Citroën C6 axed

Citroën has axed its C6 saloon, the French firm’s rival to the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

The C6 replaced the ageing Citroën XM in 2006 and continued the company’s trend of large, comfortable and often quirkily designed saloon cars.

Road Test: Citroën C6 (2006 – 2010)

Cars that nobody wanted: Citroën C6

On Bing: see pictures of the Citroën C6

Find a used Citroën C6 on Auto Trader

The car sported some unconventional styling features, including a concave rear windscreen, a long down-swept bonnet, a large front overhang and a small, stubby boot that aped design cues from the former CX model.

The vehicle was also fitted with Citroën’s hydropneumatic suspension to give a smooth and fluid ride.

Either a 211hp 3.0-litre petrol engine or a 204hp 2.7-litre turbodiesel unit – both V6 in configuration – powered the C6. A 170hp 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel motor was also available, while an updated 240hp 3.0 diesel V6 was introduced later in the car’s life in 2009.

However, the C6 also continued another trait of large French saloons – depreciation. Up until recently, the sole model on sale in the UK – the 3.0 HDi V6 diesel – cost £40,160. At that price the car could not compete with its German rivals from Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

By contrast, secondhand values for early cars are now around the £5,000 mark.

The firm had only sold 19,400 examples in total as of the end of 2011, with just 970 reputedly in the UK.

The arrival of the DS5 as Citroën’s UK flagship model – as well as lacklustre sales after six years – has influenced the firm’s decision to kill off the C6 as Citroën looks to strengthen its range of DS-badged premium products. The C6 will remain on sale in Europe.

Road Test: Citroën C6 (2006 – 2010)

Cars that nobody wanted: Citroën C6

On Bing: see pictures of the Citroën C6

Find a used Citroën C6 on Auto Trader