The Citroen C6 is the leading executive car of the Citroen vehicle series. Famous due to former French president Jacques Chirac owning an original model, the Citroen C6 is highly respected as a refined luxury car. It offers drivers a wide range of technologically-advanced options including a heads-up display, a lane departure warning system, directional xenon headlights and a rear spoiler which can adjust itself depending on the speed at which the car travels. Two V6 engines are available, both of them offered with a six-speed automatic transmission. The 3.0-litre petrol engine offers 212bhp. It sprints from 0-62mph in a moderately brisk 9.4 seconds and reaches 143mph flat out. The 2.7-litre turbodiesel offers 205bhp and beats the petrol model to 62mph by half a second. It also has a top speed of 143mph.Set for comfort the C6 has a complex active suspension system designed to prevent vibrations from the road reaching the occupants from the tyres through the suspension, right up to the seats. Instead of conventional metal springs it uses an electronically controlled hydraulic suspension system, with two stiffness level and 16 damper settings. While the system is set up for comfort, it automatically firms up when the driver uses harsher acceleration and braking. It can also detect and distinguish between different types of road and adjusts its settings for maximum comfort. The steering is generally light and easy to use, but it does gain weight and feel as speed increases and is reasonably direct at less than three turns between the locks.
The C6 will carry four or five people very comfortably, while the suspension absorbs pretty much any bump or obstacle thrown at it, the airy interior of the C6 is a thoroughly pleasant place to spend time. The automatic climate control has 'soft diffusion' which ensures a less aggressive airflow to eliminate draughts and laminated, double glazed side windows do a great job of helping deliver a virtually silent interior environment on the move. Engine noise is equally subdued whether choosing petrol or diesel. Choosing the Lounge Pack option changes the rear to a two-seat bench with electrically adjustable seating positions and to maximise rear leg room there is a button in the rear armrest to motor the front passenger seat forward when unoccupied.
Three trim levels are available featuring nine airbags (driver, passenger, four lateral, two curtain and a steering column 'bag), electrically-operated front seats, an MP3-compatible audio system with colour screen, speed sensitive rear spoiler, alloy wheels and automatic operation of the headlamps and wipers, as well as automatic climate control and an electronic parking brake. The higher specification C6 Lignage has a head-up display, front and rear parking sensors and directional xenon headlamps, which make for better night-time visibility around corners. The range-topping C6 Exclusive adds heated front and rear leather seats, wood and chrome trim, satellite navigation, lane departure warning and a premium audio system with a six-CD autochanger.
The C6 interior is very upmarket with grey wood trim on the dashboard and superbly designed door bins help create the luxury car ambience along with the dark dashboard top and controls in the centre. Visibility is good with slim window pillars towards the rear of the car, while the concave rear window doesn't seem to cause much distortion. It seems appropriate that most of the main instruments have LED readings and it is possible to choose a C6 with a head-up display which projects speed, the main warning lights and the next sat-nav direction on to the windscreen. Citroen’s history of producing remarkably beautiful and comfortable large cars delivers something unique and exclusive to the executive world of motoring.
