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| Peugeot 405 | |
|---|---|
| Name | Peugeot 405 |
| Manufacturer | Stellantis |
| Production | 1987–1997 (Europe), 1988–2017 (Iran) |
| Class | Compact car |
| Body style | Saloon, Estate |
| Layout | Front-engine, front-wheel-drive / Four-wheel-drive |
| Predecessor | Peugeot 305 |
| Successor | Peugeot 406 |
Peugeot 405 is a compact family car produced by Peugeot introduced in 1987 and designed to compete with models from Ford Motor Company, Volkswagen AG, and Renault. Conceived under the oversight of designer Pininfarina and project managers from Groupe PSA, it combined aerodynamic styling, practical packaging and a range of petrol and diesel engines to challenge rivals such as the Ford Sierra, Volkswagen Passat, and Opel/Vauxhall Vectra. The model played significant roles in European, African and Asian markets, later continuing long production runs through licensed assembly in Iran and China.
The 405 project was initiated within Peugeot after market analysis contrasted demand for successors to the Peugeot 305 and competition from BMW Group and Audi AG. Styling responsibilities were awarded to Pininfarina with input from in-house teams led by Gérard Welter and technical coordination from Groupe PSA executives; early prototypes were tested at facilities including the MIRA (Motor Industry Research Association) track and wind tunnels at Société des Aéroplanes. The aerodynamic form drew influence from contemporary designs such as the Citroën BX and drew comparisons to the Renault 21; the project emphasized packaging efficiency to match interior space in rivals like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. Suspension geometry and chassis tuning were developed with consultants from Michelin and components sourced from suppliers including ZF Friedrichshafen and Valeo. Safety and emissions development referenced standards set by the European Economic Community and homologation testing in countries like Germany and Italy.
Chassis layouts included front-wheel drive with an optional four-wheel-drive system developed with input from Ricardo plc and tested in climates ranging from Sweden to Morocco. Petrol engines ranged from the small SOHC units related to the TU family to the DOHC XU engines shared with performance variants and developed by engineers experienced with Renault-era collaborations; diesel options comprised indirect-injection units similar to those offered in contemporary Citroën models. Transmissions included five-speed manuals and a three- or four-speed automatic produced in collaboration with Aisin Seiki and Getrag. Suspension employed MacPherson struts and a torsion-beam or independent rear setup comparable to systems used by Volkswagen AG and Ford Motor Company. Braking systems used ventilated discs and ABS units co-developed with Bosch. Trim and amenities reflected trim-levels comparable to those of Saab Automobile and Alfa Romeo, with heating and ventilation units supplied by Sanden.
The 405 range expanded to saloon and estate body styles with special editions and long-wheelbase or luxury variants tailored by partners like Karzan and coachbuilders similar to Heuliez. High-performance versions included turbocharged and multi-valve engines akin to units used by Peugeot Talbot Sport and shared engineering philosophies with cars from Renault Sport and Alfa Romeo performance divisions. Estate versions competed with the likes of the Volvo 740 and Ford Escort Estate, while diesel models found popularity in fleets across France, United Kingdom, and Spain. Licensed derivatives and localized adaptations were produced by manufacturers in Iran Khodro and assemblers in China under technology-transfer agreements comparable to deals between Volkswagen AG and Chinese partners.
The 405 served as a platform for rally and touring-car campaigns run by teams such as Peugeot Talbot Sport and independent entries in events like the Rally of Morocco and national series in France and United Kingdom. Notably, high-performance variants inspired competition models that shared development links with championship-winning projects from Peugeot in the World Rally Championship and endurance racing at 24 Hours of Le Mans. Tuners and racing teams fitted modified XU engines, upgraded ZF gearboxes, and reinforced subframes in ways reminiscent of aftermarket work by specialists affiliated with Alpine, Citroën Racing, and Renault Sport.
Manufacture began in Sochaux and expanded to plants including those in Mulhouse and through licensed assembly by Iran Khodro in Tehran and assorted facilities in China and Argentina. Sales peaked in the late 1980s and early 1990s as the model competed against Ford Motor Company and Volkswagen AG offerings across European Union markets; fleet and retail uptake mirrored trends seen with the Renault 19 and Opel Astra. Long production in Iran and aftermarket support networks in Morocco and Algeria extended the car’s lifecycle beyond Western European discontinuation, similar to production trajectories for the Volkswagen Beetle and Land Rover Defender in other markets.
Critics from publications such as Autocar, What Car?, Top Gear (magazine), and L'Auto-Journal praised the model for interior space and ride comfort while noting electronics and rust protection relative to rivals like the Ford Sierra and Volkswagen Passat. The 405 influenced subsequent designs within Peugeot and inspired engineering practices later applied to the Peugeot 406 and Peugeot 407. Its long service life in countries such as Iran and Morocco contributed to a legacy comparable to enduring models like the Volkswagen Golf and Toyota Corolla, and it remains the subject of preservation efforts by enthusiast clubs including national chapters of Peugeot Club and independent restorers associated with Classic Car Club of America-style organizations.
Category:Peugeot cars