Citroën C6

Citroën C6
Overview
Manufacturer	Citroën
Production	2005–Dec 2012 (LHD) 2005–May 2012 (RHD), 2016-(China only)
Assembly	Rennes, France
Designer	Jean-Pierre Ploué
Body and chassis
Class	Executive car (E)
Body style	4-door fastback saloon
Layout	FF layout
Platform	PSA PF3
Powertrain
Transmission	6-speed manual 6-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	114.2 in (2,901 mm)
Length	193.2 in (4,907 mm)
Width	73.2 in (1,859 mm)
Height	57.6 in (1,463 mm)
Curb weight	4,007–4,125 lb (1,818–1,871 kg)
Chronology
Predecessor	Citroën XM
Successor	Citroen C6 (China)

The Citroën C6 is an executive car produced by the French car maker Citroën from 2005 to 2012. The Citroën C6 was inspired by the Citroën C6 Lignage concept car with a fastback saloon-like styling. A new generation C6 will be sold in China only from late 2016, based on the PSA EMP2 platform.^[1][2][3]

Inspired by the Citroën C6 Lignage prototype which was first shown at the Geneva Motor Show in the spring of 1999, but differs from the concept car's styling in minor details like rear suicide doors for easy access. It was intended as a replacement for the XM, and Citroën was intent on launching it before the end of 2000. The Citroën C6 Lignage formed the basis^[4] of the Citroën C6 which was launched in 2005, four years later than Citroen had originally planned. The XM ceased production in June 2000, and the first C6 rolled off the production line almost five years later.

At the time, it was hoped that the C6 would go into production by the end of 2000, as the replacement for the ageing XM, which was first produced in 1989. The car was generally viewed as being inferior in quantitative terms (acceleration and handling) but with strength in comfort and refinement. Car magazine^[5] ran a 2.7 litre V6 on its long term fleet and rated it for its "waftability" and comfortable interior but felt it was a car that the driver needed time to adjust to. In isolation, the car´s acceleration was regarded as "effortless" but not up to the standards set by similarly priced and equipped vehicles such as the BMW 535d.^[6]

Features

Interior

Citroën C6

The C6 is powered by either a 3.0 L ES9 V6 producing 211 PS (155 kW; 208 hp) or a 2.7 L V6 HDi diesel producing 204 PS (150 kW; 201 hp). In October 2006 a 2.2 L HDi producing 170 PS (125 kW; 168 hp) with FAP, four cylinders and a dual turbo was introduced. In June 2009 the new 3.0 L V6 HDi diesel producing 240 PS (177 kW; 237 hp) replaced the 2.7 L V6 HDi.

The C6 has a fastback saloon profile which is due in part to the concave rear window, similar to the Citroën CX and some models of Dodge in the 60s. However, the C6 is a conventional saloon with a classic trunk, and not a hatchback like its XM predecessor.

The C6 was aimed as a stylish alternative to executive cars, like the BMW 5 Series and the Audi A6, and it has been described as "spaceship that rides on air", "charmingly idiosyncratic" and "refreshingly different".^[7][8]

Citroën hoped that the C6's selling points would be its innovative technology, which includes a head-up display, a lane departure warning system, xenon directional headlamps (also available on the Citroën C4 and Citroën C5), Hydractive 3+ suspension with electronically controlled springing and damping, and a rear spoiler which automatically adjusts to speed and braking.

The C6 was the first car to obtain four stars in the pedestrian test rating of EuroNCAP, due to the inventive design, where the bonnet pops up a little if a person/animal is hit, thus increasing the gap between the deformable bonnet and the non-deformable engine components below.^[9]

On an episode of Top Gear, Jeremy Clarkson tested the C6's Hydractive suspension by mounting a camera on it and driving it on the infield of Towcester Racecourse while filming a horse race. Despite the bumps and potholes on the infield, the C6 managed to provide a comfortable ride and stable video coverage of the race while moving at 60 kilometres per hour (37 mph). At the same time, a BMW 5 Series (with M Sport package) performed the same test, but its suspension could not keep the camera upright.^[10]

The C6 immediately became a prominent vehicle among the fleet of executive cars of the Élysée Palace. Former Presidents of France, Jacques Chirac & Nicolas Sarkozy, have chosen the Citroën C6 as their official car. Chirac, in particular, used a pre-series car before the model was introduced.^[11]

Worldwide production and sales figures

At launch sales expectations across the model's lifespan were given as 20,000 per year. In July 2008, the C6 car configurator on Citroën UK's website no longer offered black as a colour choice for the popular Exclusive trim levels.^[12]

By October 2008, the manual transmission and the intermediate Lignage specification were no longer offered. Polar white was added to the colour options (replacing Deep Red). The standard navigation system, named until then "NaviDrive", was renamed "Concert Pack".

The 3.0 V6 petrol engine was discontinued in February 2009 – only the 2.2 and 2.7 HDi options with six-speed automatic gearboxes were offered, in base C6 or C6 Exclusive trim. In June 2009, the 2.7 HDi engine was replaced by the new 3.0 V6 HDi, as was mentioned.

As of 2010, only the 3.0 HDi (240) Exclusive trim was offered in some markets, such as the United Kingdom. Options were limited to Sunroof, Lounge Pack (TGV rear seats) and "WiFi on Board",^[17] a 3G connectivity solution for the car that is little more than a MiFi box and is unrelated to the onboard telephony of the car.

In 2012, Citroën ceased production of RHD cars, and rumours suggest the C6 will be replaced by the Citroën DS9, based on the Citroën Numero 9 concept car. The replacements of the Citroën C6 are the Citroën Metropolis and the Citroën Número 9.

Citroën ceased production of the C6 in December 2012, after 23,384 units had been built.^[18]

Second generation

New generation C6 based on the PSA EMP2 platform

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Citroën C6.

• EuroNCAP test results
• The Lignage C6 concept car shown in action