PEUGEOT'S 406 Coupe is sold out until August 1998 with the manufacturer now trying to obtain an increase in supply. Demand for both the 2.0-litre and 3.0-litre V6 has been signficantly higher than expected in the UK, which initially was due to take 2,000 of the 11,000 cars due to be built in the first year on sale.

It is understood that Peugeot attempted to double supply but in the end had to settle for 2,500 Coupes, the first of which went on sale on August 1. A company spokesman told Fleet NewsNet: 'The French are listening to our request for added availability. I don't think anyone believed it would be as popular as it has been. People are happy to wait but if we can get cars earlier we will. Additional volume would help enormously.'