I've a soft spot for big, French coupes. Peugeot's old 406 Coupe for example, to my mind, the most beautiful sub-£20,000 car you could buy in its heyday in the late Nineties. When Peugeot announced they were replacing that car with the 407 Coupe I'm looking at here - and sent me pictures - I was a little shocked. On paper, this car doesn't have the 'wow' appeal of its predecessor. In the metal however, it's quite different. The more time I spent with this car, the more I got to like it.

I won't get too practical here since if you're buying any kind of Coupe, space won't exactly be top of your list of priorities. Having said that, this car does have to present a sensible proposition. Since it's being positioned more as a 'GT' long distance tourer than a sportscar, it must be able to seat four adults comfortably and take copious amounts of luggage. Sure enough, it does. I thought the cabin could have been distanced a little more from that of a standard reps' 407 saloon - but then, I thought that about the old 406 Coupe. Still, it's neat and everything seems to work very nicely. Sophisticated multiplexed electronics allow for a huge amount of individual customisation when specifying your 407, with such features as rear view mirrors linked to reverse gear, parking sensors, self-imposed speed limiters, low tyre pressure monitors and variable cruise control systems all capable of being fitted quickly and, just as importantly, at very modest expense. I particularly liked the car's air conditioning system. A humidity sensor constantly monitors the air in the interior to prevent fogging and a gentle dash-top diffuser dehumidifies the air without subjecting the passengers to the usual gritty blast. Peugeot have also developed an externally controlled compressor that uses atmospheric conditions to reduce the work the system has to do, thus reducing fuel consumption. A pollen filter also keeps summer trips bearable for those, like me, afflicted by hay fever.

As I've already said, this car is set up more for comfort than for outright handling finesse. Having said that, the clever double wishbone front suspension does mean that this is a Grand Tourer that won't fall to pieces when the going gets twisty. Two petrol engines and two diesel units are offered. The entry-level diesel is the 2.0-litre 136bhp unit found in other Peugeot models. This slots below the 2.7-litre V6 which develops a hefty 205bhp. The petrol engines kick off with a lightweight 160bhp 2.2-litre unit with a punchy 211bhp V6 24-valve option featuring variable valve timing (VVT) to ensure that power and torque are evenly distributed across a wide rev range. All are fitted with a six speed gearbox except the diesel V6 which gets the automatic option as standard. Safety-wise, you'd expect this car to be good - and indeed it is. Peugeot have set something of a precedent to follow with some very good previous Euro NCAP crash test results but the 407 again takes a big step forward. Active safety comes in the form of brake discs with a diameter of up to 330mm and next-generation ESP stability control which is standard on every model. As well as marshalling the anti-skid function, ESP also acts as a controller for the anti lock braking system, the emergency brake assist and the electronic brakeforce distribution to each individual wheel. Pedestrian protection is a major design criterion these days and the 407 features foam padded bumper bars and a bonnet that deforms to absorb shock, the top of the engine a good distance below that sweeping bonnet line. Up to nine air bags can be specified - twin fronts, side, curtain and steering column units offer optimum protection.

Driving this car, I pictured myself with a little house in Provence, visited on a regular basis by a blast down the autoroute in my 407 Coupe. It was an enchanting thought..