Peugeot 406

Peugeot 406
Overview
Manufacturer	Peugeot
Production	1996–2004 (France, United Kingdom) 1996–2008 (Egypt) 1997–2003 (Italy, coupé)
Assembly	Sochaux, France (Sochaux Plant) Ryton, United Kingdom (Ryton Plant) Val di Sangro, Italy Cairo, Egypt (AAV)
Designer	Laurent Rossi (sedan) 1991 Davide Arcangeli and Lorenzo Ramciotti at Pininfarina (coupé)[1]
Body and chassis
Class	Large family car / Mid-size
Body style	4-door sedan 5-door station wagon 2-door coupé
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel-drive
Related	Citroën Xantia
Powertrain
Engine	1.6 L I4 (petrol) 1.8 L I4 (petrol) 2.0 L I4 (petrol) 2.0 L I4 turbo (petrol) 2.2 L I4 (petrol) 2.9 L V6 (petrol) 1.9 L I4 (diesel) 2.0 L I4 (diesel) 2.1 L I4 (diesel) 2.2 L I4 (diesel)
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,700 mm (106.3 in)
Length	4,555 mm (179.3 in) (sedan) 4,736 mm (186.5 in) (wagon) 4,615 mm (181.7 in) (coupé)
Width	1,764 mm (69.4 in) (sedan) 1,760 mm (69.3 in) (wagon) 1,780 mm (70.1 in) (coupé)
Height	1,396 mm (55.0 in)
Chronology
Predecessor	Peugeot 405
Successor	Peugeot 407

The Peugeot 406 is a large family car made by the French automaker Peugeot from 1996 to 2004. Available in saloon, estate and coupé bodystyles with a choice of petrol or turbodiesel engines, the 406 replaced the Peugeot 405 in Peugeot's lineup, and was itself replaced by the Peugeot 407. It used the same platform as the Citroën Xantia, though without that car's sophisticated hydropneumatic suspension system.

The project

The styling of the 406 is heavily influenced by its predecessor, the 405, which began to be phased out from the 406's launch in September 1996, and eventually finished production in Europe in 1998, when the last estate models were discontinued. United Kingdom sales of the 406 began in February 1997.

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 3.0 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 3.0 L V6, and from 2001, a 2.2 L HDi diesel engine. On later models, a 2.2 L petrol engine was available. Total of 107,633 coupés were made.^[2]

For its final year on sale in the United Kingdom, the model was simply called the Peugeot Coupé, with the 406 branding dropped from the name.

The 406 was notably successful in the United Kingdom, having broken into the key UK fleet sales market,^[3] 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.

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	1996–1997
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	1996–2000
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	1996–2000
2.0	EW10 J4 (RFN)	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	139 PS (102 kW; 137 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	193 PS (142 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	211 PS (155 kW; 208 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

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.^[6] 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 group from 9 to 12.^[7]

The exterior look was amended as the 406 featured more pronounced ribs, clear headlights, chrome trim 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 multi-function 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 some 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, satellite navigation 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 when racing against Mitsubishi Lancer Evolutions of the Japanese Yakuza. 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.^[8]

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.^[9]

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.

Awards

The 406 was awarded 1997 What Car? Car of the Year and 1997 & 2001 Caravan Club Towcar of the Year as well as being awarded Semperit Irish Car of the Year for 1998, however, it lost out by a narrow margin of 15 points in the 1999 European Car of the Year award to the Fiat Bravo/Brava.

Laurent Aiello won the 1997 Super Tourenwagen Cup season driving a 406. The 406 was also used in the British Touring Car Championship between 1996 and 1998.

References

External links

• Peugeot's official website with pictures of concept cars. (French language)
• Replica Build of Taxi 406 Movie car from Taxi films. (English Language)

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