It was difficult to get a minute, not to mind a day, to enjoy the cabrio benefits of the new Peugeot 207 CC, which I had on test recently. With the weather that we have had over the last month, it was more of a test of the water-proofing of the car than one where I had a chance to enjoy the open top sunshine.

The new Peugeot 207 CC is the logical development on the new 207. And it comes on the market against the backdrop where its predecessor was the world's best selling and most original coupe cabrio.

I took the 207 CC to the roads as much in hope as anticipation. This is a car designed to please with impressive flowing lines and a now proven electric folding top system. The new 207 shape adds a little more space up front, while the rear seats are a little cramped - it is a coupe cabrio after all!

The test model was fitted with the lower power of the two 1.6 litre petrol engine options. This is a well proven engine in the Peugeot/Citroen (PSA) lines and finds a natural home under the 207 CC bonnet. The engine delivers 120bhp, which is impressive for a 1.6 litre version. The good news is that if you want more power in your 207 CC you can get it from a turbo-charged version of the same engine, boosting power to 150bhp if needed.

The intro 1.6 litre engine is more than adequate for the 207 CC. If delivers an impressive 0 to 100km/hr rating of 10.7 seconds. The relatively high engine torque rating helps this pace and also gives a smooth level of acceleration through the gears.

In its group, which includes cars such as the Mitsubishi Colt, Nissan Micra and Opel Tigra, the 207 CC is the best performer, even if the entry engine size is larger than some of the competition.

Match that with reasonably good economy at 6.5 litres/100km (43mpg) in the combined cycle and the 207 CC is affordable to run. And the 207 CC is reasonable in size terms, not much smaller than the Peugeot 307 CC, which is about 30% less fuel efficient for a similar look. In fact, I reckon that the new shape of the 207 CC makes so close in shape to the 307 CC than at a fleeting glance you would hardly know the difference.

The gem for the 207 CC is the electrically operated folding roof. You can transform the car from a coupe to a carbio and enjoy the combination of wind and sunshine (I wish) at the press of a button. The electric folding roof for the 207 CC has been designed in-house and is assembled in a dedicated production facility before being sent to the 207 CC assembly lines, inside the same plant.