http://www.skoda-auto.com/COM/about/info/news/news/Pages/2011_114_citigo-production.aspx

Today, ŠKODA celebrated the start of the series production of its new small car, “Citigo”, in Bratislava. With the seventh model series, the Czech manufacturer expands its product portfolio in the small car segment. The new Citigo will already be introduced in ŠKODA’s home market of the Czech Republic at the end of this year. Other European countries will follow in the early summer of 2012. At the time of its launch in the market, the Citigo will first be available as a three-door vehicle. The five-door version will be offered at the beginning in 2012.

“The Citigo is a central component of our growth strategy,” says the Chairman of the Board of ŠKODA, Prof. Dr. h.c. Winfried Vahland. “With this automobile, we are starting our model offensive in Europe. It opens the important small car market for ŠKODA and perfectly applies our values in a city car: compact yet spacious, economical yet agile, attractive and equipped with many clever ideas. This car is ‘city clever’.”

The key target groups are young drivers, young families with young children looking to get themselves a second or even third car, and also ‘best agers’, i.e. customers who are rather cost-sensitive and have a rational approach to cars on one hand but high demands for quality, design and safety on the other. The Citigo is a perfect mix of these properties. Depending on market demands, up to three trim options will be available: Active, Ambition and Elegance.

The Citigo offers maximum room with a minimum amount of space and seats four passengers comfortably. With a length of 3.56 meters, a width of 1.65 meters, and height of 1.48 meters, the Citigo is among the most compact of cars in the A00 segment.

The safety issue is of major importance. For the first time ever, a head/thorax side airbag for the driver and the front passenger are included in a ŠKODA. Together with other features, it provides an exemplary passive safety package for this vehicle class. The active safety is significantly improved by the new active brake assistant, “City Safe Drive.”

At the market launch, new three-cylinder gas engines will be available: both engines have a displacement of 1.0 liter and provide 44 kW/60 hp or 55 kW/75 hp, respectively.

Hmm, I can't decide on that. It's a bit like a modern day Lupo. I don't think I'd buy one personally but I hope it does well for Skoda and it brings back some of their original value for money approaches to car manufacturing.

This will be the first new model to wear the new Skoda logo?

When is the vRS version coming?

Not too keen on the rear end, looks to square/boxy compared to the side view.

Anyone know when the 5-door is due?

May get one for Mrs TonyfvRS.

Anyone know when the 5-door is due?

Will go into production "early 2012" but I doubt we'll get it here until towards the end of next year.

Wonder if the platform gets the GTi / vRS / FR treatment... Hope so, the Lupo GTi was awesome (but a tad basic on the inside for me, hence the Fabia)

Skoda have said that there won't be a vRS version, but it will get the Monte Carlo style treatment at some point.

I seen one 2day not ken looks a bit like the rover city .

I seen one 2day not ken looks a bit like the rover city .

Agreed the rear looks awful, the tailgate reminds me off a AX I had back in the 90's it snapped in 6 months....

Well thats 3 people who have seen the similarities to the Rover City, So if TG get hold of 1 & say the same thing, it will be the kiss of death

Well thats 3 people who have seen the similarities to the Rover City, So if TG get hold of 1 & say the same thing, it will be the kiss of death

But all those people that bought the Cityrover, will now know what to replace it with, so that should be an extra two sales

The difference between the $hiti Rover and the Skoda is that the Skoda will be built better than any of the other city cars on sale - including the VW versions - and will be modern, have desirability and have realistic selling prices, and not be some knock-off Tata. I think it's a great looking car, better than the UP! and Mii. Having seen various pics of the car on the road, not just in a studio, it's a lot nicer than some suggest. A 5 door will be here in Srpt 2012, the 3 door in June.

I personally don't see the resemblance of the CityRover at all. That was a truly horrible little car. I remember seeing one in a local Rover showroom and the wing mirror was hanging off. IN the showroom! Terrible.

I think it is closer in styling to the original Lupo and Seat Arosa, but overall I think I slightly prefer the up! from Volkswagen. It'll all depend on price, though!...

some of the switches and trim looks familiar, that gear knob is from the fabia

Wonder if the platform gets the GTi / vRS / FR treatment... Hope so, the Lupo GTi was awesome (but a tad basic on the inside for me, hence the Fabia)

Oh yes.

I took this picture when I was at the Frankfurt motor show in September:

So the Up! GTI is already out as a concept....... Perhaps this is what a Citygo vRS could look like? I think it looked smashing! More professional Up! GT pics here.

Up! GTi actually looks very cool. A Citigo vRS would be comedic, wouldn't take much. Just a tuned 105PS 1.2TSi would suffice I think. Can you imagine a 1.4TSi TwinCharge powering a Citigo, would be an efficent way to melt tyres...

That UP GTI thing looks quite good - would love to see a CityGo vRS or Monte Carlo but I fear they won't as its supposed to be a cheap way into motoring?!

I thought it was just me that thought it resembles a RoverCity! So I'm not alone...to be honest I am very disappointed by the design :( And in my opinion it looks the worst of the three (VW, Seat, Skoda) built on the same platform. Never mind though...looking forward to the Popular/Lauretta (i believe they haven't decided on the name yet) due to be released next year If they do that in an RS version... If not..new Octavia out in 2013 at the latest.

I thought it was just me that thought it resembles a RoverCity! So I'm not alone...to be honest I am very disappointed by the design :( And in my opinion it looks the worst of the three (VW, Seat, Skoda) built on the same platform. Never mind though...looking forward to the Popular/Lauretta (i believe they haven't decided on the name yet) due to be released next year If they do that in an RS version... If not..new Octavia out in 2013 at the latest.

Skoda have said that there won't be a vRS version, but it will get the Monte Carlo style treatment at some point.

 

GaryS99 was spot on telling us about Skoda's prediction from October 2011.

There also seems to be a lot of hate about the citigo from when it was announced.

Don't think its quite the city rover clone some people think....

How dare they compare the Citigo to the City Rover aka tarted up Tata Indica!!  Yeuch!!

 

Interestingly enough, I came across this link to the Skoda Citigo Monte Carlo whilst checking out the start of this very old thread.

 

http://www.skoda-auto.com/en/models/citigo-monte-carlo/overview

In that one photo In the above link it shows an iphone/iPod plugging into the centre console!! That would be nice!! Something else new?

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GaryS99 was spot on telling us about Skoda's prediction from October 2011.

 

lol - well spotted that man!!