PEUGEOT 406 coupe 2003 test drive - 2004 coupe

Young lions

Do not rush to open the door. Stand nearby, look like similar sensations, probably a person experiences, looking into the yellow pupils of the matter lion, they suppress his will, depriving the ability to think and act; The surrounding world disappears, and it is left alone with the proud and wayward predator.
Jump through the Alps
There was a fear of disappointment. In the imagination, it was difficult to fit as a large middle class sedan can be transformed into a sports compartment. PEUGEOT-PINInfarina tandem succeeded. This car is as if woven from flowing lines. It would seem that there are no stylistic tricks in it, everything is simple: verified proportions, smooth and clean lines, elegantly defined corners, but this is enough to make an indelible impression. And I want to, forgetting about everything, endlessly admire the car.
In the implementation of the project to create this car, almost 50-year cooperation of French automakers and Italian designers reached a fundamentally new level. Peugeot took an unprecedented step and entrusted its foreign partner not only to develop design, but also a specific participation in the production of a new model. The assembly and painting of the bodies is carried out at the Pininfarina enterprise in Grulyasko, the installation of all mechanical nodes and assemblies and the interior decoration, as well as road and landfill tests of finished cars take place at the Pininfarina Main Plant in San Jordzhio Canaves.
This explains as if double citizenship of 406 Coupe. It seems that Peugeot has seriously concerned about the issues of expanding the market of their products, and as a leader they decided to use 406 Coupe.
Claws and mane
Are you completely captured by the charm of this car and cannot take his eyes off him? But let's still look at these elegant and elegant robes. There, too, there will probably be something equally pleasant and attractive.
The decoration of the salon is an organic continuation of the image and will not disappoint even the most demanding and demanding aesthet. It resembles a well-known 406th sedan, but somewhat seemingly insignificant strokes make it completely different, creating a special atmosphere of sophisticated aristocratic luxury with emphasized sports motives. A thin chrome edging of dietary boards on the dashboard and polished aluminum of the gearbox handle. Matte, slightly sparkling panels of carbon fiber in the torpedo. All lines are smooth, but strict and expressive, executed by internal power.
Soft delicate perforated skin of the highest quality on very comfortable seats. The door panels are also lined with leather, the seams are deliberately rude, as a sports style requires. The amazingly elegant combination of black and brown-yellow, like sugar sands. Of all the possible colors of the interior, this compartment is perhaps the most stylish.
The climate in the cabin is by no means Sugar, and an automatic climatic installation with electronic control will take care of this. The rest of the comfort is ensured by a complete and exhaustive set of electrical control everything that can only be controlled in this way, including the automatically switching mode of the day orch in the rearview mirror and the rain sensor on the wipers.
That is, to almost everyone. Oddly enough, but the steering column is adjusted manually. And there is no cruise control. Let's hope that we were a little unlucky and the version that was getting to the test was not the highest configuration. As for the cruise control, then, presumably, the sports spirit of this compartment involves independent control of the machine, without reposting it to all kinds of electronic devices.
It is depressing that decent inconvenience creates a low ceiling, especially with a height of 185 cm. It cannot be said that they are really catastrophic, but this is somewhat unexpected in a machine of this level. To throw back the back of the seat further back does not allow the absence of longitudinal adjustment of the steering column. Nevertheless, you catch yourself on a treacherous thought that this and another you are ready to forgive her generously, as for beauty they often forgive women with some lack of mind.
At the place where in other machines you can find a cruise control handle, on the right under the wheel, there is a joystick of stereo system control. Unusual, but very convenient. The stereo system with the CD-changer and eight speakers JBL deserves the highest rating.
And the main thing about the salon - outside the car looks much more compact than inside. It is spacious, as a full -size sedan, and is completely devoid of selfishness, characteristic of many in the classroom compartment.
Deep and comfortable rear seats will easily take two adults into their arms, moreover, so that they get there, do not bow and rummage under the seat in search of levers or rings. It is enough to stretch the key in the end of the seat, and the servant will make everything further, pushing it forward and returning it back when the satellites or companions are located in their places.
LION HEART
The engine power is usually measured in horsepower. Why not lioness? Presumably, the lion is not weaker than the horse, but no one had managed to make sure of this yet, because not a single king of animals allowed himself to harness himself in a banal wagon. But in this case, there can be no talk of the banality of the wagon, and we are not very sinning against the truth, trying to evaluate its capabilities not in horse -haired, but in the lion's forces. These powerful and well -trained animals in it 194.
Their abode is separated from you with magnificent sound insulation, which sometimes can play an unkind joke if you are not accustomed to their explosive disposition. Giving them a command to the start, it is easy to improve the effort and, not hearing a solid roar, not in the case to grind asphalt, causing a bewildered-extensive reaction of others. On the other hand, it is easy to prove that you own not only exceptionally beautiful and stylish, but also very serious cars.
In the beasts that are sitting under the hood, graceful flexibility and explosive sharpness are combined. This makes control of the car light and enjoyable both in the city hustle and bustle and on the expanse of the highway. The advantages of a 3-liter motor are reinforced by a well-calculated mechanical gearbox, with short lever moves and a clean inclusion of gears.
The nature of the motor is properly suspended, steering and brakes. The unique Brembo brake system, which has been tested on the McLaren Peugeot racing boils, reliably taps the heated lion's flock. The suspension was stiff, but moderately. It does not allow the car it is dangerous to roll and swing, but it is not so tough as to create problems with the spine. However, in our version, the car was equipped with a rigidity adjustment system, which, if desired, allows you to add the missing stool.
ALTER EGO
We are far from calling the new PEUGEOT compartment one hundred percent sports car, but in a number of qualities, in particular controllability, predictability and comfort, it is in some ways that exceeds many of those who claim this title.
This car cannot be evaluated only from technical parameters or saturation with options. He is like a work of art, and only a person who has an excellent taste can understand and appreciate it.
For the most part, cars play a secondary role in human life, more often becoming a means of elementary movement, less often - emphasizing the style and lifestyle of a person. It is impossible to say this about this car, because it is so charged with internal energy that he himself is able to form the lifestyle of the owner, proudly remaining a thing in himself.

Autopilot thanks Armand and Armand-Brin Armand, (095) 200-5150, 253-5330, for the car provided for the test. For the period of the test, the car was insured in the company of RESO-Garantia, (095) 250-3600, 255-6834.
 
Model/modification Peugeot 406 Coupe
Automobiles Peugeot manufacturer
The country-producing France
BODY
Type of coupe
Number of doors/places 2/4
ENGINE
Basin type with multi -point electronic injection
The location in front is transversely
Working volume (cubic cub) 2946
Number/location of cylinders 6/V-shaped
Cylinder x Piston stroke (mm) 87.0x82.6
Compression degree 10.5: 1
Power, kW (L.S.) at about./Min. 144 (196) at 5500
Moment (nm at about./Min.) 267 at 4000
The number of valves per cylinder 4
TRANSMISSION
Front drive
Gearbox is a mechanical five -speed
SUSPENSION
Front Independent spring, with elastic couplings, on transverse triangular levers, reptile stabilizer
Rear independent spring multi-link type Multi-Link
 
STEERING
Type gear-rake, hydraulic wrap with a transmitted number, depending on the speed
Min. Diameter of turn (m) 11.7
Brakes
Front disk ventilated
The rear disc
ABS four -channel with electronic control
Wheels
Tire size 215/55 R16
7JX16 'discs
Dimensions/Opam/Weight
Length/width/height (mm) 4620/1780/1350
Wheel base (mm) 2700
The track front/back (mm) 1510/1525
Clearance (mm) 110
The volume of the fuel tank (L) 60
Mass, dry/maximum (kg) 1458/1827
Dynamic characteristics
Maximum speed (km/h) 235
Acceleration to 100 km/h (sec.) 7.9
Economy
Fuel consumption (l/100 km):
Highway 8
City 15.9
The price of the weated in Moscow (Armand company) $ 54 250
Who else
PEUGEOT 406 Coupe is resolutely different from simpler relatives, including the circle of their customers. First of all, the size of this circle. Sales in Russia of ordinary 406s have long been considered hundreds. And the 406th coupe since January of this year has been implemented only 13.
The most interesting thing is that the same role was intended for all thirteen - a gift to her beloved girl. And since the rare of them grows more than 185 cm - the height, in which, as the autopilot installed, a person begins to feel in the French compartment somewhat constrained - we can assume that the ceiling of this machine is not too high will not affect the volume of its sales.
No matter how you relate to a given person, you will not choose a car for him as carefully as for yourself. Maybe that's why the 406th compartment is practically not sold by prior order, when the buyer has the opportunity to determine the configuration he needs in all details. Just in the cabin there are living cars - I came, chose, gave it. It is interesting that buyers also do not show typical addiction to Russia more powerful of the two proposed engines, 3-liter. For myself, I would surely take a three -lash, but for her - how much does she understand?
Having succumbed to a common mood, the Armand car dealership also made a gift. Boris Krasnov received the creator of the stage design for performances by Alla Pugacheva and others from Krasnoye, in a suit, compartment. How easy it is to guess, 2-liter.
Alena Apina is known for the 406th Peugeot addiction to the 406th Peugeot. Ah, I generally love everything French, ”said the singer. But in the case of the Durov family, which also travels on the 406th, it is not entirely clear who needs anyone more. PEUGEOT DURY or DUROVA PEUGEOT. How would the presentation of the 406th coupe, which took place at the end of last year, if the corner of Durov did not provide the French for one of their lions for one evening as a presentation decoration?
Andrey Timofeev, Vitaly Teplov (photo)
 

Source: "Autopilot"