Road Test: Citroen C6

[Overheat]

The C6 is Citroen's re-entry into the large car market; a spacious four-door, it's built on a stretched version of the C5/Peugeot 407 platform.

Citroen hopes it will appeal as an alternative to the usual German-brand cars in this sector - and it's certainly very different. More striking in its styling than the closely-related Peugeot 607, it has retro nods to the DS, SM and CX, yet retains a clear family resemblance to the bold new C4, C5 and the latest smaller Citroens.

Unlike the big German models, the C6 is focused more towards ride comfort than to ultra-sharp driving dynamics: it's a car to gently cruise in, or better still, in which to be driven. It's in the great tradition of the comfy French saloon and is complete with the latest iteration of Citroen's self-levelling hydraulic suspension system, these days with electronically-controlled "active" springs and dampers.

Two engines are offered, both V6s: a 3.0-litre (215bhp) petrol unit and the engine expected to account for 80% of C6 sales, the PSA-Ford 2.7-litre (208bhp) diesel, as used in the Jaguar S-Type and XJ. Both these come with a six-speed automatic gearbox only.

There are no plans, as yet, for any smaller engines to be available, nor any other body-styles, though a large estate or even crossover-style vehicle - perhaps reviving the popular Safari name - may not be completely out of the question at a later date.

It's far from a modern embodiment of the revolutionary DS - a car assembled from the PSA parts bin can never match up to such a ground-breaker - but it should satisfy those that go misty-eyed at the mere mention of classic Citroens.

read more here: http://www.channel4.com/4car/road-tests/C/citroen/c6-05-/index.html

watch the video here: http://www.channel4.com/4car/video/test-drives/index.html

 

[mautzel]

This was one of the few cars I took a closer look at last year's IAA (Frankfurt motorshow). I like it's styling of it very much but I'm aware that not everybody will share my opinion. In terms of built quality / interior materials from what I saw I can say that it is competitive, though I doubt that it'll really take a huge piece of the Audi/BMW/Merc market share - remember, it's a french luxury sedan! It's a car for people who want something different and for that purpose it'd get my recommendation (and should be categorised as a cool car in the next series of Top Gear )

 

[BlaRo]

I think it's great. Looks like nothing else; a bit of retro mixed with a bit of futurism.

It'd make a great car for the French Mafia, among others.

 

[Z102]

C'est magnifique! The more I see it, the more I like it. I really like all these late batch Citroens. The C4 is one of the best looking cars in its segment and this... This is extraordinary. Curious how as the names have gotten duller the cars have gotten more interesting :lol: (C2, C3, C4,... vs Saxo, Xsara, Xanthia,...)

 

[M3lover]

I think it's really brave, and cool, of Citroen to make such a radical design. I hope they will have succes with it. That could maybe inspire others.

 

[pfrocker]

I heard the design of this car is from 1995, and it was suppose to go into production
but with stagering problem, it's released now
it may be just a rumor

 

[bone]

i saw that car at brussels auto show

you see the side windows don't have a metal frame around them? they actually slide in the cabin itself, so when you open the door, in a blink of a second, they're lowered a cm so they wouldn't get caught, and when the door is closed they're raised again.

so stupid! we did it 20 times fast in a row, and it was already flipping, stuff like that won't last 5 years

 

[mautzel]

It does on the BMW E46 Coupe (same application).

 

[bartboy9891]

I think it's great. Looks like nothing else; a bit of retro mixed with a bit of futurism.

It'd make a great car for the French Mafia, among others.

hell yea, though id prefer it to be RWD.