Road Test: Peugeot 207 1.6 THP GT 2dr

Seriously, though, us ladies don't travel light, so if you've got more than two bags, you'll be using the rear seats. Which are pretty useless for passengers anyway.

With the roof down, a detail and safety feature (and a Peugeot first) I particularly liked are the chromed, pop-up, safety, roll-over protection bars. Obviously being decapitated is not a good look and these flashes of chrome are a nice touch.

In the UK, the 207 CC will come in two trim levels - Sport and GT. The GT spec (+£1,200) includes aluminium grille, stability control, 17in wheels, directional headlamps and mp3-compatible sound system.

At launch there will be three engine choices - a 1.6-litre 16-valve petrol engine producing 120bhp; a 1.6-litre 16-valve THP (Turbo High Pressure) engine producing 150bhp; and a 1.6-litre 16-valve HDi diesel engine producing 110bhp... although why anyone would want to ruin their alfresco motoring experience by listening to the drone of a diesel is beyond me - it's like listening to your parents having sex: wrong!

Besides, although you might get 54.3mpg out of the diesel (over 43.5mpg and 39.2mpg for the petrols respectively) it needs servicing every 12,000 miles, compared to the petrol, which is every 20,000 miles.

I didn't drive the diesel - I was up all night entertaining the Polish national football team who were staying in the same hotel where Peugeot hosted the launch - and my fragile state couldn't bear the noise.

So, I drove the range-topping 207 CC with the turbocharged engine (a tuned version of which is found in the Mini Cooper S), available with either a five-speed manual 'box or a four-speed auto 'box with Tiptronic-style sequential control.

So, what's it like to drive? Pretty good actually. That 1.6-litre THP engine is lively and there is plenty of grunt when you need it.

The 8.6-second 0-62mph time and 131mph top speed may be no threat to the land-speed record, but it's got all the performance its customers will need. Buzzing around behind the 207 CC's electric-powered steering wheel is a properly fun place to be - it's much sportier than the 206 CC and is extremely nippy and manoeuvrable.

Weighing 1,400kg, it's no shrinking violet, but remains remarkably agile. It has got good road manners and with the roof up on the motorway it has coupe levels of refinement with no wind noise or scuttle shake.

In fact, it's a charming, attractive all-round package and the best small CC on the market - definitely my own breast in show.