CITROEN C6 Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

In 2005 Citroën introduced the C6 as its flagship vehicle, but the car's success was poor, to say the least, with less than 30,000 units sold in six years.

The French automaker tried to create a worthy replacement for the XM lineup. Thus, in 1999, it unveiled the Citroën C6 Lignage concept car on which the C6 was based. But the final product was far from the prototype, and the sales were hampered by the car's performance and the world financial crisis that greatly impacted the automotive sector between 2008 and 2011. In addition, the idea of a French luxury vehicle was not exactly the European's cup of tea.

Ever since the famous DS, Citroën tried to build a car with similar success in the upscale market. Despite all its efforts, it couldn't match that. Its front fascia was curved with swept-back headlights and an in-your-face badge on the hood extended on the sides by chromed lines. The aerodynamic profile with a hatchback look hid the three-box bodywork since the rear windscreen didn't open. Nevertheless, the automaker didn't use half-covers for the rear wheels, like on the famous 1955 DS.

The leather-wrapped interior was luxurious, built for those who wanted to travel comfortably. Up front, Citroën installed a pair of bucket seats with almost no bolstering on the sides, while out back, it placed a flat bench seat where three could sit. But despite the sloped-down roofline, there was enough headroom for them.

But the most significant problem was with the drivetrains tuned to provide comfort, not performance. Even if the C6 featured a "sport" setting, that still didn't cancel the magic-carpet feeling of the vehicle, where occupants felt like they were gliding over the road. In addition, the engines were not very powerful compared to other similar vehicles from those times.