PEUGEOT 405 T16 History Lesson
Most of you will remember this Peugeot, the 405. Launched in Malaysia by MBF Peugeot, it sold well initially due to its styling which came from Pininfarina who also designed the legendary Alfa 164 sports sedan. This 405 shared its platform with the Citroen BX which at the time was sold by Directional Motors who in fact 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.
Today, the 405 is neglected sports sedan in Malaysia with prices sitting below RM5k for a decent running unit. Here we are looking at a very rare version of the 405, the T16 which officially did not come to Malaysia.
With its four-wheel drive capabilities, 220 hp and 147mph top speed, the PEUGEOT 405 T16 was the ideal car for anyone looking for a high-performance family model. The 405 T16 is the predecessor of the new 508 PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED, which was revealed by the brand on it’s 210th anniversary. 30 years later, the new 508 PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED is redefining 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.
PRESS RELEASE: Driving pleasure has always been at the heart of the PEUGEOT brand’s DNA. Through the PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED label, the brand is combining renewed performance with responsible performance to create Neo Performance: the perfect combination of sportiness and technology. With the launch of high-performance versions of the PEUGEOT 508 Fastback and SW, PEUGEOT is unveiling the first in a line of models under the PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED label.
Looking back at PEUGEOT’s history, high-performance sports saloons are not new to the brand. Since its launch in 1987, the PEUGEOT 405 has carried the genes of a sports saloon, but it wasn’t until the beginning of the 1990’s that the sportiest version of the 405 was born. A T16 version was launched in 1993, whose acronym now holds an important historical significance, since the 405 Turbo 16 went 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. It 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.
The PEUGEOT 405 T16 was equipped with a highly sophisticated engine, ideal for customers who wanted to combine the comfort of a family saloon with the driving pleasure of a sports car. This version offered unprecedented performance for a model of this type. Equipped with a 2-litre, 4-cylinder engine supercharged by a Garett turbocharger, the PEUGEOT 405 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 147mph and acceleration from 0 to 62mph in just 7 seconds.
In order 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 recognizable standard headlight cleaning system. The 405 T16 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.
The standard PEUGEOT 405 was an enormous commercial success, winning the 1988 Car Of the Year (COTY) awardand inspiring multiple different competition versions:
A version of the 405 T16 with engine power increased to 660 hp. This model won the highest hill climb race in the world, Pikes Peak, in 1988 and 1989 with Ari Vatanen and then Robby Unser behind the wheel. Vatanen’s climb in 1988 beat the previous record, which had been unbeaten for 5 years and was the subject of a film, which provided the basis for Jean-Louis Mourey’s magnificent short film “Climb Dance”.
The PEUGEOT 405 Turbo 16 Rally-Raid, which replaced the 205 Turbo 16 in the African sands and won two consecutive Paris-Dakar races in 1989 and 1990, with Ari Vatanen at the wheel.
