PEUGEOT 406 Coupe
Generations Timeline, Specs and Pictures
The 406 Coupe received a well-deserved refresh in 2003, four years after the introduction of the vehicle on the market.
A refresh is always welcome for a car that reached its mid-life cycle, and Peugeot knew that. It also knew that there would be new emission standards in Europe, and it had to adapt and keep up with the new regulations. That said, there were some modifications which had to do and some others which were just optional.
The carmaker introduced a new bumper with a taller and wider grille in the apron at the front. It wasn’t as aggressive as before. It resembled, somehow, a Gran Tourer. Instead of the older, squared fog lights, the French carmaker used round ones and smaller, less prone to meet a stone on the highway. While the front was restyled, the door mirrors were kept the same as before, meaning black-painted regardless of the car’s color.
While a master design team penned the exterior, the interior kept the same bland style from the sedan version. Its taxi-looking layout was saved only by the high-quality materials used on the top trim levels. The carmaker offered a choice of black or chrome door handles and silver rings around the dials, which was nice. But the car definitely deserved sportier seats.
Under the hood, Peugeot added the 2.2-liter gasoline engine, which led to a balanced version between the thirsty 3.0-liter V-6 and the sluggish 2.0-liter inline-four. As its non-facelifted version, the 2003 model was available with a 2.2-liter turbo-diesel unit.
Back in 1997, Peugeot dared more and launched the coupe version of the 406, and the result was astonishing.
Designed by Pininfarina, the 406 Coupe was instantly dubbed as the “French Ferrari” due to its lines and styling. However, apart from the technical platform, the Italian design institute received a free hand to express its creativity.
With a sleek-looking design, narrow front end, and slim headlights, the 406 Coupe was arguably the best-looking car in its segment. That was not an easy task considering that it competed against Mercedes-Benz CLK, Volvo C70, and Lancia Kappa Coupe. But Peugeot had the upper hand above them. The raked windshield and the look of the greenhouse resembled those from the Ferrari 456. At the back, the sloped windscreen and short trunk lid completed the car’s aerodynamic profile. Despite its cab-rearward look, the 406 Coupe retained the front-wheel-drive system from its regular, four-door sibling.
Inside, the carmaker kept the main dials and switches from the rest of the stable but installed new, comfortable, tilt-forward front seats. The profiled-for-two bench didn’t provide plenty of room for adult passengers in the back, but it was a fair trade for the car’s look. Depending on the trim level, Peugeot installed a cloth or leather-wrapped interior.
In 1997, the diesel-powered vehicles were on the verge of conquering the European market and, even though most purists didn’t want to hear the rattling noise of an oil burner, they couldn’t deny the fuel efficiency of those power plants. Apart from that, the carmaker also offered three gasoline-powered units with four or six cylinders.