The new Skoda Citigo, has a new front end and better interiors, making this the one to choose.

• New design: bonnet, radiator grille, bumpers and fog lights
• Optional cornering function for fog lights
• Modified instrument cluster design, new multifunction leather steering wheel
• Additional ‘Simply Clever’ features such as an umbrella under the passenger seat
• Two three-cylinder petrol engines with 60 PS and 75 PS
• Premiere at Geneva International Motor Show

From spring 2017, the ŠKODA CITIGO is being presented with comprehensive upgrades to the exterior design and some revisions in the interior. Bonnet, radiator grille, bumpers and fog lights with optional cornering function come in a new design. Specially designed 15-inch alloy wheels complete the new look. 

ŠKODA’s city car impresses with its generous amount of space, excellent layout, high level of safety, great handling, efficient drivetrain variants and numerous ‘Simply Clever’ features. Value for money – typical of the brand – rounds off the city runabout’s offering. The ŠKODA CITIGO will celebrate its premiere at the Geneva International Motor Show (7-19 March 2017).

With the revisions, the ŠKODA CITIGO has grown by 34 mm to a length of 3,597 mm. The width of the five-door version remains at 1,645 mm and the height at 1,478 mm. Thanks to its generous 2,420-mm wheelbase, ŠKODA engineers were able to create an interior which also offers sufficient space for the rear passengers.

The ŠKODA CITIGO proves: even a city car can have a spacious interior. The 251 litre boot capacity, which increases to 951 litres when the rear seats are folded down, ranks amongst the best competitor values.

The ŠKODA CITIGO is the perfect vehicle for urban mobility: compact yet spacious, economical and nimble at the same time, attractive, safe and equipped with many practical ‘Simply Clever’ features.

The ŠKODA CITIGO is available in S, SE and SE L trim levels. UK customers can also opt for the stylish Colour Edition.

A brand-typical design with a new front section

The ŠKODA CITIGO’s front section has been fundamentally revised: a new bonnet, a redesigned radiator grille in typical ŠKODA design, modified bumpers and updated fog lights create a fresh, young look. The tinted tail lights are now also available for the SE trim line. A colour package with roof and wing mirrors offset in white or black is available for Colour Edition.

The front headlights are fitted with LED daytime running lights and the fog lights come with an optional cornering function, which lights up the area the vehicle is turning into on junctions with poor visibility. To this end, the cornering function automatically switches on the left or right fog light when turning at speeds of up to 25 mph.

New 15-inch alloy wheels in silver and anthracite for the SE L trim level and the Kiwi Green body colour, which is a new addition to the programme, complete the options for creating an individual exterior design.

Small vehicle – big on safety

One of the many active safety features ensuring a high level of safety is the automatic braking function City Safe Drive. 

The optional Emergency Brake helps to prevent collisions in urban traffic. The assistance system is automatically activated at speeds between 3 and 19 mph. A laser sensor, which is integrated in the windscreen, scans a 10-metre area in front of the vehicle. 

In the event of an impending collision – if the driver does not react – the braking system is primed and the hydraulic Brake Assist function becomes more sensitive. If necessary, the system initiates a full application of the brakes to bring the car to a standstill or – if the driver is not braking hard enough – supports the driver by providing full braking force. Depending on the speed and the individual situation, City Safe Drive can thereby prevent a collision or at least considerably reduce the accident’s severity.

ŠKODA CITIGO equipment

The ŠKODA CITIGO’s interior wows with a clean and clearly arranged design and layout of the instruments as well as with a two-colour dashboard in the higher trim levels. After the upgrade, the ŠKODA CITIGO’s interior is even more refined and more functional. The instrument cluster with speed indicator, rev counter and fuel gauge comes in a new design and is available in two different versions. The seats with integrated headrests provide good lateral support, radio and mobile phone can be operated on the optional multifunction leather steering wheel without the driver having to remove their hands. A high-resolution Maxi-DOT display as well as light and rain sensors are also optional.

The new-generation Blues and Swing radio models offer many connectivity options – ranging from an aux-in socket to an SD card slot and a USB socket. A colour display, six speakers and a Bluetooth connection are added to the Swing variant. Using this, the system can be connected to the driver’s smartphone, which is stored in a special smartphone holder on the dashboard. The apps running on the iOS and Android smartphone operating systems provide navigation, a driving data display, hands-free phone calls as well as playing music and the radio.

Many practical interior features underline the city runabout’s functionality. Storage compartments in the centre console and glove compartment, bottle holders (up to 1 litre) and cup holders are as practical as the multimedia cradle in the centre console. Nets inthe boot and practical storage nets on the front seats offer a variety of options to keep various small items safe.

Move&Fun: The app for information and entertainment

The Move&Fun app offers information and entertainment. The application is available for smartphones with iOS and Android operating systems. First, the smartphone is clicked into to the smartphone holder and a Bluetooth connection is established with the system. Contacts and playlists stored on the smartphone can now be accessed via the vehicle’s controls. 

The in-car computer provides information on fuel consumption and other useful information. The Move&Fun app’s DriveGreen function supports the driver in optimising their driving style. In addition, the app has a navigation function.

Clever features

The numerous ‘Simply Clever’ features include an umbrella under the passenger seat, a variety of storage compartments, cup and smartphone holders, a bag hook on the glove compartment and practical boot nets.

Engine portfolio

Two modern three-cylinder petrol engines are available for the ŠKODA. The front-, transverse-mounted engines with a 1.0-litre capacity drive the front wheels. Despite their small capacity, the engines distinguish themselves through high torque with low noise levels.

The entry-level engine is the 1.0 MPI with 60 PS and 95 Nm of torque at 3,000 rpm. From a standing start, it accelerates the ŠKODA CITIGO to 62 mph in 14.4 seconds, reaches a top speed of 100 mph and averages 68.9mpg on the combined cycle.

With the 75 PS 1.0 MPI, maximum torque of 95 Nm is available at 3,000 rpm. The additional power is due to the modified engine control of the three-cylinder model. It accelerates to 62mph in 13.5 seconds, reaches a top speed of 107 mph and averages 68.9mpg on the combined cycle.

All values apply to the variant with 5-speed manual gearbox, with start-stop system and brake energy recovery.

PARIS - SEAT will debut the new Mii Cosmopolitan at this years Paris Motor Show.

• Latest member of the Mii city car family co-created by the hands of the SEAT designers and COSMOPOLITAN editors and readers
• A car that understands the feminine side and lifestyle of the “fun and fearless” “COSMO girl”
• Available in two colours – Violetto and Candy White, with the 1.0 75 PS engine in the UK
• Pricing and specification will be released closer to UK launch in early 2017

The cars we drive are a reflection of our personalities, a carefully chosen investment that not only gets us from place to place, but defines who we are. For consumers looking for performance and fun, last night at Cosmo’s glitzy #FashFest, SEAT and Cosmopolitan launched the SEAT Mii by COSMOPOLITAN. 

The culmination of an 18-month co-creation process between SEAT and Cosmopolitan’s global creative team, regional editors and readers across the UK and Europe, the latest member of the Mii city car family is the perfect car for confident, independent, active young women who are really going places.

“This is a car that adapts to today’s lifestyle by providing amazing solutions that are both intuitive and easy to use. The SEAT Mii by COSMOPOLITAN is dynamic, stylish and versatile, with a daring, edgy appeal. Not only did we strive to create an elegant car, it is designed to be a bold, personal ally for the driver, with amazing solutions that are functional and intuitive,” SEAT’s global marketing director, Susanne Franz said.

Designed with the tastes and preferences of Cosmopolitan’s audience in mind, the Mii by COSMOPOLITAN is agile, exciting to drive and easy to park; an aesthetically pleasing car with personality. Cosmopolitan’s readers participated in the process, sharing thoughts and opinions through surveys and product testing, offering feedback and ideas.

Kim St. Clair Bodden, senior vice president and editorial director of Hearst Magazines International, explains,“Cosmopolitan is the biggest, most powerful young women’s brand in the world, engaging and inspiring our readers to achieve the fun, fearless lives they want. 

It has been incredibly rewarding to work with SEAT, our global editors and readers to design a car with all the bells and whistles that really personalise the driving experience.”

Cosmopolitan is supporting the launch with a social media campaign around the hashtag #ThisIsMii, with engaging content based on reader opinions and experiences, creating a conversation around the car, fashion, lifestyle, beauty and work, putting the SEAT Mii by COSMOPOLITAN in context with readers’ lives. 

From the social posts, readers can click through to the SEAT website for more detailed information on the Mii by COSMOPOLITAN. Following its debut at Cosmo #FashFest, the Mii by COSMOPOLITAN will be showcased at the Paris Motor Show at the end of this month.

Light and Shade, the Magic of Colour

Small on the outside, yet big on the inside, the Mii by COSMOPOLITAN is versatile, safe, economical, comfortable, reliable and kind to the environment. It’s also sophisticated, feminine and chic, with a design that reflects a bold, audacious, lifestyle.

The Mii by COSMOPOLITAN is available in two colours; Violetto and Candy White, with champagne-toned bismuth details inside and out. Candy White is a smooth tone, while Violetto has an elegant, pearlescent finish, achieved by carefully choosing colour pigments, revealing the ‘flip,’ or light, and the ‘flop,’ or dark, tones. 

Even its headlights have an ‘eyeliner’ shape, emphasised in the same way as make-up emphasises the eye. The jewelled, bi-colour alloy wheels works in harmony, offering a surprise sparkle.

The champagne-finish of the door mirrors is reflected in the interior details as well, on the air-vents, the infotainment system surrounds and in the stitching of the car, including the floor mats. 

Violet seats are upholstered in Alcantara, high-end, top-quality upholstery; while the ceiling is upholstered in dark tones, providing a sense of glamour. 

Aluminium strips in the front footwells are inscribed with “COSMOPOLITAN loves Mii.” The interior chrome details are matte, with the exception of the SEAT logo found on the steering wheel.

As Much Mii as Any Other Mii

Always innovating, SEAT is at the forefront of the growing trend towards collaborations between the car industry and partners in other sectors, first with women’s fashion and accessories retailer Mango, and now with Cosmopolitan.

The SEAT Mii by COSMOPOLITAN launches in the UK in early 2017 with the 1.0 75 PS engine and five-speed manual transmission.  The frugal engine emits 102 g/km of CO2, with fuel economy of 64.2 mpg on the combined cycle.

The Mii by COSMOPOLITAN has all the elements necessary to ensure a safe and comfortable drive, from air-conditioning to “Hill Hold Control” (to prevent roll-back), as well as a list of optional extras that allows the driver to configure a Mii with rear parking sensors and a 300-watt sound system and subwoofer. 

And for staying connected, the new infotainment system “Smartphone integration with Drive Mii app” has a smartphone cradle integrated into the dashboard. To amplify the driving experience, the SEAT Mii by COSMOPOLITAN app, “DriveMii” (available in Play Store or App Store for Android and iOS devices) enables the driver to control the infotainment system through a smartphone.

The Mii by COSMOPOLITAN is a car built for and co-created by women who want the time they spend behind the wheel to be as engaging and exciting as every other facet of their busy, fun, fearless lives.

TMW - The 2016 Vauxhall Viva, new car, old name, but dont be confused, this is a great car to drive and own.

Ok, who remembers the Vauxhall Viva from the the 60's and 70's, the family saloon cars that sold in excess of 1.5 million, sold around the world and was even built in Uruguay, well, I do,  I even had a 1977 Vauxhall Viva 1.3 Deluxe, the HC model, and it was great, it was my first car and I really loved it, loads of room, plenty of poke, and cheap to run and insure for an 18 year old.

But I Digress, the years passed and Vauxhall had a plethora of models that followed the Viva, right up to today, with the all New Viva, it is a global car with Opel and Chevy having their own versions, but the ethos remains the same, a good, cheap car that has plenty of room, runs well, cheap to own and does not look like the back end of a horse.

And thats where the new Viva wins, it looks good to start with, it is a compact design but does not do away with some nice styling touches, the interior has oodles of room to suit four big adults or a three kids in the back, you could fit three adults in the back but it would be a touch tight, but it can be done, room up front, is really good, you can move the seat about and the steering wheel so you get a perfect seating position, and once there, everything is at hand, no reaching out for switches or buttons here.

The dash is built to a price, so it is hard plastics, but then do you really fondle the dashboard at every opportunity, no, no one does, the fascination of hard plastics and soft plastics to me is an irrelevancy, it is how it looks and the design of it thats more important, and it scores well there too, you get a glove box thats sufficient to take a few smaller items, and door pockets that can take bottle of drink, books etc, being up front in this car is a nice place to be.

The higher roofline is also a nice extra and you feel like the interior is very roomy and airy, and you never feel claustrophobic even with a car full of people, the nice solid steering wheel, solid feeling gearstick, handbrake and switchgear all give you an air of quality, and you would not think that this car is an £8.5k car, far from it.

The doors shut with a tinnie thunk, rather than a solid thunk, as you would find on say the Astra, but the car is well priced, so things have to be omitted or reduced to keep it within that price scale to make it financially successful, but that does not mean it is not well kitted out, again, far from it, and the kit you get in the car includes :-

• Anti Lock Brakes
• Electronic Stability Programme with Traction Control
• Complete Set of airbags
• Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
• Lane Departure Warning
• Electronic Engine Deadlock Immobiliser
• Speed Sensitive Power Assisted Steering with City Mode
• Electric Front Windows
• Cruise Control
• Trip Computer
• Daytime Running Lights
• Steering Wheel Mounted Audio Controls
• Remote Control Central Deadlocking 

Just a small sample of the kit added to this car as standard, the only option our test car had was the Air Conditioning at £495, Which worked really really well, as it was the hottest day of the year when we did the test, the added air con added to the price to take it a shade over £9,000, still not a lot of money for a decent car, yes you can buy cheaper, but you're not buying quality, kit, driveability and more.

On the road the car is very swift, the 1.0 litre engine likes to be revved, and gives all it can to aid you along the road, the engine can be a touch course at higher revs or when you give it beans, but the noise is one of fun, not intrusion, it's a throaty noise that sounds really nice, but drive it sensibly and it is quite a decent powerplant thats reasonably quiet, and efficient.

The car is capable of topping 100 mph, and at a steady 70mph, it is not a bad place to be, you never feel like the car is struggling to keep up with the traffic, and can happily over take at motorways speeds, it may take a second or two longer than bigger engined cars, but it manages it without too much fuss, being a 1.0 litre, it has the advantage of dropping below the 100g/km, but only by one percentage point (99g/km).

Insurance will be cheap too, gaining the band 4E, and fuel consumption claimed by Vauxhall is :-

• Urban Driving           52.3mpg
• Extra Urban Driving  76.3mpg
• Combined Figure      65.7mpg

VERDICT

So, you have a small car, with a small price, with big appeal, loads of kit, cheap to insure and run, get plenty of MPG, and can keep up with traffic at all speeds, really why would you buy anything else, The Viva might seem a little "low Rent" for some, but ignore it at your peril, if you dont need lots of space in the boot, or you do not have a big family, then you can have a brand new car for £8,500, with a great dealer network, and a car that stacks up well against cars in the next level up.

It is a fun car, you can throw it around and you will have a smile on your face when you drive it, it will no doubt be predominantly be used around town and short distances, but it is more than capable of taking on longer journeys and in a certain degree of comfort and peace of mind of knowing it's not going to break the bank.

Volkswagen announces pricing and specifications for the All New Caddy Commercial vehicle.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has announced pricing for its new Caddy panel van range, ahead of Van Centres taking orders later this month and first UK customer deliveries in September.  Prices start at £13,500 (excl. VAT and OTR charges) for the C20 Startline short wheelbase model with a 2.0-litre TDI 75 PS engine.

The Caddy is the second best-selling model in Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ range after the Transporter, and new state-of-the-art technology, a raft of comfort, convenience and safety innovations as well as new engines will ensure the fourth generation continues the success of previous iterations.

The new Caddy is available in three trim levels – Startline, Trendline and Highline – and with short or Maxi wheelbases.  The Maxi version adds 469 mm to the short wheelbase’s already generous 1,781 mm and a load capacity of 4.2m³ (SWB 3.2m³ ).

Even the entry-level Startline model comes with an impressive array of standard equipment, including electric windows and heated and electrically adjustable wing mirrors, a five-inch touchscreen Composition Colour radio system with DAB+ and Bluetooth capability, a lockable glovebox, plus safety features such as driver and front passenger front, side and curtain airbags, a new post-collision braking system and a seatbelt reminder. 

Moving up the range, Trendline, with prices starting from £15,670 adds (in addition to Startline) full wheel covers, body coloured bumpers, handles and wing mirrors, rear parking sensors, cruise control, multi-function display, driver’s lumbar support, under-seat storage and sun visors with vanity mirrors.

At the top of the range, Highline, from £16,650, gains (in addition to Trendline) alloy wheels, front fog lights and daytime running lights, Climatic air conditioning, heated front windscreen, automatic dimming rear-view mirror, Thatcham category 1 alarm and windscreen wipers with intermittent control and rain sensor.

At launch the Caddy is offered with a range of three 2.0-litre EU5 engines, ranging in power output from 75 through 102 to 150 PS.  An EU6 compliant 2.0-litre unit with 102 PS is also available from launch.  

All models are available in combination with a five- or six-speed manual gearbox, with customers of the higher powered versions can also opt for a DSG automatic gearbox option (with six- or seven-speeds depending on engine power output). 

All Caddy models can be specified as ‘BMT’, meaning BlueMotion Technology modifications (start/stop system and battery regeneration) are fitted to reduce fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions.  

A standalone BlueMotion variant also joins the range: with a 2.0-litre EU6 102 PS engine and five-speed manual gearbox it can return 65.7 mpg and CO₂ emissions of 114 g/km.

The Caddy sets a new benchmark in the class for its array of safety and convenience systems.  It is offered with Park Assist and a rear-view reversing camera, as well as High Beam Assist and Driver Alert systems, all of which help to enhance safety and reduce damage to vehicles.

Customers will also be able to specify Adaptive Cruise Control with Front Assist and City Emergency Braking.  This system monitors the space to the vehicle ahead and maintains a specified speed and distance to ensure safe stopping.  

This technology has been used in Volkswagen Passenger Cars and is proven to reduce third party injury claims by 45 per cent. 

In the cabin, the Caddy feels comfortable yet robust, and boasts new upholstery and switchgear, as well as enhanced stereo and infotainment systems.  The standard five-inch touchscreen Colour Composition radio can be upgraded to Composition Media, or the Discover Navigation system.

Naturally Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles will boost the Caddy range in July with the addition of passenger-carrying models.  Pricing and details for these will be announced in July ahead of deliveries in September.

FORD delivers improved fuel economy and tech upgrades for the Tourneo Connect and Grand Tourneo Connect.

• Ford Tourneo Connect five-seat and Grand Tourneo Connect seven-seat people movers will be offered with efficient new engines and segment-first technologies
• New 1.5-litre TDCi diesel offers 65.7mpg* – a seven per cent improvement compared with outgoing 1.6-litre engine
• First-in-class features include Traffic Sign Recognition and Lane Keeping Aid; SYNC 2 connectivity system and MyKey technology available for the first time
• Improved Tourneo Connect and Grand Tourneo Connect available from summer 2015; customer demand increasing with more than 10,000 units sold across Europe last year

Ford’s Tourneo Connect five-seat and Grand Tourneo Connect seven-seat people movers will offer customers new, more fuel-efficient engines and segment-first driver-assistance and connectivity technologies.

Ford is introducing the new high-efficiency 1.5‑litre TDCi diesel engine equipped with Auto-Stop-Start on the two Tourneo Connect models, delivering CO₂ emissions starting from 111g/km and fuel economy from 65.7mpg* – a seven per cent improvement over the outgoing 1.6-litre TDCi engine. A diesel with Ford’s PowerShift automatic transmission is also available for the first time on Titanium models.

In addition, the two models introduce advanced new features to the segment including Traffic Sign Recognition and Lane Keeping Aid, and offer Ford’s voice-activated SYNC 2 connectivity system and innovative MyKey technology.

Designed for families and users with active lifestyles, the spacious, stylish and affordable Tourneo Connect and Grand Tourneo Connect have quickly grown in popularity since being introduced in late 2013. Ford sold more than 10,000 models across Europe last year, and in the first four months of 2015 over 600 units have been sold in the UK, an increase of 400 compared with the same period in 2014.

The two Tourneo Connect models, which offer outstanding flexibility from versatile seating, stowage and dual sliding side doors, are part of Ford’s new generation of Tourneo people movers including the eight/nine-seat Tourneo Custom.

“These spacious and versatile people movers are ideal for today’s busy lifestyles,” said Jim Baumbick, Ford’s global C-car vehicle line director. “Now customers can look forward to even lower fuel bills, plus amazing new technologies such as SYNC 2 connectivity that help to ensure drivers can keep their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel.”

New diesel engines boost fuel efficiency and performance

The updated Tourneo Connect and Grand Tourneo Connect feature an all-new diesel line up with Ford’s new 1.5-litre TDCi engine in a choice of two power versions: 100PS and 120PS. Meeting the stringent Euro Stage VI emissions standards, the new 1.5-litre diesel has been optimised for improved fuel efficiency and performance.

Customers can also choose the 120PS 1.5-litre TDCi diesel with six-speed PowerShift transmission which is available on Titanium models.

The five-seat Tourneo Connect also is available with the highly efficient, multi-award-winning 100PS 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine equipped with Auto-Stop-Start, which now meets Euro Stage VI emissions standards and achieves class-leading petrol fuel consumption of 50.4mpg and 129g/km CO₂ emissions.

State-of-the-art technologies enhance driver confidence and connectivity

Sharing a global platform with Ford’s latest passenger cars, the new Focus and Kuga, Tourneo Connect and Grand Tourneo Connect are also able to benefit from advanced vehicle technologies:

• Traffic Sign Recognition provides the driver with the latest detected speed limit, cancellation signs and overtaking restrictions via the instrument cluster display
• Blind Spot Information System alerts drivers to situations when a passing vehicle is hidden in their blind spot zones on both left and right sides of the vehicle
• Lane Keeping Alert and Lane Keeping Aid work together to help to prevent the driver from unintentionally drifting out of a lane when driving at high speeds. If the forward-facing camera detects the vehicle is straying from its lane, Lane Keeping Alert warns the driver with a vibration in the steering wheel. If no action is taken to correct the drift, Lane Keeping Aid applies steering torque to guide the vehicle back into its lane
• Auto High Beam switches the headlamps automatically between high beam and dipped beam when it detects oncoming traffic or a vehicle ahead
• SYNC 2 features a high-resolution, 6-inch colour touch screen and enables advanced voice control of audio, navigation, climate control and mobile phones. Drivers are able to issue simple “one-shot” navigation destinations, and to ask the system to “play” a desired artist. Simply pushing the voice control button and saying “I’m hungry” will bring up a list of local restaurants, which you can then get directions to via the navigation system
• MyKey enables owners to programme a key – usually for younger drivers – that restricts the top speed and reduces the maximum volume of the audio system. MyKey can disable the audio system altogether if driver and passengers are not using safety belts, and can prevent the driver from deactivating safety technologies

Both models also offer automatic braking technology Active City Stop, with the five-seat Tourneo Connect achieving a unique-in-segment five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP.