French cars

frontal impact

The new Peugeot 607 commercial

1890 Armand Peugeot quickly abandons steam for petrol and produces the first Peugeot petrol-powered four-wheel car, the Type 2, fitted with a Daimler engine, at the Valentigney factory. 1891 The Peugeot company name is changed to Les fils de Peugeot frères. In September, a petrol-powered four-wheel car, driven by Messrs. Rigoulet and Doriot, travels from Valentigney to Brest and back again - a round trip of 1375 miles - at an average speed of almost 9 mph. 1892 Peugeot produces 29 cars and is the first company to fit rubber tyres to a petrol-engined four-wheel car. Peugeot's Type...

Peugeot designers: Henri Thomas and Jean Andreau were the first big name designers at Peugeot. Thomas, inspired by streamlining, was responsible for the flowing lines of the 402, with its rounded front end and elegant radiator grille. Introduced in 1935, the 402 was the first model in the Fuseau Sochaux line, followed by the 302 in 1936 and the 202 in 1938. Andreau designed the celebrated “1940” 402 prototype with an inclined, convex curved windshield, pillar-less side windows, fenders tapering to a point and distinctive high rear fin.

This car has everything except a high class badge. The 3.0 V6 feels like an ordinary saloon if driven in economy mode, but switch to sport and it'll growl, throw you back in your seat and take flight (not a good idea coming away from the lights with another car right in front of you). It has a smooth Porsche Tiptronic gearbox, so you can drive in full automatic, or change gears yourself (sans clutch) if you prefer. The only probably with the manual gear mode is that if the car doesn't think the revs are right, it won't change until it's ready... defies the point a bit. ...

First seen at the 2000 Geneva Autoshow, the big cat inspired Peugeot 607 Feline was designed at the La Garenne Design Centre. Usually concept cars are created to preview and perfect upcoming models. The 607 Feline didn't follow this trend, since it was designed after the introduction of the 607. Peugeot's original brief for the 607 Feline was to concieve a luxurious, racy roadster with some design elements borrowed from the 607 sedan, such as the front end and the rear light cluster. All four wheels are pushed to the extreme corners of the Feline, possible for a one-off concept,...

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In fact, Renault’s involvement in racing predates the conception of the World Championship in 1950. At the turn of the century the young Louis Renault saw racing as a way of publicising his cars; his most impressive feat being the winning of the first ever French Grand Prix in 1906

It all started in the closing weeks of 1898. Louis Renault was celebrating his 21st birthday, he chose the occasion to launch his new automobil: RENAULT Type A. Type A had 270 cc engine (1,75 hp) and a three-speed gearbox, it could carry 2 people at 50 km/h (30 mph). Type A was based on the DeDion quadricycle. 1899 was the year when Renault Fréres opened at 10, Avenue du Cours, Billancourt. Renault Frées participated at the Paris Autoshow which was held 12. June with 2 different models: Type A and B. Type B had a 450cc engine and it was available a carriage-type of coupé...