Forgotten European Flagships With Real Engineering That Still Lost To BMW And Mercedes

The article looks back at European flagship models that struggled to beat German rivals, particularly BMW and Mercedes-Benz. It highlights how some brands offered distinctive design or comfort and still failed to win sustained market traction, whether due to reliability, resale values, or company strategy changes. The piece singles out the Citroën C6 (2005–2012), noting its Hydractive suspension and distinctive styling, but also citing a patchy reliability reputation, polarizing looks, and weak business appeal tied to taxation; production totaled just over 23,000 units. It also references the Peugeot 605, pointing to common electrical problems and poor resale value, and mentions that Pininfarina left the project before completion.