Skoda Citigo based on the VW UP! unveiled
Volkswagen’s Skoda brand has announced the launch of a new city car. Appropriately dubbed Citigo, the new model is set to launch in the Czech Republic by year’s end, with a rollout to the UK and mainland Europe by mid-2012. An Indian entry is also in the line by the end of 2012.
Although Skoda’s press release made no mention of the VW Up, it is clearly apparent that the Citigo is based on the recently introduced city car. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, though, as we came away impressed with the Up after it debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
Despite its overall length of just 3.56 meters, Skoda says the Citigo offers comfortable seating for four. The Citigo boasts 251 liters of cargo space with its rear seats in place, and that volume grows to 951 liters when the seats are folded.
The Citigo will be powered by a 1.0L three-cylinder gas engine, although two different flavors will be on offer – a 44 horsepower version and a 55 horsepower model. Although the Citigo will hardly be a dragster, its curb weight of just over 2,000 pounds should ensure it can keep up with modern day traffic.
“The Citigo is one of the pillars of our growth strategy. It paves the way for tremendous opportunities in a new segment,” said Skoda Board Chairman Prof. Dr. h.c. Winfried Vahland. “The Citigo is literally a ‘Simply Clever’ car. Despite its small size, it offers ample interior space; it is agile while frugal. Put simply: it’s an attractive choice offering many clever ideas. The car offers all of Skoda values in a compact package and fits perfectly with our aims.”
Skoda has yet to announce pricing for the Citigo, but expect a starting point under that of the VW Up. Stay tuned for more updates.
ChopShop Source : leftlanenews
