Car: Peugeot 407 GT range
Prices: £23,295 - £26,495 - on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 14-15
Emissions: 160-223g/km
Performance: [HDi 170] Max Speed 139mph 0-60 8.7s
Fuel Consumption: (urban) 34.8mpg/ (extra urban) 56.5mpg / (combined) 46.3mpg
Safety: Twin front & side airbags, ABS, ESP
Dimensions: [saloon] length/width/heightmm 4676/1811/1445
POWER RANGER
Our Rating: 7.0 / 10
Peugeot’s top end 407 models carry GT badges. Steve Ghosley checks them out…
It’s amazing the difference a change of name can make. Take Peugeot’s higher end 407 models, once fitted with ‘Executive’ badges. These days, your dealer will tell you that you need a ‘GT’ instead. Sounds a lot more dynamic doesn’t it? But is there more to this car than simply a spicier name?
Well, you’d have to say that the spec is sharper too. Offered in both the saloon and SW estate versions, GT trim offers a choice of Mistral Black or Cerbere Red leather interiors along with17-inch alloy wheels and the Peugeot RT3 system. This is a package that integrates a CD stereo, GSM mobile telephone, colour satellite navigation and a voice activation system so that you can keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road ahead. Also included as standard are xenon headlamps, rear seat side airbags, laminated side windows, heated front seats, rear side window sun blinds and a rear screen sun blind on the saloon models. Externally, the GT is distinguished by body colour coordinated bumper and side protection mouldings, complemented with chrome finishers.
The main attraction of GT trim however, will probably its two diesel engines. Yes, you read that right. A car with a supposedly performance-orientated ‘Grand Touring’ label offers diesels as its engine options. The choice is between a twin turbo 2.2-litre HDi and a 2.7 HDi V6.
The 2.2-litre HDi is a real technological tour de force. The first four-cylinder twin-turbocharged engine in a production car, this powerplant is managed by a parallel sequential induction system to ensure that there are none of those annoying lag and lunge power delivery characteristics that often afflict highly tuned turbo diesel cars. It also serves to broaden the amount of useable torque.
The 2.2-litre twin turbo delivers a top speed of 139mph and a sprint to 60mph of just 8.7 seconds. Fuel economy ranges from 56.5mpg on a run to 34.8mpg in town, with the quoted combined economy figure pegged at 46.3mpg. The emissions figure is favourable too, at only 166g/km.
The 2.7-litre diesel engine has been developed in conjunction with Ford, variants of which are found beneath the bonnet of the Jaguars S-TYPE and XJ as well as the Land Rover Discovery. Fitted with an FAP particulate filter in this guise, it develops a hefty 205bhp. By comparing the 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine available in this 407 it is easy to see why the GT majors on diesel power. Just a glance at the torque statistics will show why. Where the old petrol-engined 3.0 V6 407 model managed a peak torque figure of 218lb/ft, you get a whopping 330lb/ft from the diesel version. Both GT models come with a six-speed Porsche-style Tiptronic automatic gearbox as standard.
Peugeot are keen to stress that the 407 is their very first car to feature double wishbone front suspension, which may not mean a great deal to many but in essence, sums up the French company’s commitment to handling excellence. Many cars these days have so-called ‘multilink’ rear suspension systems, but most persevere with a simple strut front set up. In offering a more sophisticated front suspension system, Peugeot have raised the bar again.
The French maker has set something of a precedent to follow with some very good previous Euro NCAP crash test results but the 407 again takes a big step forward. Active safety in the form of brake dis
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