THERE will be a sneak preview of the charismatic Citroen C6 in Singapore tonight before it is launched in the third quarter of this year.

Authorised distributor Cycle & Carriage France has brought in one unit of this large luxury limousine as part of the ongoing VoiLah! French Festival Singapore being organised by the French Chamber of Commerce. The three-litre C6 will be on display at a gala dinner at the Shangri-la Hotel.

As a five-door hatchback, the 4.9-metre-long C6 seems like an unconventional choice of executive express. But its many awards reveal that there are certainly many admirers of its daring design, from the coupe-like styling to its concave rear window. The C6 also boasts lots of technology. Its spacious cabin offers superb ride comfort thanks to a new version of the famous hydraulic suspension with self-levelling feature.

Other equipment include a head-up display adjustable for height and brightness, Xenon directional headlamps and a speed sensitive rear spoiler.

The flagship Citroen model has also garnered many accolades for safety. It has nine airbags, an active bonnet system that automatically deploys during pedestrian impact, and a lane departure warning system, which activates a vibrating mechanism in the driver's seat in the direction of the drift. Now that's French flair.

Engine: 2,946cc V6
Gearbox: 6-speed automatic transmission
Max power: 215 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Max torque: 290 Nm @ 3,750 rpm
0-100 kmh: 9.4 secs
Top speed: 230 kmh
Estimated price: $190,000 (with COE)
Distributor: Cycle & Carriage France,
tel: 6479-2792