea level is something about 3000 m. It began to lay ears. And what about the turbo engine? That on the plain, that in highlands its performance remains unchanged. No delay in reactions to the gas pedal, no loss of dynamics or tracticity.

 

Unfortunately, not all of our 406th on this day reached the final item in the highland town of Megeve. At the exit from the next turn, the brand new dark blue car was a inexperienced hand directed into the curb. The body is intact, the front suspension is not.

 

After 20 minutes, two tow trucks from the journalistic caravan arrived. One somewhere took the defeated Peugeot, the other - a sad journalist. By the way, no one expressed a single reproach to him.

 

Text: Sergey Aslanyan
 
 

 

Source: Motor magazine [No. 6/1996]