- Refined 2.9-litre V6 petrol engine
- Accomplished ride/handling balance
- For D9 406 Coupe, quiet and well-insulated cabin
- Svelte Pininfarina styling
- Automatic transmission slow to kickdown
- Front seats not designed for larger occupants
- Limited rear seat legroom
Review: Peugeot D8 406 Coupe (1997-99)
Overview
Released in October 1997, the Peugeot 406 Coupe was a four-seat, front-wheel drive coupe. Designed and manufactured by Pininfarina – with final assembly by Peugeot in France – the 406 Coupe was powered by a 2.9-litre V6 petrol engine that was initially mated to a four-speed ZF automatic transmission (with selectable ‘normal’, ‘sport’ and ‘snow’ modes). From April 1999, however, the 406 Coupe was available with a five-speed manual transmission.
ES9 engine
The aluminium 2946 cc ES9 J4 V6 petrol engine with double overhead camshafts (per cylinder bank), four valves per cylinder and a compression ratio of 10.5:1.
Dimensions
Compared to the 406 sedan on which it was based, the 406 Coupe was 60 mm longer (at 4615 mm), 16 mm wider (1780 mm) and 42 mm lower (1354 mm), though wheelbase length was unchanged (2700 mm).
Suspension
The 406 Coupe’s front suspension consisted of MacPherson struts with subframe-mounted lower wishbones and an anti-roll bar, while the multi-link rear suspension had trailing arms, lower transverse links, separate coil springs and an anti-roll bar.
| Variant | Engine | Trans. | Years | Peak power | Peak torque | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 406 Coupe | 3.0 V6 | 2.9-litre petrol V6 | 4sp auto | 1997-99 | 144 kW at 5500 rpm | 267 Nm at 4000 rpm |
| 5sp man. | 1999 |
Safety equipment
Standard safety equipment for the D8 406 Coupe included dual front airbags, ABS and front seatbelt pretensioners.
Brakes
The 406 Coupe had 305 mm ventilated front disc brakes with four piston Brembo calipers and solid 290 mm rear discs.
Features
Standard features for the Peugeot D8 406 Coupe included 16-inch alloy wheels, an eight speaker sound system with a ten-disc CD changer, power adjustable and heated front seats, leather seats, climate control air conditioning, cruise control, front and rear fog lights, rain-sensing wipers, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, remote central locking, power windows and mirrors, a height and reach adjustable steering column, driver’s seat memory settings, an electrochromatic rear view mirror and immobiliser.
Review: Peugeot D9 406 Coupe (1999-04)
Overview
Released in August 1999, the D9 406 Coupe introduced minor updates with improved safety equipment, a revised interior and new alloy wheel designs. In September 2000, the 406 Coupe underwent another minor update and was fitted with the more powerful ES9 J4S engine which had variable valve timing on the intake camshafts (varying between 0 and 40 degrees). In June 2003, the 406 Coupe received cosmetic updates, with a new front bumper, grille and air-dam.
| Variant | Engine | Years | Trans. | Peak power | Peak torque | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 406 Coupe | 3.0 V6 | 2.9-litre petrol V6 | 1999-00 | 4sp auto, 5sp man. |
144 kW at 5500 rpm | 267 Nm at 4000 rpm |
| 2000-04 | 4sp auto, 5sp man. |
157 kW at 6000 rpm | 285 Nm at 3750 rpm |
Safety equipment
Compared to its D8 predecessor, standard safety equipment was extended to include front side airbags. From September 2000, the 406 Coupe was also equipped with electronic brake force distribution.
Features
Compared to its D8 predecessor, standard features for the D9 406 Coupe were revised as the ten-disc CD changer was replaced with a six-disc unit. From September 2000, the 406 Coupe was fitted with a ten speaker JBL sound system.
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