We"ve lifted the lid...

We"ve lifted the lid on the Lion that looks set to roar straight to the top of the coupé-cabriolet class! This week"s mag has the first clear pictures of Peugeot’s new 207 CC, which won’t be officially unveiled until the Paris Motor Show in September.

As you can see, designers have made the new folding hard-top model more attractive than its 206 CC predecessor. While the front end is shared with the standard 207 hatch, the newcomer’s rear has a sleek finish to make room for the folding roof mechanism.

Peugeot has also given its latest CC cleaner lines than the 206 drop-top at the back. The shape of the tail-lights is similar, but the odd rails and ridges of the previous-generation car’s rear deck have been dropped.

At the touch of a button inside the cabin, the metal roof concertinas into the boot. Luggage space will be tight with the top stowed, but the 207 CC will have a sizeable boot in coupé form.

And it will also be more spacious inside. Look closely at our pictures, and you’ll see chrome hoops around the headrests of the back seats, proving the drop-top will remain a four-seater. But with extremely limited legroom, adults will still find the back a tight fit.

In the front, the 206’s ergonomic flaws are well documented, with many drivers struggling to get comfortable. These problems are made worse by the CC’s steeply raked windscreen and limited headroom. Designers have listened to the criticism and paid close attention to making the 207 CC much improved in this area.

Peugeot is also keen to ensure the drop-top matches the sharp handling of its supermini sibling. Where the 206 CC flexed and creaked when cornering, its successor will get much more strength- ening to maintain its structural integrity.

The car snapped here is still missing some vital trim including door handles and bumper plastics, but when it’s com- pleted it will take centre stage at the Paris expo this autumn. Although presented as a concept, there will be few differences between this car and the production version which is set to go on sale early next year.

Power will come from two new 1.6-litre engines developed with the help of BMW. A naturally aspirated unit produces 115bhp or 130bhp, while a turbocharged model delivers 150bhp.

The engines will also appear in the standard 207, with a warm 150bhp GT variant set to debut at the British Motor Show in July. Hot hatch fans will have to wait for the Geneva Motor Show in March next year for the full-strength GTI to arrive with upwards of 170bhp. A GTI version of the CC is not planned, but diesel drop-tops are on the cards.