Currently reading: Prologue concept is 407 coupé

It’s still only a concept, but Peugeot describes the Prologue as a ‘worthy successor to the 406 Coupé’. Powered by the new V6 HDi diesel, the Prologue, on display at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, closely resembles the the production two-door 407 expected to surface in the autumn.Peugeot’s first clue about the possibility of a 407 coupé came at last year’s Geneva show, in the shape of the low-slung Silhouette concept. But the Prologue is a much more realistic indicator of what the car may look like.This time Pininfarina isn’t involved, but like the 406 Coupé Peugeot’s in-house design proposal is subtle and elegant. There are no oversized wings or blistered arches, just small side vents, 19in alloy wheels and a subtle bootlid spoiler. The biggest extravagance is a chrome-plated version of the 407’s trademark yawning air intake.

Underneath the Prologue is closely related to the standard 407. The suspension is directly lifted from the saloon car’s double wishbone front and multi-link rear set-up. Drive will find its way to the road via the front wheels through either five- or six-speed manual transmissions, or a six-speed automatic.PSA’s 2.7-litre V6 HDi turbodiesel, currently found in Jaguar’s S-type and due for Citroën’s C6, powers the coupé. This engine is already renowned for its excellent refinement and for outputs of 204bhp and 324lb ft of torque. Petrol power looks likely to come from Peugeot’s 2.2-litre four-cylinder engine, developing 160bhp.There’s also an outside chance that Peugeot will make the 211bhp 3.0-litre V6 petrol available in the coupé, although it may be difficult to justify when the range contains a more frugal diesel with an extra 100lb ft of torque and lower emissions.

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