The Peugeot 406 is a large family car that was produced by French automaker Peugeot between 1995 and 2004. Available in saloon, estate and coupé bodystyles with a choice of petrol or turbodiesel engines, the 406 replaced the Peugeot 405 in Peugeot's lineup, and was itself replaced by the Peugeot 407.
Phase 1
The styling of the 406 is heavily influenced by its predecessor, the 405, which began to be phased out from the 406's launch in September 1995, and eventually finished production in Europe in 1997, when the last estate models were discontinued. United Kingdom sales of the 406 began in February 1996.[2]
The initial design of the Coupe was originally offered to Fiat by Pininfarina in about 1990, only for Fiat to reject the design and design its own coupe.
The 406 was notably successful in the United Kingdom, having broken into the country's key fleet sales market,[3] with a high percentage of units becoming company cars and taxis.
In August 2002, a Peugeot 406 HDi set the world record for the longest distance driven on a single tank of fuel. The car travelled across Australia between Melbourne to Rockhampton, with a total distance of 2,348 km.[4][5] Knock-down kit versions of the car were also built at the Yontrakit Industrial Factory in Lad Krabang, Bangkok, Thailand.
Equipment
Initial trim levels consisted of SR, ST and top of the line SV with various optional features. 406 had many advanced optional features such as electric seats with memory, rain sensor, variable electronic suspension control, speed sensitive power steering and rear windscreen wiper on the saloon.[6][7]
There was also a factory body kit available.[8]
Suspension
For the front suspension, it has an inverted MacPherson suspension. For the rear suspension, Peugeot developed an all new and model exclusive multilink called RS10. It consist of three transverse control arms and a longitudinal arm.
Special features of the RS10 was that it could produce more negative toe on the outer wheel for stability in corners and more negative camber for stability when the rear end rises in emergency braking.[9]
Coupé
The two door coupé, launched at the 1996 Paris Motor Show, was both designed and manufactured by Italian design studio Pininfarina, with choices of a 2.0 L four cylinder engine or a 3.0 L V6, and halfway through 2001, a 2.2 L HDi diesel engine. A total of 107,633 coupés were made.[11]
The coupé has the same platform and suspension as saloon and estate but with some upgrades to enhance ride handling. All models had a wider track of 16mm from coupé specific rims and additional 36mm at the rear from different spindle and lower control arm. Ride height is lowered 16mm. V6 also received a 26mm front strut brace and 305mm Brembo 4-pot calipers front brakes.[6]
Interior had the same dashboard, centre console and steering wheel as saloon and estate. It had five gauge instrument panel with chrome rings on all models.
Engines
The car was available with a range of petrol engines: 1.6 8V, 1.8 16V and 2.0 16V, 2.0 8V turbo and 3.0(2946cc) V6 24V[10][7]
For diesel, there was three engines: 1.9 8V turbodiesel, 2.1 12V turbodiesel and 2.0HDi 8V[7][10]
Phase 2
The facelifted 406 saloon was introduced in February 1999 and safety, strength and speed enhancements resulted in improved Euro NCAP performance. Where the old 406 had one star and a struck off star, the post facelift models gained three stars.[12]
New engine series was launched with the new and improved EW/DW Engine Family with greater power, torque and fuel efficiency along with increased refinement, making it comparatively quiet for a diesel. There was also a direct injected petrol dubbed HPi. The old 2.0 litre turbo petrol engine was succeeded by the N/A 2.2 petrol with VCT. Diesel engines received narrower radiator and the intercooler horizontally to the left beside the radiator.[10][7]
The front and rear fascias received new bumpers and lights. As all models of the coupé the saloon and estate became equipped with 16-inch wheels in some of the trim levels.[7]
Coupé Phase 2
Exterior was mostly unchanged on the coupé. Side turnlight was the first update and new rims and a new front bumper was added later on.
Interior was updated in the same manner as the saloon and estate with updated dashboard and instrument panel and colours.
Technical updates also followed the saloon/estate. But the engine range grew to four with the addition of the 2.2 petrol and 2.2HDi, the latter with Brembo front brakes.[6][7]
Awards
The 406 was awarded 1997 What Car? Car of the Year, as well as 1997 and 2001 Caravan Club Towcar of the Year. It was also awarded Semperit Irish Car of the Year for 1997, however, it lost out by a narrow margin of 15 points in the 1996 European Car of the Year award to the Fiat Bravo/Brava.
Motorsport
The Peugeot 406 competed in several Supertouring championships from 1996 to 2004. Laurent Aïello won the 1997 ADAC Deutsche Super Touren Wagen-Cup, while William David won the French Touring Car Championship in 1999 and 2000. Cacá Bueno and Emiliano Spataro shared the 1999 South American Super Touring Car Championship as they tied in points, wins and the remaining tiebreakers. The 406 Supertouring was also used in the British Touring Car Championship between 1996 and 2004.
The 406 also competed as silhouette at the French Touring Car Championship, winning the 2002 and 2004 titles with Soheil Ayari, as well as the Top Race.
External links
- Peugeot's official website with pictures of concept cars. (French language)
- Replica Build of Taxi 406 Movie car from Taxi films. (English Language)
References
- Davide Arcangeli : deux œuvres majeures en héritage stationhaxo.fr, 30 June 2022, retrieved 2022-09-22^
- PEUGEOT's 406 range will arrive with a spectacular car launch campaign in Britain next year. 2015-04-02, retrieved 2023-11-29^
- Peugeot 406 | Used Car Tests | Car Reviews