Skoda to debut five-door Citigo subcompact in Geneva

Following hot on the heels of Volkswagen's announcement of a five-door version of its up! subcompact vehicle, the Czech Republic-based Volkswagen subsidiary Skoda has announced that a five door version of its Citigo subcompact will make its public debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show in March. The three-door Citigo was introduced in Skoda's home market late last year, marking the company's first entry into the growing subcompact segment. The five-door model will be successively launched alongside the three-door model in European markets from mid-May.

As part of the Volkswagen Group's New Small Family (NSF) project, the Citigo shares the same MQB platform as the Volkswagen up! and the SEAT Mii. As such, it has achieved the same five star top score in the Euro NCAP crash test along with those vehicles. Skoda has revealed the three-door version will measure 3.56 m (11.7 ft) long), 1.65 m (5.4 ft) wide, and 1.48 m (4.8 ft) high, and the five-door model is unlikely to be any different.

The three-door Citigo that will be launched throughout Europe alongside the five-door version from mid-May 2012

Both the three- and five-door models offer the same engine options - a three-cylinder petrol engine with one liter of displacement in two versions. The first produces 44 kW/60 hp, while the second produces 55 kW/75 hp. These are also the same engine options offered on the up!. Skoda will also offer Green Tec variants for both engine options, the most efficient of which achieves a mileage of 4.1 l/100 km (57.3 mpg), and CO2 emissions of 96 g CO2/km.

Another feature the Citigo shares with the up! and the Mii is the inclusion of an automated braking system, which Skoda calls "City Safe Drive." This system uses a laser sensor to detect a potential collision and automatically activates the brakes at speeds under 30 km/h (19 mph). Along with its NSF siblings, the Citigo is the first car in its class to offer this feature.

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