The Peugeot 405 belongs to the middle class segment. Production began in June 1987 and continued for ten years. At the beginning, only a sedan was available, a year later a station wagon with the name Break came as well. The 405 model had to face competitors in the form of the Citroen BX or the Renault 21 , and later also the Opel Vectra.
In February 1988, the Peugeot 405 was available for the first time with a four-speed automatic transmission, and at the same time the model was launched in the US market. In 1991, however, cooperation with the USA was stopped, and for a long time it was the last model of the French manufacturer that was sold here. In addition to its native France, however, the Peugeot 405 found use in a number of other countries (Egypt, Chile, Iran, Argentina, Great Britain).
Design
The car was designed by the famous Pininfarina studio . The car has more angular body shapes, but these were modern at the turn of the 80s and 90s of the last century. The 405 model differed with slight modifications according to the countries where it was produced. For example, the version for the American market had an extended front bumper with orange position lights. The year 1992 provided the car with an important facelift and also the modernization of a wide range of elements. In addition to minor modifications to the rear lights or the radiator grille, the car received a modified dashboard. The sedan underwent an important change in 1992, in which the load margin of the luggage compartment was reduced. Newly, the part between the end lamps could also be folded down with its lid, which was not possible with the older model.
Versions and equipment
Versions and equipment of the 405 model always differed in the designation in the form of a different grouping of letters. For example, the most basic equipment was marked with the letters GL / GR . On the contrary, the most equipped variants, if I leave out the top versions MI16 and T16, were marked with the letters STdt / GTX .
The equipment of the car was quite extensive for that time. The customer could order a four-channel ABS system from Bendix , central locking, electric windows and mirrors, or half-leather or leather seats. The top Mi16 and T16 versions had heated leather seats, an adjustable chassis, automatic air conditioning and even a driver's airbag (T16 version, year 94').
Petrol engines
1.4 (from 67 to 75 hp)
1.6 (70 hp)
1.6i (89 hp)
1.8i (103 hp)
1.9 and 1.9i (110 and 125 hp)
2.0i and 2.0i 16v (129 and 160 hp)
2.0 Turbo 16v (200 hp)
Diesel engines
1.9 (71 hp)
1.8 TD (90 hp)
1.9 TD (92 hp)
Sports versions of the Mi16 and T16
In addition to the conventional versions, the Peugeot 405 was also produced in two special versions named Mi16 and T16 . Both variants were the best you could get from the car. Both in terms of engine and equipment, these were literally jewels of the French brand.
Peugeot 405 Mi16
A weaker limited sports version was built on the basis of a sedan body. It was distinguished from the standard models by a front spoiler with integrated fog lights, a rear wing, side sill extensions and red Mi16 badging . It was the red Mi16 badge that made a big impression on weaker cars, especially when overtaking.
There were a total of 2 variants of the Peugeot 405 Mi16 . One with front wheel drive and the other with 4×4 drive, marked Mi16x4 . The engine was powered by a 1905 cc four-cylinder engine with 16 valves and a compression ratio of 10.4:1. Maximum power varied by year of manufacture and ranged between 108 kW and 119 kW (some more powerful Mi16s were not exported outside France and received a catalytic converter after 1992). Power was sent to the wheels through a five-speed manual transmission. The Mi16 had telescopic gas-liquid shock absorbers, transverse torsion bars and rack and pinion steering with power steering, making it a great experience to drive. ABS was standard, which increased crew safety when braking from a speed of up to 220 km/h.
Compared to the regular versions, the Peugeot 405 Mi16 was equipped with sports seats, central locking, electric side windows and heated mirrors. In total, around 400 pieces were produced. Preserved specimens can sometimes be seen in our bazaars, but their price is around 100,000 crowns.
Peugeot 405 T16
This version was inspired by the racing 405 Turbo16 Dakar and was intended for die-hard fans of the car manufacturer. The Peugeot 405 T16 was the most powerful road version of the sedan and was produced from 1993.
The Peugeot 405 T16 faced competition in the form of the Opel Vectra A 2000 4×4 Turbo and the Alfa Romeo 155 Q4 Turbo . The inconspicuous-looking sedan, at first glance indistinguishable from the weaker Mi16 model, hid under the hood an engine with sixteen-valve technology and a Garret VAT 25 turbocharger with variable blade geometry. A power of 147 kW and a torque of 288 Nm in the range of 2600-4500 rpm were managed to be "squeezed" out of a volume of 1998 cc. In addition, the engine also had an overboost function, when the values increased to almost 220 hp and 318 Nm for 45 seconds! Another difference was the standard use of 4×4 drivetrain with viscous coupling and Torsen rear worm differential. The maximum speed of the car was 235 km/h.
The used equipment was a high-end touring car. The T16 version had full leather seats, automatic air conditioning, a car radio with eight speakers, a driver's airbag, electric windows and mirrors, adjustable chassis height and a lot of other conveniences. Today, therefore, it ranks among very rare models. Information about the number of cars produced fluctuates between 400 – 2500 units, but the most frequently mentioned number is 1016. The price of the car nowadays is still around 250,000 crowns.
Peugeot 405 T16 Dakar
The racing version of the Turbo16 was very different from the civilian version of the T16 . It was from 1988 and had a predatory coupe body with a mid-mounted 400 horsepower engine. The technical basis of the special was taken from the 205 T16 model. Only 2 cars were built for the Dakar Rally and another 4 for the desert marathons. In 1988, the Peugeot 405 T16 even won the popular American race up Pikes Peak.
Limited edition Peugeot 405
In addition to the ultra versions mentioned above, the Peugeot 405 was also produced in several limited editions. I will show you two of the most famous:
The Rolland Garros edition was produced in the number of 400 pieces. It featured 15" alloy wheels, an electric sunroof, a leather sports three-spoke steering wheel, semi-automatic air conditioning and a roof rack.
The Le Mans Edition was built to celebrate the 1993 Le Mans victory. It had specific red paint, heated front half-leather seats with Alcantara, alloy wheels, a carbon fiber plaque on the dashboard and numbered logos on the sides of the car and the boot lid.
