The European Gay Car Brand of the year 2010 is CITROËN!

In the first edition of this election, the brand with the double chevrons has come out on top with flying colours. Citroën appeared to be more than a match for the runners-up Aston Martin (this famous and prestigious British brand keeps popping up) and Alfa Romeo. And this election did not end in a fierce battle; Citroën has been the uncontested winner from the very start of the election. Thus, our election has taken an unexpected turn since the German brands with their well-established reputation were the hot favourites.

For some years now, Citroën has spared no trouble or expense to get back on track and it shows; first of all by the design of their new models:
- The new urban runabout C1 has scored a nice commercial success;
- The new and round C3, with its cute little snout and vast panoramic wind screen;
- The C3 Picasso, a saucy little car that could well have been a Japanese bonanza;
- The C4, with a pert design for the saloon as well as the coupé with its singular boot treatment.
- The space wagon C4 Picasso has succeeded dethroning the ruling Renault Scenic.
- A completely new C5, with an estate just as distinguished as the saloon model;
- And last but not least, the C6 (that does not reap the success it deserves) is a genuine Citroën, rising above the crowd effortlessly and beating dull mediocrity with a singular design.

The days, when Citroëns were rebadged Peugeots (Saxo, Visa, LN) or plainly dull (Xsara or the first type C5 (that could easily have been mistaken for an Opel if you missed the double chevrons on the grille) are definitively gone. Citroën has also dismissed its outdated logo (white chevrons on a red background) and replaced it with silver coloured chevrons, making a more serious impression and prominently placed their logo on their cars.

The ultimate sign of the rejuvenation is the C42: their new showroom on the Champs Elysées in Paris. It’s a completely new and fashionable accommodation, ultra light, congenial and pleasing to the eye and definitively inviting to the public. In short: a hot spot where the new production range is really shown to its advantage. Gone is the drab steak house Hippopotamus where one was practically polishing off their meal on the bonnets of some XM, BX or AX models.

Citroën went to great pains to get back on track and reclaim its niche, doing justice to its glorious past. The voters clearly seem to reward their resurrection and rejuvenation cure!