You start to wonder whether someone close to you has been studying the pay-out clause in the insurance policy when they buy you a skydiving lesson.

It was with a flourish that Mrs E brandished her birthday present to me a few years ago: a day jumping out of an aeroplane from a great height. I couldn’t hear the sound of the cash register but I am unfortunate enough to be one of those many men in the middle classes who is worth a small fortune dead and very little alive.

Stop, for I am being cynical. Of course, my wife meant me no harm, she simply miscalculated my desire to confront one of my greatest fears: that of heights. I don’t like heights and never have — especially the thought of teetering on the ledge of a light plane with the express intention of leaping over the side. “Have faith,” she said. “You know it is safe. You just have to believe it, just close your eyes and jump.” How about you believe it and I stay at home and watch the video on the telly.

And so, dear reader, to this week’s theme: the leap of faith. It sounds easy until it comes to the moment when you have to try it — particularly if it is your money that is being thrown over the edge. Take the new Citroën C6 as a prime example. This is the French company’s first proper attempt at making an executive car since the ill-fated XM, a valiant if somewhat doomed effort. The XM ran for about ten years in virtual anonymity, looking a rather dated and sad victim of the corporate culture that had wormed its way into the company at the time. To be fair, there was not much that Citroën made back then that looked anything but a dreary Eurobox on wheels — Xantia, Xsara . . . anything beginning with X, in fact. Forget the capital X, for they were all dull, with a capital D.

But look what they have done: somebody opened Pandora’s box and Citroën cannot seem to help making great-looking cars. Now the French are hoping that the C6 is the car that can breach the defences thrown up by the Big Three German carmakers and become a staple of the executive car park. Let’s face it, Mercedes, BMW and Audi have had it all their own way for too long. Jaguar have come closest but theirs is a faltering challenge and a full makeover is under way in Birmingham.

If the C6 is anything to go by, the boys in the Midlands will have to work hard for this is a gloriously pretty machine, straight from the Citroën textbook of space-age models dating back to the fabulous DS, arguably the most astonishing of all Citroëns. Not only was it the most technologically advanced car when it was launched in 1955, it looked it as well with its swoop nose and Dan Dare lines.

One look at the C6 tells you that this car reflects that celebrated heritage. The long, low nose leading to the famous chevron badge, the long flanks that lead to a curious curved rear windscreen. Inside, the car is a wonderful mix of leather, wood and metal as well as being comfortable — front and back — light and welcoming. It is absolutely sumptuous.

But now the key question. Think about the next executive car you order and would you ditch the Germans for a Citroën? I know your first retort: how do we know the Citroën will be reliable? Yes, the mass market carmakers have always struggled to match the ruthless efficiency of the German executive mob, but Citroën will protest that the gap has shrunk enormously of late.

The advantage the Germans held in terms of performance has been all but eradicated and the C6 I tested had a diesel engine that would grace any executive saloon; fast, quiet and relatively frugal.

The problem for Citroën is not that the C6 is a credible competitor for the traditional German trio that has dominated this segment of the market, it is whether they can get buyers to take that leap of faith and give this new car a chance. All they have to do is close their eyes and take a deep breath . . . and they might just enjoy their leap into the unknown. This time, in a Citroën, I did.

WHY BUY A CITROËN C6 2.7HDI V6?

• Because it is prettier than any German car on the road. Because its new six-cylinder engine not only delivers 208bhp but also 325lb/ft of torque, 110lb/ft more than the 3-litre V6 petrol.
• Because it has a whizz-bang, six-speed gearbox that is smooth and clever.
• Because it will be relatively exclusive — thanks to a price range that starts at £31,500 and goes up to £37,800 for the top-of-the-range Exclusive model that has everything, including Satnav.
• Because it is safe. Check out this list: active front-head restraints, Xenon dual-function headlamps, head-up speedometer display, antilock brakes, electronic brake-force distribution, electronic stability programme, traction control, lane departure warning system (in case you are wandering inadvertently), active suspension and, phew, the first four-star pedestrian safety rating, thanks to a clever “pop-up” bonnet that softens the blow if someone strays into the path of that impressive, long nose.
• Because . . . er, it’s not German.