Skoda Citigo e iV debuts – brand’s first production EV

This is the new Skoda Citigo e iV, the brand’s first all-electric production vehicle in the company’s 124-year history. The Citigo e is part of Skoda’s new e-mobility sub-brand iV, which also features another electrified model in the form of the new Superb iV plug-in hybrid.

The Citigo e is a modest four-seater, and features an electric motor at the front axle that serves up 82 hp and 210 Nm of torque. The performance figures are similarly reserved, with a zero to 100 km/h time of 12.5 seconds and a top speed of 130 km/h. A short burst from 60 to 100 km/h takes 7.6 seconds.

While outright performance isn’t the EV’s forte, it does excel at being a city car, with dimensions that are suited to the narrow streets of some European cities. With a length of 3,597 mm, width of 1,645 mm, height of 1,481 mm and wheelbase of 2,422 mm, the Citigo e is actually smaller than a Perodua Axia (with the exception of width).

Despite its compact size, Skoda claims the model will still offer a spacious interior for four passengers and a boot capacity of 250 litres – the latter expandable to 923 litres when the rear seats are folded down.

This is possible thanks to the positioning of the lithium-ion battery, which is installed on the floor of the car’s chassis. The battery itself consists of 168 cells, and has a capacity of 36.8 kWh, allowing for a range of up to 265 km in the WLTP cycle.

Recharging the battery can be done via a Type 2 AC connection, and with a 7.2-kW wallbox, it’ll take four hours and eight minutes to get an 80% state of charge (SoC). With a 2.3-kW home charger, this extends to 12 hours and 37 minutes.

Skoda did not reveal the specifications of the car’s onboard AC charger, but noted that the Citigo e supports DC fast charging with a CCS (Combined Charging System) connection. When connected to a 40-kW DC charger, an 80% SoC is reached in an hour.

The Citigo e will be available in Ambition and Style trim levels, the latter coming as standard with CCS and the cable required for AC charging (optional for the Ambition).

The base Ambition rides on 14-inch steel wheels, while the Style bumps things up to 16-inch Scorpius alloys with black accents. A revised front end differentiates the EV from a normal Citigo, with a body-coloured grille and redesigned lower apron.

Other items that are on the kit list include electric front windows, Climatronic, remote central locking, the Swing II radio and the Move&Fun smartphone docking station, telemetics functions and Lane Assist. The Style piles on ambient lighting, powered and heated side mirrors and leather-wrapped controls.

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