COUPE THAT RAISES THE ROOF

By Kate Young - Friday, April 25, 2008

The Peugeot 207 CC, as silky smooth on the inside as it is outside. Picture by Robin Crossley.

ON THE ROAD
IT’S not difficult to understand why it’s love at first sight for Peugeot CC owners.
I recently drove the new Peugeot 207 CC (coupe-cabriolet) and I loved the stunning looks and smooth-as-silk drive this car provides.
I borrowed the diesel 207 CC Sport HDi 110 from Island dealers Staddlestones Peugeot and, to be honest, I was surprised to learn this car was diesel at first because it slunk rather quietly out through the streets of Bembridge.
Once on to the downs, I opened it out a bit and it became panther-like, with a good burst of speed and a reassuringly responsive drive.
Traditionally, the terms Sport, diesel and low emissions would not have been compatible but Peugeot has achieved it with this remarkable new drop-top.
From the outside, it really catches the eye with its sleek lines and aerodynamic shape and the 207 CC Sport benefits from alloy wheels and front fog lights, plus lots of chrome highlights, including chrome exhaust trim.
The real star feature of this coupe-cabriolet is the electrically-folding hard roof, the technology of which has been tried and tested in other Peugeot models for a number of years. Not only is it extremely easy to operate with just one touch of a button but it’s pretty quick, too, with the whole roof and windows cycle completed within approximately 25 seconds.
In addition, I did get caught out in a hailstorm in the 207 CC but it was so quiet in the cabin I would hardly have known it was pelting down outside.
This car is just as stylish inside as it is outside, with a range of fabrics and trims to choose from, plus sporty front seats, chrome interior door handles, shiny foot pedals, door sills and gearknob and chrome instrument dial surrounds among the features on the Sport.
The interior is roomier than you might expect — it’s a four-seater with space to take friends on short trips and the boot gives you a generous 449 litres of space when the roof is up and a handy 187 litres with the roof down.
Even with the roof down, it’s easy to get a couple of suitcases in the boot — perfect for a weekend trip away.
The car comes with plenty of safety features, including a progressive braking system with ABS, electronic brakeforce distribution and emergency brake assist, plus an electronic stability programme to ensure maximum response and control in the difficult driving conditions.
The 207 CC also boasts active roll hoops, which is a first in its class.
A visually pleasing package deserves a really good engine to power it and I cannot fault the HDi 110 diesel engine in the 207 CC Sport I drove.
Not only was it quiet but it was also a sprightly drive and ticked all my boxes by producing 54.3mpg on a combined cycle and just 130g/km carbon dioxide, which makes it pretty environmentally-friendly for a sporty car.
Despite the alarming state of Island roads, I barely felt the bumps in the new 207 CC because it has a great shock-absorbing chassis that makes for a positive and enjoyable ride.
The 207 CC range starts from £15,195 on the road and the Sport HDi 110 I drove is priced at £16,295.

COUPE THAT RAISES THE ROOF

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