Peugeot has a long heritage of producing Coupé-Cabriolets reaching all the way back to the 1930s with the 601, 401 and 402 Eclipse models. But it was the 206 CC that brought folding hardtops to the masses. The 206 CC was the top-selling convertible car in the UK three years running and worldwide over 360,000 of them have been sold.

So the new Peugeot 207 CC has a lot to live up to. As the 207 is larger than the 206, so the 207 CC is larger than the 206 CC; large enough for Peugeot to claim the 207 CC is a true 2+2. Anyone who ever tried to sit in the rear of a 206 CC would have disputed that model's claim to 2+2 capacity. The 207 CC also improves on the 206 CC with a fully automated folding roof system designed in-house, where the 206 CC needed manual intervention to undo the release handles.

The Peugeot 207 CC goes on sale in the UK in March and will be available with three engine options and two trim options (Sport and GT) from the outset. The entry level model (prices start at just £14,795 on-the-road) has a 1.6-litre 120bhp petrol engine available with a five-speed manual gearbox or four-speed automatic. This engine is improved across the board from the 1.6-litre petrol engine found in the 206 CC, with fuel consumption and emissions reduced by 8% and 7% respectively. The combined drive cycle economy figure is now 43.5mpg.

The performance option is the 1.6-litre 150bhp THP turbocharged engine as used in the 207 GT THP 150 hatchback. With an innovative twin-scroll turbocharger, variable inlet valve timing and high-pressure direct fuel injection, this engine should be endowed with good flexibility. Maximum torque of 180lb.ft is available at a diesel-like 1400rpm, but there's nothing diesel-like about the maximum power of 150bhp at 5800rpm.

A final engine option is Peugeot's 1.6-litre 110bhp HDi diesel engine. Fitted with a diesel particulate emission filter, CO₂ emissions are just 136g/km.

Peugeot's commitment to safety is demonstrated by the 207 CC having active roll-over protection bars and five airbags (three of which were specifically designed for the 207 CC), comprising front adaptive airbags, head-chest airbags located in the side of the front seats and a steering column airbag to protect the driver's knees. The 207 CC is better specified than the outgoing 206 CC, with all models having standard fit alloy wheels (16- or 17-inch), air conditioning (manual on Sport models, dual-zone climate control on GT models), electric heated door mirrors, trip computer and so on.

We'll test the new Peugeot 207 CC in the summer, so watch out for our review on the Peugeot Road Tests page.

Trevor Nicosia - 2 Feb 2007