Skoda CitiJet Concept: The Tiny Speedster That Turned the City Into a Playground

Created by Skoda’s own students, this prototype stunned the world with its boldness and youthful spirit. A brilliant exercise in creativity that transformed the modest Citigo into a colourful, open-top bundle of energy and music.

At the 2014 Wörthersee meeting, famous for showcasing the most striking projects within the Volkswagen Group, Skoda stole the spotlight with the CitiJet Concept. This wasn’t a design born from the brand’s usual engineering teams, but the work of 16 students from Skoda’s vocational schools, guided by the then Head of Design, Jozef Kaban. The outcome was a roofless urban speedster, daring, compact, and full of fun.

From Urban Compact to Open-Top Rebel

Based on the Skoda Citigo, cousin of the Volkswagen up! and SEAT Mii, the young designers went all out removing the roof, reducing the cabin to just two seats, and adding roll bars to ensure occupant safety. The exterior stood out with its white and blue dual-tone paintwork, 16-inch multispoke alloy wheels, and a dual exhaust system integrated into a sporty rear diffuser, finished off with a striking rear spoiler that underlined its dynamic character.

Under the bonnet sat the familiar 1.0-litre three-cylinder MPI engine with 75 PS, the same unit found in the standard Citigo. But its true appeal didn’t lie in performance — it was all about style, innovation, and character.

Inside, the Skoda CitiJet Concept revealed its most unique feature: a multimedia system linked to a 300W sound setup combined with dynamic LED lights that changed colour to the beat of the music, turning the cabin into a genuine nightclub on wheels. It perfectly embodied the connection between technology, design, and youthful creativity.

Completed after six months of development, the CitiJet never reached production, yet it remains one of the brand’s most memorable concept cars. It proved that innovation doesn’t always come from experience, but from the passion and imagination of new generations. To this day, the CitiJet stands as one of Skoda’s most inspiring and playful creations — a small car with a big personality.