First look: Peugeot coupe's radical change

UNDERNEATH all the wings, fenders and wild paint resides the next generation Peugeot 407 coupe.

Yes, it appears Peugeot has done away with the luscious curves of the Pininfarina-styled 406 coupe and gone for a far more humpbacked look closely aligned with the sedan and SW 407 models.

Those two cars made their world debut at the Geneva motor show this month and this car – called the 407 Silhouette concept – also appeared.

While the 407 sedan and SW should be here before the end of 2004, the coupe will not make it until 2005, after a production debut expected at the Paris motor show in September.

Extra features adorning the concept coupe at Geneva include a carbon-fibre rear wing and exaggerated bodykit including massive fenders, side skirts, roof-mounted air intakes, quad exhausts and 19-inch alloy wheels.

Underneath the bodywork is a mid-mounted 240kW 3.0-litre V6 engine mated to a sequential six-speed gearbox and adjustable double wishbone suspension.

And while the Silhouette shares the saloon's wheelbase, it has been built on its own tubular spaceframe chassis and has a fibreglass body. Those two features will not make production, but the deep front spoiler might.

Inside, Peugeot has fitted sculpted racing seats, a carbon-fibre dash and a small pod ahead of the driver housing digital racing dials. However, production versions are expected to get a toned-down facia similar to that of the sedan.

The current 406 coupe debuted in Australia in late 1997. It is fitted with a 3.0-litre 157kW V6 engine and retails from $69,550.