Wednesday 19th December 2012

Adieu, vieil ami...

...or 'goodbye, old friend', in real money. Shed a tear: the last big Citroen is on its way out.

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Most of the time, the passing of a big saloon doesn’t really raise an eyebrow at PH Towers. But today is different. Today is the last day the Citroen C6 will be produced. And as we all enjoy a large, wafty Citroen, we thought that was worthy of a moment to pause and reflect.

Lignage concept previewed dramatic styling

Big Citroens have never been driver’s cars, but that hasn’t stopped them from being seriously cool. The C6 was no different. Its dramatic styling had first been previewed by the Lignage concept at the Geneva Motor Show in 1999; six years later, it emerged as a production model, virtually unchanged. With its Hydractive III suspension, enormous armchairs and selection of torquey engines matched to automatic gearboxes, it was clear from the start that this was a car designed first and foremost to relax and cosset, rather than to deliver the last word in driving exhilaration. And that made it a refreshing change from the usual attempts at faux-sportiness so prevalent among the German competition.

Unsurprisingly, though, the C6 sold slowly here in the UK, with many buyers deterred by the prospect of the usual big French car problem: depreciation. As well they may have been; the only C6 for sale in the PH Classifieds has already taken a hefty hit, and is unlikely to stop there. Eventually, Citroen had to face facts, and the C6 was pulled from the UK market back in May. After struggling on for a few more months in its home market, it seems the big Cit has finally been laid to rest completely.

It seems unlikely that there’ll be a true successor. Citroen says that the DS5 is about as close as we’re going to get – but that’s half the car the C6 was, with conventional steel springs and a confused character as a result. And with the appetite for big French cars seemingly at its lowest ebb ever, even in the home market, it looks like the C6 will be the last in a long line of big, effortlessly comfortable French saloons. Quel dommage, truly.

[MagicalTrevor]

There's something about these that I really love! So quirky and a bit ugly-beautiful

[MagicalTrevor]

dbanes said:

Cool car, but I never saw one on the road here.

Seen one. Well actually my Wife spotted it and excited commented along the lines of "there's one of those rare Citroens, I quite like it".

She's a keeper