It received the prize of 1987 Europe Car Of The Year

    The PEUGEOT lineup in the middle '80s was: 104, 205, 305, 309, 504, 505. Among them, 205 was the worldwide best-seller small hatchback; 309, small 3door/5door sedan was the extension based on 205; 505 stood as a flagship model after 604.
    However, the only model of M2 segment (middle size sedan) was 305, that had been introduced on the market since 1977.

    In 1987, PEUGEOT released the 405 being fully prepared. This clear-cut exterior design is by Pininfalina and Peugeot, whose relationship started in the 1950's (since 403!). It has rather large room and luggage space though its full length is rather short. It has marvelous suspension and thus gives comfortable to ride in. Loaded engines have good aptitudes, that previously were loaded in 205, 305, 309 and CITROEN BX. Several new engines are also attractive.
    PEUGEOT 405 had spread around France and other countries, and was playing an important role in M2 segment along with CITROEN BX and RENAULT 19/21.
    In 1996, the successor model 406 has been unvailed, and 405 has been discontinued. But PEUGEOT 405 still runs everywhere around the world as an active model, practical and fun-to-drive sedan.

Rich grade-lineup was prepared

    When in debut, some grades from 1.4L engine to 1.9L engine were prepared in the homeland. However, only two grades were introduced in Japan at the beginning: a luxury grade SRI with 1.9L SOHC petrol engine, and a sporty grade Mi16 with 1.9L DOHC petrol engine. This DOHC engine was initially loaded on CITROEN BX GTi16V.

    After that, some of the additional grades were introduced in Japan. One is SRI Break, a wagon model, and one is STI, that has leather seats and has the exterior parts for Mi16. And the other is Mi16x4, which is based on Mi16 plus full-time 4WD system and has hydro-pneumatique rear suspension. In the homeland, there exists such grades as GRx4 and SRIx4. And a few "rare" grades seems to have come to Japan via parallel import; I've seen GLX, never officially imported, in Kobe.

    In 1992, a minor model change was undergone, and old 1.9L engines were replaced with new 2.0L engines. Few significant changes were made on exterior, but the contents had been radically changed: the rigidity of the body had been improved, the engines has more torque. This minor model change was excellent so that it s like a major model change.
    T16, never introduced to Japan, was added in 1993 in the homeland as a limited model. It is the closest model to 405 Turbo16, which won at Pari-Dakar rally in 1989 and 1990. It has full-time 4WD system and 220HP Turbo engine.
    BTW, the minor-changed model was introduced to Japan in 1993. The lineup was SRI-EX, Break and Mi16. And in the last years, a grade SRI Griffe also was introduced to Japan. It is based on SRI-EX, but has leather seats and Mi16-look exterior: so this SRI Griffe (a later model) is just alike STI (an earlier model).

It won many prizes in motor-sports scene

    405 Turbo16, that succeeded to 205 Turbo16 (that won WRC Group-B in 1985 and 1986) and 205 Turbo16 GR (that won Pali-Dakar rally in 1987 and 1988), was unvailed in 1988.

    This monster weapon is completely different from conventional 405 on the market: it has coupe body, and it has 4WD system, and above all, the powerful engine (probably 350HP Turbo engine) is midship-mounted. 405 Turbo16 won the Pari-Dakar rally championship in 1989 and 1990.

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See. And what about grades and spec?

Last Updated: 10:36:15 JST, 04/05/2004 .