• Pininfarina design untouched for MY2000
• Revised interior design
• Simplified range
• Prices start at UK�20,000
• Two 2.0-litre models, one 3.0-litre V6 model

Pininfarina styled the coupe derivative of the successful Peugeot 406 range. Some have said that some elements were poached from past Ferrari styling. Take a look at the rear window surround detailing next time you see a 406 Coupe on the street - it is certainly reminiscent of Ferrari-style buttressing on their mid-engined models. However, Pininfarina have managed to give the 406 Coupe a unique stance on the road, and anyway, not many potential Ferrari owners would choose a Peugeot instead. No offence meant to the French manufacturer however. Every time I see a 406 Coupe (and sometimes even the 406 saloon) coming towards me on the road it catches my eye. The lines are simple, but the overall effect is quite beautiful.

A fully-fledged four-seater with a capacious boot, the Coupe has the same 2.7m wheelbase as the 406 saloon, but derives its distinct appearance by being 50mm lower, 49mm longer at the front, and 32mm shorter at the rear. This makes it an overall 17mm longer than the saloon, lending the coupe a sleek appearance.

Revised Interior
The 406 Coupe benefits from several subtle interior and specification changes for the new millennium. A new dashboard fitted with a redesigned central fa�ade, a larger LCD screen and more practical radio and air conditioning controls improve the interior ambience. A chrome finish on the air vents adds to the classy, yet sporty feeling already provided by the chrome-encircled dials, metallic gear shift and handbrake button. This is not a raw sports car, however. The interior has a luxurious ambience also.

Two Engines
The Coupe is available with either the 2.0-litre, 16 valve or 3.0-litre, 24 valve V6 petrol engines. The 2.0-litre unit produces a maximum 137bhp at 6,000rpm. Top speed is 129mph and acceleration from 0-62mph is 10.4 secs. The new Celica is slightly slower at the top end but is far quicker accelerating, with it's advanced 1.8-litre VVT-i engine. Fuel consumption is claimed to be 21.6mpg on the urban cycle, 39.2mpg out of town and 36.7mpg mixed.

The V6 3.0-litre engine, which develops 194bhp at 5,500 rpm gives the 406 Coupe a top speed of 146mph and acceleration from 0-62mph of 7.9 seconds. Now that's more like it! Fuel consumption is 17.8mpg urban, 33.6mpg out of town and 25.9mpg mixed. Not so impressive with the fuel consumption, but the upshot is a much quicker car, with a silky smooth V6 engine.

Both can be equipped with either a five-speed manual transmission or the new electronically-managed automatic four-speed gearbox, with separate sports and winter settings. To allow maximum performance and response, the Coupe also features variable damping and variable power steering.

New range
Prices start from �20,875 on-the-road for the 2.0-litre version, which now includes digital air conditioning with climate control, CD autochanger, trip computer and rain sensitive windscreen wipers.

A new model, the 2.0-litre SE, is introduced for �22,695 on-the-road. This is a highly specified car, which includes additional standard equipment:

• Leather seats, heated, with electrical seat adjustment and memory control
• Front head and chest side airbags
• Auto dipping rear view mirror
• JBL audio system
• Headlamp wash-wipe

The 3.0-litre is consolidated into one model, the 406 Coupe V6, which as the flagship of the range provides the same high specification as the 2.0-litre SE but offers the power and performance of a bigger engine, 16 inch alloy wheels, speed sensitive power steering and a Brembo 4-piston braking system.

All models are equipped with ABS and Electronic Brake Force Distribution. The Peugeot 406 Coupe is built by Pininfarina in Italy. The revised range is now on sale in the UK.

Designed & hosted by caint.com