Most of you will remember the 405 Peugeot. Launched in Malaysia by MBF Peugeot, it sold well initially due to its styling which came from Pininfarina, the designers behind the legendary Alfa 164 sports sedan.
The 405 shared its platform with the Citroen BX which, at the time, was sold by Directional Motors who did little in terms of honest after-sales and branding. Today, Citroen still suffers this legacy and Peugeot in Malaysia is about to find a new brand guardian to elevate its sales.
The 405 was a neglected sports sedan in Malaysia, with prices sitting below US$1,220 for a decent running unit.
Since its launch in 1987, the standard Peugeot 405 was an enormous commercial success around the world, winning the 1988 Car Of the Year (COTY) award and inspiring multiple different competition versions.
The Peugeot 405 has carried the genes of a sports saloon, but it wasn’t until the beginning of the 1990s that the sportiest version of the 405 was born.
Let’s take a look at a very rare version of the 405, the T16, which officially did not come to Malaysia.
The T16 version was launched in 1993, and its acronym now holds an important historical significance.
After all, it had gone on to be the winner of the 1989 and 1990 Paris Dakar Rally, as well championing the Pikes Peak hill climb race in 1988 and 1989.
This win beat the previous record, which had been unbeaten for five years, and was the subject of Jean-Louis Mourey’s magnificent short film ‘Climb Dance’.
The car also succeeded the legendary Peugeot 205 Turbo 16, which was a double world champion in group B rallies and two-time winner of the Paris-Dakar in 1987 and 1988.
Equipped with a 2-litre, 4-cylinder engine supercharged by a Garett turbocharger, the T16 was capable of 196 hp, which could be increased to 220 hp thanks to the additional power delivered by the overboost function.
The model also boasted a top speed of 236km/h and acceleration from 0 to 99km/h in just seven seconds.
To retain the 405’s elegance and stay true to Pininfarina’s design, the styling differences on the 405 T16 were subtle – for example, the model did not include the wide wheel arches found on the 205 T16.
Instead, the key differences on the 405 T16 were 16-inch five-spoke light alloy wheels (in place of the standard 15-inch) and the instantly recognisable standard headlight cleaning system.
The 405 T16 also inherited the rocker panels, front and rear bumpers and aerodynamic spoiler from its predecessor, the Peugeot 405 Mi16.
The Peugeot 405 T16 was a top-of-the-range model, technologically advanced, inspiring to drive and remarkably comfortable.
Only 1046 units were made, making it a sought-after model for collectors.
Commercial, competition and collection aside, the Peugeot 405 T16 was the ideal car for anyone looking for a high-performance model built for the family.
And now, 30 years later, it is the predecessor of the new 508 Peugeot Sport Engineered, which was revealed by the brand on its 210th anniversary.
The 508 Peugeot Sport Engineered is set to redefine the concept of the sports saloon with 360 hp, thanks to the powerful combination of its combustion engine and two electric motors at the front and rear.
Along with outstanding performance and sharp and athletic styling, this latest ride by Peugeot supports the brand’s mission of ‘unboring the future’.
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