How does Peugeot weigh up its market? The coupe buyer, says the company, is in general a lover of beautiful cars who is attracted by new ideas, aesthetic appearance and real or implied sporting qualities. A coupe will be bought on impulse.

The cabriolet owner is quite a different number. His choice is a conscious decision and is followed by loyalty to the car, which gives the driver the feeling of being slightly different. The car may not be totally practical, but the cabriolet buyer believes that the gains in freedom and enjoyment derived from open-top motoring far outweigh disadvantages in terms of comfort and security. There is a broad customer base, which includes the buyers of saloon cars.

Peugeot has targeted people, belonging to various lifestyles. The young, free and single naturally top the list. Then it could be the personal car of a businessman or woman concerned about image. Peugeot has tried to give the impression of a customised car.

Peugeot sees it as a technical feat because it has used retractable roof technology while retaining two rear seats and at the same time meeting the requirements of style and practicality expected of a modern vehicle.

To ensure that this innovative 206CC has a level of rigidity equivalent to that of the saloon in its coupe form and optimum rigidity in its cabriolet form, the design and production of the structural components have been the subject of close attention in terms of both design and installation. This has also been the case with the choice of materials and the endurance tests carried out on them. The objective was to maintain the optimum features with regard to the car's dynamic qualities as well as its comfort levels while taking into account the fact that this 206 could change into either a coupe or a cabriolet, simply by pushing a button; the electro-hydraulic system doing all the work.

The whole structure complete with reinforcements, but without the retractable roof and the boot-lid, weighs 317 kg, which is 50 kg more than that of a three-door 206 saloon. The weight of the retractable roof with its metal fittings is 33 kg, while the double-action boot lid weighs 37 kg. The whole structure, under torsion and a torque of 100 daN applied to the axles, shows a measured deformation of 2.19 mrd with the roof down-i.e., in the cabriolet version, and 1.40 mrd with the roof closed, in coupe form. During flexing, with a force of 275 daN applied at the level of the side-rail, the deformations recorded are 0.48 mm and 0.36 mm respectively.

The 206CC was first displayed as a concept car at the Geneva Motorshow in 1998. This was six months ahead of the commercial launch of the 206. The concept was enthusiastically welcomed. It prompted Peugeot to develop the car and now put it in the market.