Peugeot 406 Coupe V6
The Peugeot 406 Coupe stands as one of the most beautiful automotive designs of the 1990s, penned by the legendary Italian design house Pininfarina. Unlike the sedan on which it was based, the coupe was designed and partially assembled by Pininfarina in Italy before final assembly at Peugeot's Sochaux plant. The V6 version featured Peugeot's smooth 3.0-liter ES9 V6 producing 207 hp, giving the elegant coupe genuine performance to match its looks. The long hood, short deck proportions, sleek roofline, and carefully sculpted details created timeless elegance rarely seen in mainstream manufacturers. Inside, the 406 Coupe offered a driver-focused cockpit with supportive seats and quality materials befitting a grand tourer. While based on the 406 sedan's platform, the coupe featured unique suspension tuning for sportier handling. The combination of Pininfarina styling, willing V6 power, and front-wheel-drive practicality made the 406 Coupe an accessible grand tourer that punched well above its price point. Today, enthusiasts recognize it as one of the most undervalued beautiful cars of its era, with values beginning to rise as collectors discover its charms.
Look for full service history as these require proper maintenance. Check for rust in sills and rear wheelarches. Verify the V6 has had regular oil changes as sludge can build up. Test the automatic transmission thoroughly - it should shift smoothly. Electrical gremlins can occur, particularly with the climate control and window regulators. Interior wear is common on high-mileage examples. Pininfarina badge and build quality should be verified. Manual transmission V6 models are rare and more desirable.
The 406 Coupe was designed and partially manufactured by Pininfarina in Turin, Italy, making it the most Italian of Peugeots. Bodies were shipped to Peugeot for final assembly. Production ran from 1997 to 2004 with a facelift in 2003. The V6 was the range-topping model, though four-cylinder versions were also offered.