Biggest Flop Ever? The Citroën C6 Story

Citroën has a long history of large flagship luxury cars, from the Traction Avant in the 1930s, through the futuristic DS in the 1950s and the technological showpiece that was the SM in the 1970s. The C6 was the last in a long line of these cars. It focused less on new technology, although it had its fair share of that, but like all those other cars it had an avant-garde style all of its own, something to set it apart from the BMW wannabes of the mid-2000s. But given it was the last large luxury Citroën you can probably deduce it didn’t sell that well. Just why was that, and what relationship does it have with the second generation car that launched in China?

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[BigCar]

Erratum: The 2nd gen C6 was based on the PSA PF3 platform. Thanks to Lucas for tracking this down (and editing English & French Wikipedia so we all get smarter).

Big Car Podcast:

[admiraltiberius]

The C6, another amazing car that unfortunately didn't work out.
Meanwhile we are saddled with more and more suvs, crossovers and other unimaginative boring blobs.

[valentinexristov]

Just 2-3 weeks ago i made my dream come true. I purchased a V6 petrol C6 from Spain, with 96k km and absolutely every option available for this model. The car is marvelous magic on wheels ❤

[Perkelenaattori]

It might've been a flop but the moment the last one rolled off the production line, the makers of the car knew it would be a classic.

[johny]

The suspension is actually very different from the one in the XM

The fluid is synthetic, the height correction is electronic (which allowed the car to lower at highway speed and raise in rough terrain), and the dampers were automatically adaptive and had 16 different positions.

It is essentially an entirely new system.

[gordonbarnes]

The suspension is so good they mount a TV camera on the roof to run parallel with horse race tracks TO SHOW A NON SHAKING IMAGE - no other car would be suitable.

[-Eckhart]

To me, it seems like a very worthy successor to the XM - maybe Citroen's worst mistake was the delay in getting it to market in time for the XM's demise. I tried the driving position in Geneva, 2005 and got the impression of a high quality starship enterprise. I don't think that Citroen failed its public, more like the public failed Citroen.

[LiamNI]

I have a 2009 C6 2.7HDi Exclusive with the TGV seats. Absolute unit of a car, and the best thing in the world to do miles in. She's a keeper for me tbh.

[annecy]

The C6 was also a car used by some French presidents, of whom Jacques Chirac, a true Citroën lover (he used a CX before). Thank you for this recap of the C6's history! 🇫🇷

[ronanmc]

Do the C5 next. I’m sitting in my C5 right now!
The Irish State ordered a top spec C6 in 2008 for a former President as his state car. He was an elderly man and passed away before it could be prepared and delivered to him/his driver. It sat in a compound for 4 years before an enthusiast got his hands on it. It’s only used sparingly now.

[ordinosaurs]

France biggest automotive flop is hands down the Renault Vel Satis. Nothing comes even close to that dumpster fire of a car. Citroën never expected to sell big numbers of the C6, unlike Renault which had deluded hopes (and investments to match).

[jonathankhoo]

ahh, the C6! my brother and i got this as a rental when we did our portugal and spain roadtrip in 2008. ended up getting a speeding ticket for doing a 145 in a 120 (sent all the way back to us in the US). in any case, i still remember the car all these years later, the lane departure thumping in the seat, the smooth ride, how snazzy it looked...

[jochenstacker]

I saw one today and it's still a spaceship from the future.

[radudeATL]

13:50 Missed opportunity to name the concept the E-9 (as in E-neuf). I’ll see myself to the nearest exit.

[gregchambers]

I have a c6 exclusive and contrary to the armchair experts it's been very reliable. Never failed to start nor left me stranded. Most mechanical parts are shared with the 407 so parts aren't too expensive in reality. It's comfortable and quiet and great for long distances. I love the fact i hardly ever see another and in a sea of all the same audi and bmw's it's a breath of fresh air.

[davidknuckles]

Adore the side profile shot of the concept. The rear lights, the wheels, and the rear hinge doors give such a presence to it that altogether got lost in the production version in my opinion

[Muushondje]

Superb storytelling ! Maybe in sales figures it was a flop. But as a imagebuilder and flagship of technologie it was a pure winner.

[elicaul]

I really like the lines of the C6 today, but I barely paid attention to it back when it was current. Perhaps it wasn't exciting from a performance standpoint, but I'd take an early example with manual transmission and the TD - That plus that incredible suspension sounds pretty good as a vintage, stylish highway cruiser. Thanks Andy for another fantastic video!

[Broncos]

I am from the uss i know nothing about most of the cars you speak of, regardless i watch all of the content you produce. I love it. I never stop

[BEGGARWOOD]

I loved mine but it ate suspension components, mainly because they were taken from. Peugeot 407. It’s also made some people sick due to its inability to settle on the motorway. But it was still awesome