Citroen C6 – French automotive masterpiece. It’s time to restore it to its rightful glory French.pl

Chevron enthusiasts know the history of hydropneumatics very well and love models such as the Citroen DS, CX and XM. Few people consider C6 and that is a big mistake. The Citroen C6 is not only a beautiful, timeless and comfortable limousine, but also a testament to the possibilities offered by the French automotive industry twenty years ago. It echoed the best traditions of the brand and stood for almost everything.

When it appeared in 1955, the Citroen DS beat all cars sold at the time by a fraction of a second, without exception. Be it in terms of silhouette, technological advancements, comfort or even driving characteristics, the DS beat and even outshone all the competition in a masterful manner. Objectively speaking, never in the history of the automotive industry has a car with a gasoline engine been so technologically advanced compared to what the competition was offering at the time.

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Today, the C6 is rare, but you can still see it on the streets

Citroën could not repeat this. Of course, the CX and XM stood out from the other cars in the category, but more because of their hydropneumatic suspension, original delivery and willingness to “do things for the sake of doing things” than for any other reason. A slow decline in sales led Citroen to withdraw production of its XM sedan in 2000. However, inspired by the success and enthusiasm of the iconic Lignage sedan presented in 1999, some began to dream of a successor to the DS: it was to be C6. Delays resulting from the lengthy decision-making process at the PSA meant that it arrived several years too late.

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Moreover, interestingly, the manufacturer’s enthusiasm for this car seemed to have waned to the point where we wonder if he still has faith in the product. At that time, it was as if Citroën were launching a car half-baked, in short, without any expectation of its success, almost as if they had to sell it. Has waiting killed your enthusiasm? Of course, six years is a long, long, long time, but that doesn’t explain everything. And that’s certainly not why the brand’s management seemed unimpressed by its new popularity. Except the enthusiasm and zeal of the first days was extinguished by the management of Peugeot, which did not look well on the emergence of this competitor for the 607. This cannot be excluded, because the competition between Citroen and Peugeot has always been seen in PSA. and continues, in its own way, to Today.

The elegant and timeless silhouette of the C6

Assembled in Rennes, the C6 was expected to attract 30,000 customers a year: at least that was the usual target set by Citroën, ten times less than Mercedes achieved with its E-Class.

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When the ax fell and production stopped in 2012, the balance sheet showed a total of 23,384 units sold, with a peak of 7,600 units sold in 2007. This was light years behind the pessimistic forecast, and the operation turned into a financial crisis and a slap in the face for the company. The C6 deserved more. In fact, if the original concept of DS were to be summed up in three lines, they would be: first, an unusual design that has never been copied; secondly, it provided an extraordinary level of comfort provided mainly by hydropneumatic suspension; third, advanced driver support. These three elements are part of the DS DNA, and the C6 followed it to the letter. Therefore, the goddess of tar who was must be honored and respected as the last link in the saga of the real DS.

To the edge of the world! C6 lovers can be found all over the world. Here in Sydney, Australia, but many owners also live in New Zealand.

Somewhat neglected during his career, it deserves a renovation today not only because of its wonderful driving qualities, but also because of the boldness of its vision, its originality, even if some stubbornly consider it excessive. Finally, this is a true historic Citroën, as it was the penultimate model to benefit from hydropneumatic suspension, which has now sadly been abandoned by the brand.

The Citroen C6 is worth a close look – and ownership – if you can afford to buy it and keep it. In its own way, it is a jewel of French cars, beyond which the era of classic cars began. And we love unusual cars!

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