Peugeot 207 CC: Euro Style, Budget Price

Motoring Channel Staff - 12/July/2007

Homebush Bay, Australia — On sale now in Australia, the Peugeot 207 CC will be offered in three different grades, with two engine types.

Prices start at $34,990 for the 1.6-litre manual version, and all models gets an electronically controlled metal folding roof that takes 25 seconds to open or close, and a full-sized spare wheel too.

Pricing for the new 207 CC range in Australia is as follows:

207 CC 1.6-litre - Manual: $34,990

207 CC 1.6-litre - Automatic: $37,190

207CC 1.6 Turbo - Manual: $39,990

The entry-level 1.6-litre engine outputs 88kW of power and is matched to a 5-speed manual transmission or a 4-speed automatic gearbox with “Porsche Tiptronic” sequential manual selection.

According to Peugeot the new motor has improved performance when compared to the previous 1.6-litre engine fitted to the 206 CC. Fuel consumption has also been reduced, and the 1.6-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine drinks just 6.5L/100km on the combined cycle.

The range-topping turbocharged 1.6-litre engine develops 110kW of power and is only available with a 5-speed manual. Maximum torque of 240Nm is available from an engine speed of only 1400rpm and recently was voted best in its category at the International Engine of the Year Awards.

Electric Roof Mechanism

Peugeot has revealed that the electric folding roof for the 207 CC is a new system compared to the system used on the 206 CC, and was developed in house rather than out-sourcing to another company (as was previouslythe case, with the roof supplied by French company, Heuliez).

Peugeot claims the new roof system is the result of it's expertise in the design and manufacturing of Coupé Cabriolets, and is a high quality and highly durable system. Some early 206 CC models had problems with the roof seizing, but these were claimed to be isolated.

Assembled at a facility in Madrid, owned by the PSA Peugeot Citroën Group, the roof is assembled and then sent to the 207 CC assembly line, which is also inside the same plant.

Peugeot says the new roof system has a similar operation to the 206 CC, but that the 207 CC roof differs significantly in terms of convenience thanks to its entirely automatic operation - there are no more manual release handles. 

The only manual operation consists of pressing the control button for around about 25 seconds. All four windows are lowered automatically during the roof raising/lowering process to ensure optimal roof sealing.

Design & Style

Peugeot explains that, as with the 207 hatchback, the 207 CC shares the PSA Peugeot Citroën Group’s No1 platform and the 'sport' exterior styling found on the hatchback performance models. 

Styled by the Peugeot Style Centre, the 207 CC shares the same 2+2 seating set as its precursor, and features the 207 hatchback's 'face' that includes a large lower air dam and pointy headlights. 

This design is also prevalent across the entire Peugeot range, seen in models like the 407 and 307, which helps tie the models together and creates a tidy range-wide design DNA. The dimensions aren't vastly different from the 206 CC model: it measures 4.037 metres long, 1.75 metres wide and 1.397 metres high, with a wheelbase of 2.54 metres.

Based on a new platform, the new 207 CC is also more rigid than it's forebear, which may translate into better power down and improved handling. The French company says that its excellent body rigidity allows the suspension to operate to its full potential, thereby strengthening the overall driving experience and pleasure.

Interior

Peugeot says the new 207 CC is fitted with new sport seats that position the driver and front passenger lower than that of the hatchback, which not only increases the sensation of speed, but also meets the expectations of Coupé Cabriolet users according to the car maker. Peugeot also claims that it's new convertible is a real 2+2, which sets it apart from its rivals with useless rear seats and thusly widens its potential customer base, and the front seats are tilted forward to provide access to the rear seats.

Peugeot promises a luxurious interior for potential 207 CC customers, outfitted with high quality materials and interior trimming. But that's about it - no other details as yet. Leather? Possibly, but more likely a mixture of leather and cloth to keep costs reasonable. It has also been revealed that the 207 CC can be optioned with either manual or automatic dual-zone air conditioning, which also detects when the vehicle is being operated in the Cabriolet configuration, so that it can adapt its operation to the chosen body configuration.

And how's this - the 207 CC can even be equipped with a fragrance diffuser, with seven fragrances offered, which is integrated in the centre console fascia panel, and the operation of which has been patented.

Bootspace is 449 litres in the Coupé configuration (roof over heads), and 187 litres of space with the roof down in the Cabriolet configuration, while a space-saver spare tyre is included.

Safety

Protecting occupants in the 2+2 seat 207 CC when in the cabriolet configuration is an active roll-over protection system, fitted as standard to all 207 CC models.

Four airbags are also standard, two of which have been designed specially for the 207 CC. A pair of adaptive front airbags and another two'head-chest' side airbags located in the side of the front seats are fitted.

The 207 CC comes with ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) and on the 1.6 Turbo model, ESP including traction control.

As a true 2+2, the 207 CC also offers two rear seats, a feature which genuinely distinguishes it from a strict two seater. It allows the possibility of carrying one or even two people in the back for a short journey and when not in use, the space created by the rear seats can also be used for hand luggage and coats.

History

Peugeot regales that it was back in the 1930s that it started the innovative concept of the Coupé Cabriolet, with the 401, 601 and 402 “Eclipse”. This concept was to become one of Peugeot’s trademark features and today’s cars, the 206 and 307 CC have made the marque the No1 seller of Coupé Cabriolets, with today world wide sales of more than 500,000 vehicles, since 2001.

The car, that changed the UK convertible car market for ever, was the Peugeot 206 CC. Launched in the UK in January 2001, the 206 CC broke new ground with regards to technology, manufacturing and cost. It brought a Coupé Cabriolet with an electric folding roof into the price range of everyone, not just the preserve of the prestigious car market segment. Its introduction saw it transform the UK market for convertible cars and become the best-selling convertible car in the UK for three consecutive years. Its success, however, is world wide, with more than 360,000 units produced it is the world’s best selling small Coupé Cabriolet.