For the Citroen car manufacturer, China is the most important market. Last year, the “Double Chevron” sold 300,000 vehicles in the Chinese market, representing a quarter of a year-round production. How important is the Chinese market, is evidenced by a series of innovations on this year’s Motor Show in Beijing, where in addition to the electric E-Elysee and E-Mehari, Citroen reveals a completely new representative limousine Citroen C6, already known from the past to the European customers.

The predecessor of the new Citroen C6 did not meet sales expectations

The predecessor of the new 2017 Citroen C6 was launched in 2005, almost five years after then initially planned. It was designed as a replacement for the outdated Citroen XM model, whose production ended in June 2000.

In 2005, Citroen C6 was presented as an innovative model with a lot of advanced technological solutions, such as a head-up display, a lane departure warning system, xenon directional headlamps and one of its most recognizable features, Hydractive suspension. Therefore, the sales expectations were understandably high. Citroen planned to sell nothing less than 20,000 examples per year.

But the market was not so generous. In the entire lifetime of Citroen C6, which lasted from 2005 to 2012, they managed to sell only about 21,000 examples.

New 2017 Citroen C6 with the support of the Chinese market

The new Citroen C6 presents elegant lines of a strict classical four-door sedan, designed according to the taste of representational requirements of Chinese businessmen.

The passenger compartment with a wheelbase of more than three meters is designed primarily for traveling comfort. With leather everywhere, and with the highest level of equipment, with a four-directional air conditioning, ventilation seats, multimedia systems of the new generation, which can be monitored via the 8-inch screen dashboard. On the instrument panel it is also a 12-inch screen with all the information about the vehicle.

The only disadvantage of this prestigious sedan in terms of tradition is the conventional suspension and not the hydraulic one as the former model, produced for the European market by 2012, used to have.

Citroen C6 production and engines

The new Citroen C6 will be produced in the partner factory in Wuhan, China. It is expected to come on the market at the end of 2016. At first, the Citroen’s new limousine will be powered by a four-cylinder 1.8-liter engine with 204 hp, all the other engine options will be disclosed later.

Probable competitors and rivals

The competition in this vehicle segment is quite hard, especially because most of the rivals come from respectable and well known brands. Probable rivals mostly come from European car manufacturers.

• Audi A6.
• BMW 5-series.
• Jaguar XF.
• Lexus GF.
• Mercedes E-class.
• Renault Talisman.
• Volvo S90.

Image credit: Citroen