Peugeot 407: First Look

By Feann Torr

Peugeot has come clean with the first details on the 407 model range, due to make it's public debut at the Australian Motor show in October (previously called the Sydney Motor Show).

Three engines will be offered, including a 2.0-litre diesel model that outputs a hefty 320Nm of torque, indicating that Peugeot is keen to formalise the diesel powerplant in Australia.

The 407 will be offered in both sedan and touring (wagon) variants, and will be arriving in Peugeot showrooms in mid-September, in anticipation for a co-ordinated national launch.

The French carmaker is predicting that the 407 will become a popular model, and it's hard to argue, as the car looks very nice indeed, and together with the promise of excellent driving dynamics and the marque's widely recognised emphasis on active and passive safety features, it could be a sleeper hit.

The new look is also very contemporary, though the jury is still out on the unorthodox rear end. The front looks great with a stylish headlight cluster and a large air dam, while vertical fog lights give help break up the horizontal lines.

At this stage Peugeot Australia isn't talking prices, but we can expect it to fetch somewhere in the vicinity of the outgoing model, which asked just under $40k for the entry-level 2.0-litre petrol model.

Six models will be offered in Australia, forming the sedan and touring range respectively, though it should be noted that the touring or wagon models will be available only with automatic transmissions:

407 ST 2.2-litre petrol
Manual (6 speed) or Automatic

407 ST 2.0-litre diesel
Manual (6 speed) or Automatic

407 SV 3.0-litre petrol
6 speed Automatic

Peugeot is also pushing hard to promote the 407's chassis, suggesting the car will comfortably out handle the opposition. It's dynamically engineered chassis features new double wishbone front suspension and multi-link rear suspension that should endow it with precise ride and handling characteristics.

The 407 will offer Australian drivers a number of firsts for a car in this class, according to Peugeot.

Amongst the innovations is a transverse mounted high-torque 6-speed automatic gearbox for the 407 SV, available for the first time in the world at that. Additionally, all manual models in the 407 range will feature 6-speed gearboxes as standard, which should help improve acceleration slightly and also fuel economy on the highway cycle.

The 407 will also continue Peugeot's diesel push, with the latest generation engines fitted with a particulate filter as standard on the diesel range. The 2.0 litre diesel power plant generates 100kW and an impressive 320Nm of torque.

Safety is also a priority at Peugeot, and the 407 recently achieved a maximum 5 star score in the latest Euro NCAP crash test results, which is no mean feat.

Leading it's class in safety, the 407 is equipped with 8 airbags as standard – driver and passenger airbags, front and rear side airbags and curtain airbags that protect the heads of both the front and rear occupants. It's also packed with active safety features, such as ABS, ESP and EBD.

Standard equipment levels for the Australian spec 407 are impressive, including items such as 17-inch alloy wheels, climate control, cruise control, rain sensing wipers, auto headlights, park distance control, remote central locking, a CD stereo (including a stacker) and even metallic paint has been thrown into the package as a standard feature.

In regards to Peugeot's diesel push in the Australian auto market, the Motoring Channel has also recently tested a diesel-powered VW Passat, and the inside line suggests that the German automaker is another marque who wants to see more diesel product in Australia - and after driving it, we can't argue. Volkswagen's V10-powered Touareg is another prime example.

Diesel's make a lot of sense in a country like Australia, where many drivers and vehicles cover thousands of kilometres per month, and the myth about them being underpowered is now well and truly dispelled as many manufacturers are now creating high-tech sports-oriented diesels, and BMW is a case-in-point. Just check out its 200kW twin-turbo 3.0-litre diesel in this article.

The 407 is expected to launch in early October and pricing will be announced closer to the actual launch date of the car. Stay tuned to the Motoring Channel for drive impressions and more info on the 407 in the coming months.