Two new, three-cylinder 1.0-litre petrol engines will be available with the Citigo (60ps and 75ps), with the engines and transmission having been designed to provide optimum economy inner-city and town driving.

Two highly economical green engines will offer impressively low fuel consumption figures of 67.3mpg and 65.7mpg respectively; with emissions of just 97g and 99g CO2/km respectively. The fuel consumption and emission levels for the standard engines are also low – 62.8mpg and 105g/km of CO2 with the 60PS engine and 60.1mpg and 108g/km of CO2 with the 75PS unit.

The Citigo places 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. The risk of bumping into the car ahead is thus reduced significantly in city traffic. The Citigo is one of only two cars in the city car segment to offer the emergency braking functionality.

Dr. h.c. Winfried Vahland, Skoda Board chairman Prof, said: ‘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's values in a compact package and fits perfectly with our aims.

‘With the Citigo, Skoda is entering a new sector. The demand for small cars with low fuel consumption, at a favourable price and with reasonable operating costs is growing,‘ he continued.

The brand's new city car model will make its debut in its domestic market, the Czech Republic, before the end of this year, with the UK and other European countries following at the beginning of summer 2012.