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William Kimberley test drives the new Peugeot 407 Coupe

Following on from the distinctive looks of the 407 saloon, Peugeot has now introduced the 407 Coupe, a sleek four-seater that takes up the baton from the discontinued 406 Coupe. Unlike that model, though, the French carmaker has taken the design of its model in-house rather than rely on the input of Pininfarina.

Powered by either the 2.2 litre or 3.0 litre V6 petrol engines, the most outstanding engine is the new 2.7 litre V6 DHi diesel that can also be found under some Jaguar bonnets. In the 407 Coupe this unit retains all its impressive qualities including refinement and breathtaking torque – 447 Nm (330 lb ft) at 1,900 rpm.

The new model also features a number of new interesting technologies including the AMVAR electronically controlled suspension that can be found on the six-cylinder models. The 2.2 litre’s suspension set up is based on PSA’s multi-valve technology with special damper settings to match the car’s different body height and specific weight.

While it has an identical platform to the saloon, the coupe has been lowered by 44mm which has meant that the centre of gravity has been lowered by 25mm. The front track is wider by 23mm on the 2.2 litre model and by 19mm on the 3.0 litre due to a larger wheel offset. The rear track has been widened by 46mm and 45mm for the 2.2 and 3.0 litre models respectively.

Whilst interior space is always at a premium in coupes, the 407 is a fairly comfortable four-seater with the seats being specific to the model. The instrument display and overall trim are attractive and modern.

The new 407 Coupe may not be as graceful as the 406 Coupe but it successfully carries forward the Peugeot coupe ethos and will appeal to those drivers who want the practicality of a four-seater but only want two doors.