The French car manufacturer Peugeot has been successfully developing high-performance sports saloons for many years. In 1993, the lion brand introduced the sportiest version of the Peugeot 405: the Peugeot 405 T16. In the history of the manufacturer, "T16" stands for many successes in motorsport: the Peugeot 405 Turbo 16, for example, was the two-time winner of the Paris Dakar Rally in 1989 and 1990 as well as the Pikes Peak Hill Climbing Race in 1988 and 1989.
Family sedan and sports car combined
The Peugeot 405 T16 with its powerful engine was also ideal for private customers who wanted to combine the advantages of a comfortable family saloon with those of a sports car. The Peugeot 405 T16 achieved an output of 144 kW (196 hp), which could be increased to 161 kW (220 hp) by means of boost pressure from the overboost. The model owed its top speed of 235 km/h and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in just 7 seconds to the constant all-wheel drive and the viscous clutch. The Visco clutch controls the slip and distributes the torque in the order of 53 percent to the front and 47 percent to the rear.
Elegant, yet understated
The silhouette of the Peugeot 405 T16 is elegant and understated. From its predecessor, the Peugeot 405 Mi16, the T16 inherited the rocker panels, the front and rear bumpers and a redesigned, more aerodynamic spoiler. For connoisseurs, however, the T16 became unmistakable thanks to its 16-inch alloy wheels with five spokes - instead of the standard 15-inch wheels - and the standard headlight cleaning system.
Today, the Peugeot 405 T16 is a coveted collector's model with a total of 1,046 units produced. In general, the Peugeot 405 was a great commercial success and received the COTY (Car of the Year) award in 1988.
Peugeot 508 PSE: Plug-in hybrid with motorsport DNA
In the spirit of the Peugeot 405 T16, the latest top-of-the-range model from Peugeot joins the ranks of sporty high-performance models. The new Peugeot 508 PSE is currently the lion brand's most powerful production model and achieves 265 kW (360 hp) by combining a combustion engine with two electric motors. The 520 Nm of torque are available almost from the start. The all-wheel drive transmission ensures optimum traction in all weather conditions. The performance level of the Peugeot 508 PSE is unique for the brand and offers acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds, 1,000 meters in 24.5 seconds, 80 to 120 km/h in 3 seconds and a top speed of 250 km/h
