Skoda Auto present "CitiGo"

[RapidRonnie]

http://www.skoda-auto.com/COM/about/info/news/news/Pages/2011_106_citigo.aspx

ŠKODA is continuing its product offensive by introducing its seventh model line. With the Citigo, at 3.56m long, the Mladá Boleslav automaker is entering the A00 segment. The Citigo will debut on the domestic Czech market this year. Other European countries will follow at the beginning of summer 2012. The Citigo offers maximum utilisation of space and seats for four passengers. The Citigo will be launched as a three-door, with a five-door version to come in 2012.

“The Citigo is one of the pillars of our growth strategy. It paves the way for our brand to enter a very promising segment,” said ŠKODA Board Chairman Prof. Dr. h.c. Winfried Vahland “The new product fully meets the corporate philosophy of the ŠKODA Brand expressed through the “Simply Clever” slogan. Despite its small size, it offers ample interior space, but is surprisingly agile, and attractive in terms of trims and technologies used. Although the Citigo is a small car, it is a typical ŠKODA—and as such fits perfectly with our plans.”The designers managed to give the car a distinct look that declares at first glance: this is the new ŠKODA. The finned grille set in a chrome-plated frame and precisely shaped headlamps give the car the typical ŠKODA look. The designers have done a fantastic job on the rest of the car's body. With a length of 3.56 metres, width of 1.65 metres and height of 1.48 metres, the Citigo is one of the smallest vehicles in its segment. The volume of the luggage compartment is 251 litres. It can be extended to 951 litres by folding down the rear seats.

The key target groups are young drivers, young families looking to get themselves a second or even third car, and also “best agers.” They are customers who are rather cost-sensitive and have a rational approach to cars on the one hand but high demands for quality, practicality, design and safety on the other. ŠKODA did not have much to offer such groups of customers in the small car segment. Prof. Vahland: “We can see that the demand for small cars with low fuel consumption, at a favourable price and with reasonable operating costs is growing. ŠKODA's new small vehicle is a reaction to this trend. We are entering new ground and the Citigo will attract a lot of customers mainly in our European markets.”The Citigo places great emphasis on safety. For the first time in a ŠKODA vehicle, the designers have used a Head-Thorax side airbag to protect the heads of both the driver and the front seat passenger and together with other elements it forms an exemplary safety packet in its class. In addition, active safety is significantly enhanced by the new “City Safe Drive” brake assistant. The system is automatically activated at speeds below 30 km/h and a laser sensor identifies a danger of collision. Along with the Volkswagen up!, the Citigo is currently the only car in the small vehicle segment to offer the emergency braking functionality.

Two new, three-cylinder 1.0-litre petrol engines will be available after the Citigo's launch: both have a volume of 1.0 litre and their power outputs are 44 kW/60 HP and 55 kW/75 HP. In the economical Green Tec version average consumption is 4.2l/100km and 4.3l/100km respectively. Emissions are 97g and 99g CO2/km respectively. Fuel consumption and emissions are 4.5l/100km and 105g CO2 per km for the 44kW engine. The engine with a power output of 55kW consumes 4.7l/100km and emits 108g of CO2 per km.

Edited 27 September, 2011 by OctaviaT81

[MartynVRS]

It's not bad actually. Just need a vRS model and it will be perfect. VW are thinking about doing a GTI version

[My_Yeti]

First 3 door Skoda since a long time, last one was the Rapid?

The Citigo is less funky looking than the up!, but it looks like the Citigo has a larger rear windows and a proper tailgate rather than a one piece glass thing ala Aygo. It looks like the Citigo might actually cost more to produce?

Edited 27 September, 2011 by My_Yeti

[gallego1968]

I like it, i got an update of it on my phone yesterday.

[Reavenger]

Looks very dull and the marketing hype doesn't dress it up that much either :no:

[Aspman]

Looks like a Hyundai i10 with all the appeal of a Rover City.

[Chris]

With a decent bodykit and a quality interior it could look quite good. Let's be honest, it's better than the current vw fox that is truly horrific!

[stringbean]

A bit plain and simple but looking good for a little runaround car. I'm not liking the grill though - it looks like an afterthough and ruins the front lines.

Might be a good commuting car for the missus assuming that the economy is good.

[octimark]

Not bad, there all pretty much the same.

That grill reminds me of a daewoo

[keystonedriving]

The back end has a Polo/Lupo look to it. It looks to be quite an understated, neat job. Given the usual Skoda build quality it should be a good choice in that sector of the market.

I think it looks better than the VW equivalent.

Rob.

[Matt Bodycombe]

They are not breaking any new ground with this. It just looks, as others have said, like a refreshed Lupo/Arosa. However if the engine is peppy and it is priced competitively it should give the Toyota Aygo and its French equivalents a run for its money. They have pretty much had the market to themselves.

[vertrider06]

Looks cheap and horrible. Doesn't look vag at all :/

[silver1011]

Erm, I take it none of you dare leave the comfort of 'General Chat'!?

The CitiGo has had it's own dedictaed forum on Briskoda since October last year

http://briskoda.net/forums/forum/216-skoda-citigo/

[Jane_i10]

I like the idea of these, something small for city driving and easy to park but that front end look dull as dish water, the grills just give the impression of 'couldt really be bothered to use anything other then a ruler'