Peugeot Unveils Final 407 Coupe Prototype, Czech Car at Geneva

GENEVA – PSA Peugeot Citroen presents a nearly finished version of its 407 coupe, billed as the Prologue concept car, at the Geneva auto show here, as well as its version of the 107 small car to be produced by the Toyota Motor Corp.-PSA partnership, based in Czech Republic.

The 407 coupe will be sold with a 2.7L V-6 turbodiesel developed with Ford Motor Co., connected to a 6-speed Aisin automatic transmission, as well as a gasoline engine also making more than 200 hp.

Later, a less-expensive 2.2L gasoline engine is expected. The 407 4-door, as introduced at Geneva in 2003, and the SW station wagon arrived on the market last July.

Peugeot Managing Director Frederic Saint-Geours says 170,000 units have been sold to date. He says the 407 coupe will arrive on the market in its final version this fall.

The Prologue is the third teasing concept car for the 407 coupe, preceded by the 407 Elixir and the 407 Silhouette, but Saint-Geours says the Prologue is nearly identical to the final product.

While the 406 coupe was designed by Pininfarina SpA, the 407 coupe is an in-house design project. The cab-forward look and sweeping roofline will not change, nor the gaping “mouth” air intake in the bumper that distinguishes modern Peugeots, including the Czech-built 107.

Peugeot will start selling the 107 at €8,500 ($12,211), which places it €1,000 ($1,319) above the Renault Dacia Logan, a larger but simpler car that also goes on sale in France in June.