In perhaps the worst Photoshop we’ve ever conjured up we compare the Peugeot 406 Coupe to the Audi A5 Coupe and in doing so have found the two share fairly similar exterior designs. One is a Peugeot Coupe which was manufactured between 1995 and 2004 and one is German.
One was designed and manufactured by Italian automotive design gods Pininfarina and the other was designed by a German. One has the highest levels of Germanic attention to detail, quality build and rock solid residuals and a premium image to match, the other is French.
Both cars were designed by Italians but only one of the designers is most remembered and that accolade surely goes to Walter de Silva.
The Audi A5 shares a similar form factor to the Peugeot 406 Coupe such as the rear “windowy” bit and errm the rakish front bit and side profile thing… any way you know what we mean.
Of course the A5 is epically stunning and was designed by Walter de Silva who describes the A5 as his “most beautiful design ever”. We aggree.
The poor old 406 Coupe had its moment and then faded from memory, it memorable enough for being styled by Italians and that is a good selling point.
The 406 Coupe was based on the 406 saloon the latter was notably successful in the United Kingdom, having broken into the key UK fleet sales market.
The 406 saloon did win the 1997 What Car of The Year Award and rather shamefully 1997 & 2001 Caravan Club Towcar of the Year. The 406 saloon also narrowly missed out on the European car of the year award in 1999.
So then Audi A5 apart from looking like a 2.0 version of the 406 Coupe, what awards did you win or narrowly miss out on, ehh? You can’t rely on your fashionable good looks forever.