THE PEUGEOT 405 T16: THE PREDECESSOR OF THE NEW 508 PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED

Added: 17 November 2020

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.

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 recognisable 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) award and 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.