Peugeot 406
 | |
| Manufacturer | Peugeot |
|---|---|
| Production | 1995–2004 (France, United Kingdom) 1995–2008 (Egypt) 1996–2003 (Italy) (Coupé) |
| Predecessor | Peugeot 405 |
| Successor | Peugeot 407 |
| Class | Large family car |
| Body style | 2-door coupé 4-door sedan 5-door station wagon |
| Layout | FF layout |
| Engine | 1.6L I4 1.8L I4 2.0L I4 2.0L I4 Turbocharged 2.2L I4 2.9L V6 1.9L I4 Turbodiesel 2.0L I4 HDi 2.1L I4 Turbodiesel 2.2L I4 HDi |
| Length | 4,555 mm (179 in) (4-door) |
| Width | 1,764 mm (69 in) (4-door) |
| Height | 1,396 mm (55 in) (4-door) |
| Related | Citroën Xantia |
| Designer(s) | Laurent Rossi (Sedan) Davide Arcangeli & Lorenzo Ramciotti at Pininfarina (Coupé) |
The project
The styling of the 406 is heavily influenced by its predecessor, the 405, which remained on sale for a year in most Western markets while stocks were exhausted. The 405 estate even remained in production for over a year after the 406 went on sale.
Initially, the car was available with 1.8 L and 2.0 L petrol and 1.9 L turbodiesel engines, followed by a 110 bhp 2.1 L turbodiesel, turbocharged 2.0 L and 2.9 L petrol (2946cc) V6 engines. The diesel versions were very popular, and the 406 became one of Europe's best-selling diesel-powered cars.
The 2-door coupé was both designed and manufactured by Italian design studio Pininfarina, with choices of a 2.0 L 4-cylinder engine or a 2.9 L V6, and from 2001, a 2.2 L HDi diesel engine. Major assembly was undertaken by Pininfarina, with final assembly, including trim and engines, being undertaken by Peugeot in France. On later models, a 2.2 L petrol engine was available.
For its final year on sale in the United Kingdom, the model was simply called the Peugeot Coupé, with the 406 branding being dropped from the name.
The 406 was notably successful in the United Kingdom having broken into the key UK fleet sales market with a high percentage of units becoming company cars and taxis.
In 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.
Knock-down kit versions of the car were also built at the Yontrakit Industrial Factory in Lad Krabang, Bangkok, Thailand.
Facelift
The facelifted 406 sedan was introduced in 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 3 stars The changes included the new and improved EW/DW Engine Family HDI with greater power, torque and fuel efficiency along with increased refinement, making it comparatively quiet for a diesel. A downside was an increase in the car's insurance bracket from 9 to 12 Other amended parts included the transmission (ratio in fifth increased from 25 to 28 mph/1000 rpm), wheels, suspension and brakes.
The exterior look was amended as the 406 featured more pronounced ribs, clear glass headlights and a new honeycomb grill. The rear lights were finished in red with a strip of the car's paint colour across the centre.
The interior was also redesigned to improve comfort and space. New equipment included automated digital climate control/air conditioning on most models except the most basic and a digital display for warning messages, trip computer, radio and external temperature. There was a more extensive use of wooden trim, better quality plastics, including soft touch plastics, and in addition most models received electrically folding mirrors, with automatic headlights and wipers. The top-of-the-range Executive model was specified a 10 speaker JBL sound system, electrically adjusted and heated leather seats, a memory position for the seats and mirrors, headlight washer jets, a rear sun blind, thicker carpeting, lights in the sun visors, and ambient lighting.
406 ended production in 2004.
Movie appearances
The 406 saloon was featured in the French Taxi movie series. In Taxi the 406 has a modified 3.0 V6 capable of tremendous speed and a pop-out front and rear spoiler. Taxi 2 featured the facelifted 406 which also had pop-out spoiler but with a different front bumper,and wings to aid aerial movement, such as when the car "jumps" over French army tanks trying to block its escape. In the movie it is capable of reaching a top speed of 306 km/h (190 mph). In Taxi 3, the 406 is further upgraded to be able to travel in icy terrain. The fourth movie Taxi 4 features a 407 instead. More gadgets and pop-out spoilers were added.
A Peugeot 406 also featured heavily in the 1998 action film Ronin, which is noted for its car chase scenes. The car was driven in the final car chase throughout the streets of Paris by the main protagonists, Robert De Niro and Jean Reno
The 406 coupe featured in the French movie Le Boulet (2002), in which the coupé is the main vehicle in a police chase through Paris.
Related
Technical
Engines
Model Engine- type Cylinders / valves Displacement Power / rpm Torque / rpm Years Petrol 1.6 XU5 JP (BFZ) 4 / 8 1.580 cc 88 PS (65 kW; 87 hp) / 6.000 130 N·m (96 lb·ft) / 2.600 1995–1997 1.8 XU7 JB 4 / 8 1.761 cc 90 PS (66 kW; 89 hp) / 5.000 147 N·m (108 lb·ft) / 2.600 1997–1999 1.8 XU7 JP4 4 / 16 1.761 cc 112 PS (82 kW; 110 hp) / 5.500 155 N·m (114 lb·ft) / 4.250 1995–2000 1.8 EW7 J4 4 / 16 1.749 cc 117 PS (86 kW; 115 hp) / 5.500 160 N·m (120 lb·ft) / 4.000 1999–2004 2.0 XU10 J4R 4 / 16 1.998 cc 132 PS (97 kW; 130 hp) / 5.500 180 N·m (130 lb·ft) / 4.200 1995–2000 2.0 EW10 J4 (RFV) 4 / 16 1.997 cc 136 PS (100 kW; 134 hp) / 6.000 190 N·m (140 lb·ft) / 4.100 1999–2003 2.0 EW10 J4 (RFR) 4 / 16 1.997 cc 145 PS (107 kW; 143 hp) / 6.000 197 N·m (145 lb·ft) / 4.100 1999–2000 2.0 HPI EW10 D 4 / 16 1.997 cc 140 PS (100 kW; 140 hp) / 6.000 192 N·m (142 lb·ft) / 4.000 2001–2004 2.0 Turbo XU10 J2TE 4 / 8 1.998 cc 147 PS (108 kW; 145 hp) / 5.300 235 N·m (173 lb·ft) / 2.500 1997–1999 2.2 EW12 J4 4 / 16 2.231 cc 158 PS (116 kW; 156 hp) / 5.650 217 N·m (160 lb·ft) / 3.900 1999–2003 2.9 V6 ES9 J4 6 / 24 2.946 cc 190 PS (140 kW; 190 hp) / 5.500 267 N·m (197 lb·ft) / 4.000 1997–2000 2.9 V6 ES9 J4S 6 / 24 2.946 cc 207 PS (152 kW; 204 hp) / 6.000 285 N·m (210 lb·ft) / 3.750 1999–2003 Diesel 1.9 TD XUD9 TE/Y 4 / 8 1.905 cc 90 PS (66 kW; 89 hp) / 4.000 196 N·m (145 lb·ft) / 2.250 1995–1999 2.0 HDi DW10 TD 4 / 8 1.997 cc 90 PS (66 kW; 89 hp) / 4.000 205 N·m (151 lb·ft) / 1.900 1999–2003 2.0 HDi DW10 ATED 4 / 8 1.997 cc 109 PS (80 kW; 108 hp) / 4.000 250 N·m (180 lb·ft) / 1.750 1999–2004 2.1 TD XUD11 BTE 4 / 12 2.088 cc 109 PS (80 kW; 108 hp) / 4.300 250 N·m (180 lb·ft) / 2.000 1995–1999 2.2 HDi DW12 TED4 4 / 16 2.179 cc 133 PS (98 kW; 131 hp) / 4.000 314 N·m (232 lb·ft) / 2.000 2001–2003
