Citroën C6
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| Citroën C6 | |
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| Manufacturer: | Citroën |
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| Production: | 2006–present |
| Predecessor: | Citroën XM |
| Class: | Mid-size luxury car / Executive car (UK) |
| Engine: | 2.7 L HDi V6 3.0 L ES9 V6 2.2 L HDi |
| Similar: | Peugeot 607 Rover 75 Renault Vel Satis |
| Designer: | Jean-Pierre Ploué |
The Citroën C6 is an executive car produced by the French automaker Citroën since 2005.
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[edit] Overview
It is inspired by the 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. At the time it was hoped that the C6 would go into production by the end of 2001 as the replacement for the aging XM, which was first produced back in 1989. The XM did cease production in early 2001 but the first C6 rolled off the production line almost four years later.
[edit] Features
It is powered by either a 3.0 L ES9 V6 producing 211 hp (155 kW) or a 2.7 L V6 HDi diesel producing 204 hp (150 kW). In October 2006 was introduced yet another engine, a 2.2 L HDi producing 173 hp (125 kW) with FAP, four cylinders and a dual turbo. It is aimed as a stylish alternative to executive cars like the BMW 5 Series and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Despite its hatchback shape, the car is a fastback and has a classic trunk (and a unique to the C6 concave rear window) such as the one the Citroën CX used to have. Citroën hopes one of its main selling points will be its innovative technology, which includes a head-up display, lane departure warning system, xenon directional headlamps, Hydractive suspension with electronically controlled springing and damping, and a rear spoiler which automatically adjusts to speed and braking.
The C6 is 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 and skids over the car.
[edit] The C6 and the President of France
French president Jacques Chirac has chosen the Citroën C6 as his official car, and has been using a pre-series car before the model was introduced. By using a Citroën C6, Chirac follows a long tradition of French presidents using Citroën cars :
- Charles de Gaulle was famous for his Traction Avant, and later his DS.
- Georges Pompidou commissioned two modified SM 4 door convertibles, which remained in service from 1972 to 1995
- Valéry Giscard d'Estaing oscillated between the CX and Peugeot 604, since early CX's had insufficient rear headroom
- François Mitterrand and Jaques Chirac both drove CX's as their personal transport
- Chirac used a CX when celebrating his election in 1995
[edit] External links
- Citroën C6 at Citroenet
- Citroën Press release, Official images of the Citroën C6
- Official UK C6 microsite
- EuroNCAP test results
- Citroën Crash Test C6
| <- Previous | Citroën car timeline, 1980s-present - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
| Economy car | 2CV | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Off-roader | Méhari | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| City car | LN | LNA | AX | C1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Supermini | C2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Visa | Saxo | C3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Small family car | GSA | ZX | Xsara | C4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Large family car | BX | Xantia | C5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Executive car | CX | XM | C6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Leisure activity vehicle | Berlingo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Compact MPV | Xsara Picasso | C4 Picasso | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Large MPV | Evasion | C8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Crossover | C-Crosser | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
