PEUGEOT is raising the stakes in the upper medium sector with the introduction of a battery of specification upgrades - including standard ABS - across the 406 range. All models except the entry-level L will get standard anti-lock brakes from next month, along with a raft of other refinements without any price rise.

Even the L will benefit from a divided/folding rear seat on the estate version, while the LX gets ABS, electrically-operated door mirrors, height-adjustable rear head restraints and an external temperature indicator. GLX models get individual front seat armrests, chrome inserts to bumpers and body side mouldings, chrome door sill kick plates and a CD autochanger on the V6.

Executive models will benefit from camargue leather, wood dash trim and an ultrasonic alarm, while all 2.0 automatics get the more fuel-efficient new AL 4 intelligent gearshift. The move has been prompted by the ferocious competition at the heart of the fleet market in the key upper medium segment.