PEUGEOT 407 test drive since 2004 sedan

French Heartstep

Is there a chance to resist the Peugeot 407 Coupe?
The Peugeot 406 Coupe car, created in the famous Pininfarina ATelier, can rightfully be called one of the most beautiful cars of our time. Interestingly, what is Peugeot 407 that replaced him?
There is an opinion that Peugeot cars are chosen not with the mind, but by the heart. In the hearts of modern Europeans, it seems that there is little space for sentiment and romance. Designers of the new PEUGEOT 407 coupe count on stronger feelings. The 406 compartment fell in love with the owner gradually, and 407 fights on the spot on a stormy and all -consuming passion.
Predatory grip
The 407 coupe immediately attracts a huge mouth of the radiator counterfeit and gills of the air intakes on the lateral planes of the front bumper. ANFAS and in three quarters of the coupe 407 is designed in the style of much more expensive and prestigious coupes of Grand Turism, such as Maserati or Aston Martin. The Peugeot 407 car is a real eater of kilometers of auto tracks and hearts of visitors to car dealerships.
Peugeot is the only European manufacturer (among democratic brands), which has cars with a body compartment in the segment D. Neither Volkswagen, nor Opel, nor Renault, nor fiat of such products in this niche are not at risk. There are no competitors from the French and by Japanese manufacturers. Toyota Camry Solara - could compete with the 407 compartment, but this model is mainly sold in the North American market.
It is not surprising that Peugeot feels like a master of position and is not afraid of experiments. Even such risky as a refusal to cooperate with Pininfarina. The alliance of the French company with the Italian body atelier began back in 1951. Since then, the French have always given the contracts for the creation of captivating images of the compartment. And now the creative union broke up, most likely, for economic reasons.
However, according to representatives of the French company, no one refused partnerships. Everything was decided by the creative competition of Italian and French designers, in which the PEUGEOT team won. The Italians also lost an order for the assembly of the car. The 406 coupe was not only painted in the Pininfarina studio, but also collected on its production facilities. And 407 coupe will be assembled at the PEUGEOT plant in Brittany, where sedans and universals 407 are made. In total, it is planned to produce about 25,000 compartment a year. Half will be equipped with gasoline engines - a volume of 2.2 liters (163 hp) and 3 liters (211 l. C). The other half is a 2.7 -liter diesel engine with a capacity of 204 liters. With.
First, I met the most powerful gasoline version with a manual gearbox.
By valleys and hollows ...
The Test drive route passed along winding roads in the vicinity of the Spanish city of Granada. Wide high -speed carbanes, two -row roads of local significance and very narrow, width into one car, village paths laid along the slopes of mountains and hills planted with olive groves. The advantage of these roads is not only in picturesque views, but also in an excellent asphalt coating and the configuration of the tracks. Involuntarily, you compare yourself with the famous Spanish ralist Carlos Sayns.
We turn off the autobahn to the first road and - the gas pedal to the floor!
Right turns are replaced by left -wing, slopes - as lifting. The car behaves unusual. Such extreme conditions require a complete merger of the driver with the machine. But the coupe 407 seems to live separately. It is felt that the 407 coupe was clearly created for a narrow mountain serpentine. At relatively low speeds (60 - 80 km/h), the steering hydraulic control operates in too comfortable mode, and this prevents the maximum unity with the car. The need to often switch the transmission of a mechanical checkpoint also does not improve mood to the driver. From the work of the selective mechanism of the gearbox, I would like more clarity, and from the suspension - greater stiffness. No, reincarnation to Carlos Sayns failed. It's time to return to the autobahn.
On the high -speed line, you understand that the coupe 407 is needed. For marching through all of Europe, this car is indispensable. At high speeds, even at 200 km/h (the main thing is not to meet the Spanish policemen), the car perfectly holds a given path. The steering wheel is poured with pleasant weight, and the car exactly performs the driver’s commands. Peugeot 407 moves very quietly - excellent aerodynamics affects. Conducted the lack of swing with lateral gusts of wind. In addition, getting into an aerodynamic bag from a cargo truck, the compartment does not deviate from a given course.
A thoughtful ergonomics of the salon will also contribute to the long travels on the PEUGEOT compartment. The design of the front panel of the instruments and controls of the coupe is the same as in the sedan and the station wagon. But the chairs are created specifically for this car: they repeat the contours of the human body and do not tire on the road. The luggage for long trips can be placed in a large trunk: good, and the back of the rear sofa is laid out completely or in parts. Mandatory attributes of a modern car - a lap for skiing in the back of the sofa - is also present at Peugeot 407 Coupe.
Unlike most compartment, the 407th is a full -fledged four -seater car. True, long -legged girls of model growth above 175 cm in the rear seat is better not to plant. Otherwise, their hairstyles are remembered about the sloping ceiling of the car.
At the entrance to Granad, we fall into dense traffic. And here you understand that an automatic gearbox is more suitable for Peugeot 407 Coupe. This car does not tolerate fuss. By the way, a 6-speed automatic transmission is mandatory on the diesel version of the car. And I liked this option more than a 6-speed mechanics combined with a 3-liter gasoline engine.
The supply of Peugeot 407 Coupe to Russia will begin in the spring of next year. I wonder how many hearts will be able to eat this car. After all, they will buy it, first of all, because of the appearance ...
 
Igor Komarov

Source: Wheel (company)