Peugeot 407
| Company type | Car model |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Predecessor | Peugeot 406 |
| Founded | June 2004 |
| Defunct | July 5, 2011 |
| Successor | Peugeot 508 |
Area served | Europe, worldwide |
| Products | Saloon, coupé, estate cars |
| Parent | Peugeot (Groupe PSA) |
Overview
The Peugeot 407 is a D-segment large family car manufactured by the French company Peugeot between 2004 and 2011. It was available in saloon, coupé, and estate body styles, equipped with petrol engines from 1.8 to 3.0 litres and diesel options ranging from 1.6 to 3.0 litres.
Initial sales commenced in France in June 2004, followed by a rollout throughout Europe the subsequent month. In 2005, the 407 was shortlisted for the European Car of the Year accolade.
Serving as the successor to the Peugeot 406, the 407 was ultimately succeeded by the Peugeot 508 in April 2011. Production ceased on 5 July 2011, although the coupé variant continued to be manufactured until December of that year.
Overview
Following the success of the Peugeot 406, the 407 was introduced at The Sunday Times Motorshow Live on 27 May 2004. Its design was notably bold and aerodynamic, distinguished by a prominent front grille and sharply angled windscreen pillars.[1] During development, Autocar published spy shots highlighting that the saloon’s rear window profile bore resemblance to the short wheelbase design of the Ferrari 250.[2] The vehicle was officially revealed in Paris in February 2004, backed by an investment of €1.12 billion from Groupe PSA.[3]
The estate variant, named Peugeot 407 SW, was launched in September 2004.[4] The coupé followed in January 2006 after its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2005.[5] Peak annual sales reached approximately 259,000 units in 2005, including around 57,000 sold outside Europe. Production of the coupé concluded in March 2012.[6]
A subtle update introduced in August 2008 resulted in most petrol versions being withdrawn from UK and other European markets. One model featured AMVAR electronic suspension technology, which adjusted each wheel’s damping every 2.5 milliseconds to enhance ride comfort.[7]
Both saloon and coupé models achieved five-star safety ratings from Euro NCAP.[8]
Design
The Peugeot 407 showcases a distinctly rounded exterior, drawing stylistic parallels to the smaller Peugeot 307. Its front end is characterized by assertive headlight designs and a prominent grille, signaling a shift away from the more traditional appearance of its predecessors. This daring aesthetic has elicited mixed reactions, garnering both acclaim and critique.
Prior to its facelift, the saloon version of the 407 achieved a drag coefficient of 0.29.
Safety
Euro NCAP awarded the Peugeot 407 high safety marks, granting it five stars for adult occupant protection in both the saloon (2004) and coupé (2005) models. Protection for child occupants was rated at four stars, whereas pedestrian safety received a lower evaluation, with two stars.
Engines
All powertrains are equipped with dual overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder. Petrol engines utilize multi-point fuel injection systems, while diesel variants operate with common rail direct injection technology.
| Model | Engine type | Displacement Cylinders | Max. power at rpm | Max. torque at rpm | 0–100 km/h | Top speed | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol Engines | |||||||
| EW7 J4 (6FZ) | 1,749 cc I4 | 118 PS @ 5,500 rpm | 163 Nm @ 4,500 rpm | 11.3 s | 200 km/h | 2004–2005 | |
| EW7 (6FY) | 1,749 cc I4 | 125 PS @ 6,000 rpm | 170 Nm @ 3,750 rpm | 10.3 s | 203 km/h | 2005–2010 | |
| EW10 J4 (RFN) | 1,997 cc I4 | 136 PS @ 6,000 rpm | 190 Nm @ 4,100 rpm | 10.3 s | 212 km/h | 2004–2005 | |
| EW10 A (RFJ) | 1,997 cc I4 | 140 PS @ 6,000 rpm | 200 Nm @ 4,000 rpm | 10.3 s | 213 km/h | 2005–2011 | |
| EW12 J4 (3FZ) | 2,230 cc I4 | 158 PS @ 5,650 rpm | 217 Nm @ 3,900 rpm | 9.0 s (Man), ~10.7 s (Auto) | 220 km/h | 2004–2005 | |
| EW12 J4 (3FY) | 2,230 cc I4 | 163 PS @ 5,875 rpm | 220 Nm @ 4,150 rpm | 10.1 s | 222 km/h | 2005–2009 | |
| ES9 A (XFV) | 2,946 cc V6 | 211 PS @ 6,000 rpm | 290 Nm @ 3,750 rpm | 8.7 s (Auto) | 235 km/h | 2004–2009 | |
| Diesel Engines | |||||||
| 1.6 HDi |DV6 TED4 (9HY/9HZ) | 1,560 cc I4 | 109 PS @ 4,000 rpm | 240 Nm @ 1,750 rpm | 13.1 s | 192 km/h | 2004–2010 | |
| 2.0 HDi |DW10 BTED4 (RHR) | 1,997 cc I4 | 136 PS @ 4,000 rpm | 320 Nm @ 2,000 rpm | 9.8 s (Man), ~10.7 s (Auto) | 208 km/h | 2004–2009 | |
| 2.0 HDi |DW10 BTED4 (RHF) | 1,997 cc I4 | 140 PS @ 4,000 rpm | 320 Nm @ 2,000 rpm | 9.8 s | 208 km/h | 2008–2010 | |
| 2.0 HDi |DW10 CTED4 (RHH) | 1,997 cc I4 | 163 PS @ 3,750 rpm | 340 Nm @ 2,000–3,000 rpm | 9.6 s | 210 km/h | 2009–2011 | |
| 2.2 HDi |DW12 BTED4 (4HT) | 2,179 cc I4 | 170 PS @ 4,000 rpm | 370 Nm @ 1,500 rpm | 8.7 s | 225 km/h | 2006–2010 | |
| 2.7 HDi |DT17 TED4 (UHZ) | 2,720 cc V6 | 204 PS @ 4,000 rpm | 440 Nm @ 1,900 rpm | 8.5 s | 230 km/h | 2006–2009 | |
| 3.0 HDi |DT20 C | 2,993 cc V6 | 241 PS @ 3,800 rpm | 450 Nm @ 1,600 rpm | 7.9 s | 245 km/h | 2009–2011 | |
Television commercials
The initial commercial, known as "The Toys" or "", featured life-sized toy vehicles being surpassed by the elegant Peugeot 407. This advertisement was directed by Philippe André from the BETC Euro RSCG agency and shot in Sydney, prominently displaying cars traversing the Sydney Harbour Bridge. For the June 2004 promotion, André crafted twenty custom model cars.
The music was composed by the French duo The Film (Guillaume Brière & Benjamin Lebeau), with the track "Can You Touch Me," which was an adaptation of their previous song "Can You Trust Me."
A subsequent commercial, continuing the toy car motif in Sydney, depicted the Peugeot 407 SW driving toward a coastal residence, contrasting it with older station wagons experiencing mechanical failures. The soundtrack included "(Lady) Hear Me Tonight" by Modjo. The campaign adopted the tagline "Playtime is Over," interpreted as a counter to Renault's 2002 Laguna slogan, "Serious Playtime."
In Spain, the slogan used was "" ("Let's talk about cars again").
407 concept cars
The sedan variant was first introduced as the "407 Elixir" at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show. The "407 Silhouette" race car incorporated many coupé styling elements. A near-production coupé model called the "407 Prologue" was unveiled at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show. Additionally, the four-door coupé convertible "407 Macarena," manufactured by Heuliez, made its debut at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show.
Notable film appearances
The Peugeot 407 sedan appeared in the comedy films Taxi 4 (2007) and Taxi 5 (2018), replacing the 406 that featured in earlier installments of the series.
Successor
In November 2010, PSA’s Philippe Varin announced that the Peugeot 407’s replacement would be called the Peugeot 508, rather than the Peugeot 408. The Peugeot 508 was officially revealed at the Paris Motor Show in October 2010.
The 508 saloon measured roughly 12 cm (5 inches) longer than its predecessor, also taking over from the larger Peugeot 607. Meanwhile, the Peugeot 408 nameplate was assigned to a Chinese-produced notchback version of the Peugeot 308, which succeeded the 407 in South America.
Sales
| Year | Worldwide Production | Worldwide Sales |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 170,000 | 170,000 |
| 2005 | 271,000 | 268,000 |
| 2006 | 197,700 | 194,800 |
| 2007 | 162,000 | 158,000 |
| 2008 | 117,700 | 113,400 |
| 2009 | 96,500 | 90,800 |
| 2010 | 84,900 | 79,300 |
| 2011 | 9,348 | 4,605 |
Total production of Peugeot 407 vehicles reached approximately 1.11 million units.