by David Finlay (18 Jul 05)

The recent history of large French cars sold in the UK is not an especially happy one. You can test this for yourself by clicking a stopwatch and clicking it again the first time you see a Citroen XM, or a Peugeot 607, or - and you may need to take a few days off work for this one - a Renault Vel Satis. While you're doing this, the world will seem full of Audis, BMWs, Jaguars, Lexuses, Mercedes-Benzes and all the rest.

Will the new Citroen C6 buck this trend? We'll find out after it goes on sale early next year. But its appearance (dramatic, edgy, definitely not the safe option) and its specification suggest that it has a pretty good chance. Although full details have yet to be finalised, standard equipment on all models is expected to include electrically-controlled hydropneumatic suspension, laminated side windows, automatic headlights and windscreen wipers, nine airbags, dual-zone automatic air-conditioning, a speed-sensitive air deflector and an MP3-compatible audio system with colour screen.

Oh, and an active bonnet, too. No, we hadn't heard of those either. What happens is that, in the event of a pedestrian impact, the bonnet automatically opens - not so that the car can swallow the unfortunate fellow and carry on as if nothing had happened, but to provide a cushioning effect and reduce the chance of the pedestrian thumping into the engine.

What engine? Well, there's a choice of two Euro IV compliant units, each of them mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. You can go for a 215bhp three-litre V6, but we suspect the favoured option will be the 2.7-litre twin-turbo V6 diesel also used by Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Peugeot and Range Rover.

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