Remember this Gallic luxo-barge? When the Citroen C6 first came out seven years ago it wowed the motoring press with its avant-garde styling – that long front overhang and concave rear window being some of the sedan’s more idiosyncratic details. Certainly few other cars on the roads could hope to turn heads with as much ease.
Unfortunately the buying public weren’t as keen – in the first ten months of this year, only 556 were sold, according to Automotive News Europe, and now the time has come to say au revoir, for Citroen has stopped output of the priciest car in its range at its Rennes facility, following the end of RHD production in May. According to Autocar, total production should be around the 20,000 mark – Citroen hoped for that in a single year.
So this obituary is no surprise, but it also means that France now no longer has a locally-built luxury flagship, spelling the end of an era that reached its peak in the 1950s with the Citroen DS. In comparison with its contemporary sister, the legendary DS sold nearly 1.5 million units over a 20-year production run.
Peugeot and Renault exit the large car market some time ago. Renault has the Latitude, but that’s a rebadged Samsung SM5 from South Korea. Until the Citroen DS9 (conceptualised by the svelte Numero 9) happens, if it does at all, it seems patriotic citoyens will have to plump for mainly German offerings for the time being.
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failed to making a reign… just like Citroen XM, or Renault 25. or Peugoet 605.
is it the end of the world…….
…..for the C6?
:)
A shame.
You forgot the Metropolis concept, though.
Citreon C6 , you will be missed you funny unique and weird car.
I love citreon for their unorthodox design, the original Ds , Sm and this C6, kinda disappointing to see the new models today lack that ‘uniqueness’ . Yes the DS3 is awesome looking and drive, but where’s the ‘difference’
SM? The one with the Maserati engine and fully covered rear wheels? I saw this car only one time is my life on the road, it’s even more futuristic than the DS:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citroën_SM
I agree. There’s nothing of the soul of the original DS in these new “DS” models. Innovation sat at the very heart of the original, a technical tour de force that was created to push the boundaries of what a car could be, and to showcase Citroën as a pioneer. Next to this, the current models are just better-looking, more upscale Peugeots.
If you happend to purchase C6 its like timbang kati/tahil when you sell it. No value. Its good technology advance and so on but……. people want fast, practical and realiable car……hence the germans and Japanese made the cut here….
People don’t buy Citroen for the RV. We buy it because of passion.
If you’re worried so much about the RV, clearly this is not for you. You can join Sam Loo’s RV bandwagon.
Such a shame, this is the purest French car, exquisite design, unrivaled smoothness and class beating sophistication.
French can make good car.
In term of design or technology, they are at least at par.
The problem is they cant penetrate into luxurious segment, and people arent convinced to buy french m
The French can make good car.
In term of design or technology, they are at least at par.
The problem is they cant penetrate into luxurious segment, and people arent convinced to buy french made luxury cars, eventhough the offering is good.
I reckon, it’s the brand perception.
Because this is the brands that make ‘people car’ eg C1, C2, C3 and C4…
the luxury isnt really synonim with these models.
it’d be the same in Malaysia, even if P1 can offer good luxury car, rich people arent convinced to buy ‘P1’ car.
ask them why, they’ll say, “Because it’s Proton!”
Lancer with Mitsu badge sells at more than 100k, whilst people dont really buy Inspira…
But VW produces everything from a super cheap 30 year old design (Santana), over premium cars (Audi), to luxury cars (Bentley), to sports cars (Porsche and Lamborghini) and hypercars (Bugatti).
And Citroen clearly has the heritage. Hopefully there will be a DS6. Based on the C6, but better. Posher. More luxurious.
There’s a hefty luxury tax for cars >2.0l in France. The smallest available engine for the C6 is a 2.2l turbo diesel while Audi or BMW are offering 2.0 turbo diesels (A6 2.0TDI, BMW 520D) with a displacement under the “magic” 2.0 mark… ;)
That’s why it’s called “Seet Toh Loong”…translate from cantonese, “Pokai Sampai Habis” car. Citroen used to be yuppie dream car back in the 90’s with the citroen ZX till they realise how unreliable it is and they start to ditch it. Same goes for renault 19 where it’s life was shortlived in Malaysia.
One thing though, the french suspension is top notch. No other car makes can compete when it comes to comfort and handles like rail.
The dealer in Malaysia is of no help either with their poor marketing and aftersales. The only french survivor in Malaysia i must says goes to Peugeot and thanks to Naza.
coming January 1st, Naza will begin new Citroen franchise dealer – taking over from Brooklands
that makes it 2.
My Renault 19 was very reliable, after the first 2 years. I reckon it is still driving around somewhere in Africa, with 400k on the clock (sold it with 255k).
Unfortunately the DS5, their now most expensive car, has an awful suspension. Not comfortable at all.
Citroens are amazing cars. My dad almost went for a Xantia in the 90’s as we were really impressed by its space and that infamous hydraulic suspension. His business partner used to have an XM which failed his miserably. Still, as far as smart alternatives go, Sab and Citroens are unrivalled. Troublesome to maintain but surely leaves you smiling.
Can’t agree more. I survived in a front-to-front accident in Gambang 10 years ago. At that time I was 12, and my dad was driving a Xantia. At about 90 km/h, the opposite car (which was a Proton Iswara) hit us. He’s an Indian guy, and probably under alcohol influence. It’s horrible to see that Iswara left with only the rear part. The front part is completely crushed. Much worse, the guy died several hours after. But, my Xantia was standing still, and thank God I’m still alive until today (together with all the victims in that accident, mum, sister, and dad).
I remembered when they featured the C6 on Top Gear… I wish more cars have the C6’s ‘water suspension’. Would come in especially useful on our pothole- riddled roads. lol
You can buy the C5. Better looking, and RM 200k in Malaysia. (Second hand I’ve seen a 2 year old one for 120k). Has the same suspension as the C6.
There is also a XM on Mudah for 15k, looks like it is in great condition. Also plenty of Xantia around for less than 10k. What you need is patience and an expert with these cars, because they are so different from anything else on the road. But apart from that…
I used to own the ZX and it had little issues except for the fuel pump and the idle stepper motor – minor after 160,000 km mileage. However the annoying issues were that intake drone at 110km/h and only 8 valves instead of 16 valves. It is a sad loss for Citroen and french cars in general; not to have a luxury model, their hydro pneumatic suspensions were the best but you cannot measure comfort unlike performance with the 0 -60 mph figures. Especially when car makers were gunning up their horse power figures – power sells not comfort, there’s no sex appeal in comfort. Seems like the French car makers lost the plot somewhere.
I agree. I think potential C6 buyers also looked and the engines and thought… mon dieu! Yes, the engines were probably perfectly adequate, but somehow the C6 looks like it should have a V12. Something big and lazy. After all it’s meant for presidents.
I owned a BX and Xantia along the way. Once you tasted the wonders of the hydraulic suspension, anything else is stone age by comparison. It is actually surprisingly reliable and robust when it is maintained properly. It is not just comfort, you feel the car is living beast as it adjust to different load and motion. No other suspension can give you that feeling. Yeah it sad that such attribute does not figures in today’s market, where speed, power and hard suspension are main selling point.
it’s sad to hear about it but the car has ran its course.
bonne voyage, C6! :(
The air suspension on the citroen is a class of it’s own. No doubt. The technology, the ability for it to soak all the bumps of the roads, even a flat tyre, is not a deterrent to the motion of the car.
Of course, such technology comes with a price which not many owners are willing to pay when things spoil. Moreover, not many honest, trusted mechanic can fix citroen suspension.
If only citroen image able to win the malaysia consumer folks, guess not many are willing to put their hard cold cash on the dotted line.
Well, let’s see how Naza going to market the Citroen brand. Doubt it’s going to be easy as they have too many other car brands under their arm and it may create internal politics within their organisations.
Good example will be SIME, look at how they neglect their other cold brands as compared to their bimmer or hyundai range.