Skoda reveals its first city car

Czech car maker, Skoda is to launch a new city car model-its first in the A-segment. The car will be launched in the brand’s home country before the end of the year before arriving in the UK and other European countries from the summer of 2012 onwards.

Based on the Volkswagen Up! platform, the new Citigo has been given the Skoda family face and will be be available with a choice of just two petrol engines (44kW/60PS and 55kW/75PS)at launch as the brand dips its toe into the market. These two engines offer low fuel consumption figures of 67.3mpg and 65.7mpg respectively; with emissions of just 97g and 99g CO₂/km respectively.

With three and five door versions set to go on sale, the car maker says its latest model will offer generous interior space despite just being 3.56 metres long, 1.65 metres wide and 1.48 metres high. The car’s long wheel base – 2.42 metres – help provide maximum room for passengers even on long trips. The boot volume is a sizeable 251 litres, which can be extended to 951 litres by folding down the rear seats.

The Citigo’s interior also benefits from numerous storage compartments, cup holders and multimedia systems, as well as storage pockets on the sides of the front seats. In addition, a special bag hook integrated in to the glovebox handle, and a photograph holder on the central console, are two clever interior elements.

The vehicle boasts a number of solutions to help improve overall comfort. In the three-door version, the ‘Easy Entry’ system allows easy access to the rear seats. The front passenger’s seat can be moved and folded forward to ensure easy access to the rear seats. For the first time in a ŠKODA vehicle, a portable navigation system is available. The device is fitted to the dashboard and can be removed easily and used on the go. Being an integral part of the vehicle’s onboard electronics, the system provides not just navigation, but also hands-free calling with built-in Bluetooth and on-board infotainment. Using a 5-inch touch screen, the driver can view important information about the car (onboard computer, optical signals from the parking sensors, etc).

The Citigo is also expected to place great emphasis on safety. For the first time in a Skoda vehicle, the designers have used a Head-Thorax side airbag to protect the heads of both the driver and the front seat passenger. Along with a number of other items, this system is part of a safety package usually found on much larger cars. In addition, active safety is enhanced by the ‘City Safe Drive’, a new brake assistance system based on a laser sensor that is activated automatically at speeds below 30 km/h when there is danger of a collision. Depending on the speed and the traffic situation, this automatic braking solution may completely prevent a collision or at least reduce its severity.

Author: Faye Sunderland, September 28th, 2011
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