Skoda targets small car segment

SKODA
is entering the small vehicle segment with a new Citigo model due to be
launched on the Czech market later this year.

Other
European countries will follow at the beginning of summer 2012 with Ireland
anticipating market launch in September 2012 for an estimated retail price of
approximately

?¬10,500.

The
Citigo offers maximum utilisation of space and seats for four passengers. It
will be launched as a three-door, with a five-door version anticipated later.

“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 Å KODA Board Chairman Prof
Winfried Vahland.

“The
new product fully meets the corporate philosophy of the Å koda 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 Å koda – 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 Å koda.

?

The
finned grille set in the Citigo’s chrome-plated frame and its precisely shaped
headlamps give the car the typical Å koda look. With a length of 3.56 metres,
width of 1.65 metres and height of 1.48 metres, Citigo will be one of the
smallest vehicles in its segment.

The
volume of the luggage compartment is 251 litres, which can be extended to 951
litres by folding down the rear seats.

The
key target groups for the new model are young drivers and young families
looking to get themselves a second or even third car.

“We
can see that the demand for small cars with low fuel consumption, at a
favourable price and with reasonable operating costs is growing,

? Prof Vahland
continued.

“Å koda’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.

?

For
the first time in a Å koda vehicle, 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 kph
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.