'DRIVEN BY CUSTOMER DEMAND'

+ Click to Enlarge SAFETY CONSCIOUS: The 30-year-old VW Citi range has now been fitted with a driver's crash bag - including in the Xcite model lauched this month.

March 5, 2009

Volkswagen has at last added a driver's crash bag to all its Citi models.

VWSA says the development work was done about 10 years ago but implementation was delayed because sales of entry-level cars such as the Citi are "very cost-sensitive".

So, Citi drivers could have had the protection a decade ago.

However, VW says, South African drivers have become more safety conscious and VWSA director of sales and marketing Mike Glendinning said: "The introduction of the driver's crash bag on the Citi was driven by customer demand."

VWSA is also looking at a passenger crash bag for the cars.

VWSA spokespeople wouldn't give a firm answer as to the extra cost involved in fitting a crash bag to a Citi but retail prices for the new range are, on average, about R8000 more than on the previous VW price list which, in all fairness, dates from July 2008.

The range has also been expanded to include the Xcite, a derivative based on the 1.4i Citi Sport. It has a Lighting Audio sound package from Rockford Fosgate with door speakers, an amplifier under the front passenger seat and a sub-woofer in the boot.

Also standard are body-coloured mirrors, black body stripes, a three-spoked steering wheel and sports seats.

The new Citi range comes with a three-year or 120 000km warranty but maintenance and service plans are extra-cost options.

Citi prices

TenaCiti 1.4i - R79 700
CitiStorm 1.4i - R83 100
CitiSport 1.4i - R89 600
CitiXcite 1.4i - R92 600
CitiRox 1.4i - R97 200
CitiSport 1.6i – R100 450
CitiRox 1.6i - R105 950