【中年と中古車☆プジョー編】ピニンファリーナの名作、PEUGEOT406クーペが欲しいのだ！＃35

[I found a superb used PEUGEOT 406!] Ahh, everyone! Do you like beautiful women? Ah, that was a stupid question. Sorry. Even if my body wears out, I want to live the rest of my life beautifully. So, this time I'm going to talk about Pininfarina's masterpiece, the Peugeot 406 Coupe. This mid-class coupe is actually a bit unique in that it was not only designed, but was also a rare model that was consistently produced by Pininfarina from its debut in 1997 until it was discontinued in 2005 (the 406 sedan and wagon were produced at Peugeot's factory). So, if we dig a little deeper, who at Pininfarina designed it? This was written in a book by Kiyoyuki Okuyama, who worked for the company and designed the famous Enzo Ferrari, but it was designed by an Italian named Davide Arcangeli. The lines that are flawless throughout the car exude a universal beauty. This is his second work at Pininfarina, following the Honda concept car Argento Vivo and the Ferrari 360 Modena. The designer himself is a die-hard Peugeot fan, so he went to the production site himself and created a product with great attention to detail right up to the line-off. According to Paolo, the son of Ercole Spada, who built Zagato's golden age, Arcangeli is the greatest designer of the 20th century. No one can imitate his style of realistically embodying designs without being bound by preconceived notions. Paolo himself is a car designer, so he has no choice but to acknowledge his talent. Davide did not go to a specialized design university, only attending art school in his hometown of Rimini, Italy. However, he must have had something special. He got a six-month internship at Pininfarina, and was hired full-time (at just 20 years old) in just one month. After four years there, he moved to VW/AUDI, but two years later to BMW. He was entrusted with the design of the new 5 Series (E60) under Chris Bangle, who was the chief designer at the time. However, as fate would have it, on the same day that the E60 was approved by the upper management, David passed away in Cologne, Germany. He was born on September 12, 1970. His death anniversary was December 16, 2000. The cause was a cerebral aneurysm just as he was beginning to undergo full-scale treatment for leukemia, but he was too young to have died that way... As mentioned at the beginning, the Peugeot 406 Coupe was manufactured by Pininfarina. Unlike the sedan and wagon, the meter panel, interior trim, front and rear seats (the early models were perforated), and roof lining were all custom designed. That's why the Coupe is special. Finally, a rough timeline. The early model, called Phase 1, was introduced in January 1998. The combination of a 3-liter V6 engine and 4-speed automatic transmission (manufactured by ZF) was equipped with Brembo and Recaro wheels, which were available in the US, and the price was 5.15 million yen (base price). The specs were a maximum output of 194 ps/5,500 rpm and a maximum torque of 267 Nm@/4,000 rpm. Next, a mid-term model called Phase 1.2 was released in August 2000. There were no changes to the exterior panels, but it adopted an aluminum cylinder head, variable intake valves, and an electronic throttle, and the specs were upgraded to a maximum output of 206 ps/6,000 rpm and a maximum torque of 285 Nm@/3,750 rpm. Although it was not officially announced, it is rumored that Porsche was in charge of the development of the valves and control system. A model change was made in August 2003. This was the first time that the Phase 2, which had a new face such as a new bumper, was released. It was then discontinued in 2005. In Europe, there are also inline-four gasoline and diesel-equipped models. This time we visited Hara Kobo, a French car specialty store. While the owner, Hara, calls himself a "repair shop," he works tirelessly to make the finest used cars and leave famous cars for future generations. The factory has invested so much just in tools. They also specialize in Citroëns and Renaults, so even if you're not a Peugeot fan, it's worth a visit. Oh, I forgot to mention that the question is, which is better, an improved engine or a new one? Everyone is probably wondering that. When I asked Hara about this, he said, "This is a matter of personal preference," but that he personally prefers Phase 1 in terms of feeling. For Middle-Aged B, condition takes priority. Anyway, you only live once. Drive a beautiful car! Text by Seiichi Norishige (Middle-aged B) Video by Yoshihide Shoshima Model by Airi [Vehicle inquiries] Hara Kobo 7-12-19 Shinozakicho, Edogawa-ku, Tokyo TEL: 03-5666-0610 [Become a FORZA member and access special benefits! ] 👉   / @forzastylecom   Akamine Yukio, who is well known for his [Yuki-chan's Monologue], broadcasts [Yuki-chan's Monologue Premium] on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays (weekdays). The extra edition of the popular [Anime Walk] is broadcast once a month! We also have four original emojis th...