New Citroen C6 Exclusive Special Offers

The C6 harks back to a time when a big Citroen was an event rather than a mere mode of transportation. Andy Enright reports

Play by the conventional rules dictated by the ruling German triumvirate in the executive sector and most manufacturers will lose. With the C6, Citroen has tried to change the game. Sleek, chic and beautifully refined it's at once futuristic and yet harks back to the days of the true grand tourer.

The big C6 heralded something of a renaissance for Citroen. Before its introduction, the marque's products had become a little samey. Now the range - enhanced by the DS line - looks much more interesting. Commentators had, for some time, bemoaned many Citroens for not embodying the brand values that established the marque. It's just possible Citroen were stockpiling them for use in the C6.

It is, without wishing to descend to hyperbole, quite stunning. The shape is resolutely modern but at the same time the proportioning, rather than the detailing, is reminiscent of classic Citroen shapes from the past. The elegant arc of the roofline and the long front overhang are redolent of the old DS and SM models, while the short rear overhang and low slung back end reprise some classic Citroen themes. The company claim that the target was to develop a car with the stance and presence of a limousine but with the chic silhouette of a coupe. They may just have succeeded.

At launch, motive power came courtesy of a 2.2-litre HDi unit and a choice of two V6 diesel engines. The smaller V6 diesel was a 2.7-litre HDi unit developing some 208bhp and equipped with a particulate filter to cut emissions. This twin-turbo engine was smooth, quick and pleasantly tractable. But now only the 3.0-litre V6 diesel - a development of the 2.7-litre unit with similar architecture and 240bhp - remains. In order to supply the sort of hushed, syrupy ride quality the looks suggest, the C6 features active suspension with variable damping.

Having been touted as something of a thinking person's choice in the executive sector, the C6 is in no way the one to choose if you're in the mood to give your favourite section of B-road a good mauling. Instead, it's a car in which to take it easy and enjoy the impeccable ride quality served up by the Hydractive self-levelling suspension. The twin-turbo diesel engine works to produce a smooth and progressive supply of torque from low in the engine range, eliminating the lag and lunge often associated with less sophisticated diesel installations.

The C6 is a commendable piece of work on the part of Citroen's design team. The shape is resolutely modern but at the same time the proportioning, rather than the detailing, is reminiscent of classic Citroen shapes from the past. The elegant arc of the roofline and the long front overhang are redolent of the old DS and SM models, while the short rear overhang and low slung back end reprise some classic Citroen themes. The company claims that the target was to develop a car with the stance and presence of a limousine but with the chic silhouette of a coupe. They may just have succeeded.

A long wheelbase and low slung posture are quite unlike anything else on the road at the moment. Even one of Renault's wilder flights of fancy looks a little tame compared to the C6. The windowline across the curve of the roof arch is picked out with a subtle chrome strip - a clever aesthetic trick that helps visually elongate the car. The frameless glass of the doors also helps here, removing the need for bulky door pillars that would otherwise break up the impact of the remarkable glasshouse.

The interior feels like that of a premium brand product, if not one of the real top dogs in terms of fit and finish. Without doubt, it gives us a different perspective on what Citroen can achieve in this regard. Space in the rear is extremely generous and there's a very nice detailing to keep passenger in the manner in which they are accustomed but the boot isn't quite as capacious when compared to other models in the class.

What was the C6 range has shrunk to one 3.0-litre V6 diesel-engined model with the Exclusive trim level includes satallite navigation, electric seats, a high-end stereo and quite a bit more besides.

Packed with technology, the C6 features a head-up display that projects speed and navigation instructions onto the windscreen. There's also a comprehensive driver's information system, electronic parking brake, the innovative lane departure warning system, directional Xenon headlamps and a speed limiter.

The elephant in the sitting room when it comes to the Citroen C6 is depreciation. There's no really diplomatic way to ignore the facts: just 30 per cent of new value retained after three years. Compare this to a BMW 535d SE that holds 47 per cent and you can see where your money is going.

It's not all bad news. The advanced 3.0-litre turbodiesel returns a not unreasonable 38mpg and 195g/km CO2 emissions.

The Citroen C6 is an intriguing and endearing car. That's easy to say if you're not footing the running costs but there is a die hard subsector of the market that will put up with higher running costs in order to enjoy the C6's unique appeal. There's little doubt that when it comes to making a technological statement, Citroen's C6 raises the bar for the sub-premium executive class. Its effortless style, avant-garde interior design and unique feel also mark it out as a car removed from the usual rules.

Although it looks destined to occupy one of the meanest niches in the whole automotive market, the C6 is a car that can't help but put a smile on your face. It harks back to a time when the journey was as important as the destination and in taking our focus away from all-out speed and handling, it has a lot of merit. A future classic in the making? Only time will tell.