I have saved the text here in cause the homepage disapears.. As they tend to do after a while..
"Where the Citroen C1 came from
The Citroen C1 came out in 2005 as a result of Toyota wanting to break into the A-sector of the European market.
Daihatsu developed the 3-cylinder engine and the car is based on the Toyota Aygo. See the Autocar article from June 2005.
PSA Peugeot Citroën and Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announced today that after three years of productive collaboration they are getting closer to realizing the fruit of their joint project to design, develop and produce three all-new small passenger cars for the European market. To mark their progress so far, the two companies decided to give faces to the already named Peugeot 107, Toyota Aygo and Citroën C1 by making available the first-ever official photograph of these modern four-passenger vehicles, which are set for a 2005 sales launch and their world unveiling at the Geneva Motor Show in March.
While they share a large number of structural components, parts and sub-assemblies, the Peugeot 107, Toyota Aygo and Citroën C1 each have unique body styles that express the personalities of the Peugeot, Citroën and Toyota marques.
All three vehicles measure about 3.4 meters long, 1.6 meters wide and 1.4 meters high (details in chart). Powered by the latest generation 1.0-liter gasoline and 1.4-liter diesel engines, the compact, fuel-efficient cars also feature advanced safety and environmental protection technologies. These three new models will offer an engaging driving experience in the urban environment. The cars are primarily designed for European markets, where demand for this type of entry-level vehicle is expected to increase.
Developed on a common platform, all three cars will begin rolling off the line at the Toyota Peugeot Citroën Automobile (TPCA) plant in Kolín, Czech Republic in 2005. Vehicle development and plant construction have proceeded on schedule, as announced by both companies in July 2001. The plant will have an annual production capacity of 300,000 vehicles; 200,000 units for Peugeot and Citroën and 100,000 for Toyota.
The project is expected to contribute widely to the local community in terms of direct and indirect employment. It has already created 1,500 jobs at TPCA, with 1,500 more people expected to be hired for a total of 3,000. Total investment, including research and development and production start-up costs, is estimated at € 1.5 billion.
Brand Length Width Height
Peugeot 3428mm 1630mm 1470mm
Toyota 3405mm 1615mm 1465mm
Citroën 3429mm 1630mm 1470mm
This petrol engine uses a combination of technologies to deliver competitive performance, fuel economy and low emissions. A key development target was to achieve a low weight. The engine has an all-aluminium construction and features extra-slim cylinder bores. The air intake system and engine cover are integrated, while further weight-savings are made by producing some components in resin instead of metal. As a result, the engine tips the scales at 67kg, being amongst the lightest internal combustion engine's available on the car market. It is also one of the most powerful 1.0-litre engine's, producing 67bhp, and torque of up to 68 lb-ft at 3,600rpm. The Aygo will accelerate from 0-62mph in 14.2 seconds and has a top speed, where permitted, of 98mph.
Developed to provide performance well-suited to the stop-start driving common to urban areas, with higher levels of low to mid-range torque than on the 1.0-litre VVT-i engine used in the Yaris. Longer spark plugs give better anti-knock performance, in conjunction with VVT-i, which constantly adjusts valve timing to produce both high torque at low engine speeds and more power at higher revs. Reducing the number of cylinders from four to three also improves torque performance in the low to mid-range. The three-cylinder configuration also contributes to reducing the overall amount of friction, as there are fewer moving parts than in a four-cylinder engine. As a result the 1.0 Aygo achieves combined cycle fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, at 61.4mpg and 109g/km respectively.
The engine mounting system has been improved to substantially reduce the levels of noise, vibration and harshness. Instead of the conventional three-mount design, the Aygo uses a mount on each side, positioned on a line passing through the engine's centre of gravity. The third mount at the bottom of the engine compartment is replaced by a torque rod that efficiently suppresses the engine's rotational movement, reducing vibration.
Practical and easy to park, the Aygo measures 3,405mm long, making it one of the shortest four-seaters on the market, with particularly short front and rear overhangs. Add to that an ultra-narrow 4.73m turning radius to make maneuvering in traffic and fitting into parking spaces too tight for most cars. With the wheels pushed out to the corners of the body, Toyota engineers have been able to make better use of interior space and increase the car's stability at higher speeds, so it is capable on the open road, too.
The front suspension is a development of the MacPherson system used on the Yaris. It features L-shaped arms with a higher castor angle and improved anti-dive characteristics. The damping rate of the shock absorbers and the coil springs have been adjusted to deliver a good level of driving comfort.
As on Yaris, a torsion beam is deployed at the rear, but instead is designed to feature a transverse bar with an inverted 'V' profile. This brings considerable weight-saving as the anti-roll bar is integrated into the beam rather than being a separate component. A further development sees the trailing arm bushing set at an angle to the axle, creating a toe correction action.
All Aygo models are equipped with Electric Power Steering (EPS). EPS is speed-sensitive, adapting in line with data from the car's ABS speed sensors. This means the steering has a light feel at low speeds, such as when moving in city traffic or maneuvering into a parking space, and a firmer response at high speeds. EPS also yields benefits in fuel economy, being three per cent more fuel-efficient than a conventional hydraulic power steering system. This is because EPS only operates when the driver makes a steering action, whereas for hydraulic assistance the pump is permanently engaged by the engine. EPS efficiently damps impacts from the suspension, reducing the amount of kickback and vibration felt through the steering wheel.
All Aygo models are fitted with the Bosch ABS8 system with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) to ensure the best balance of front and rear braking power in all conditions. The ABS actuator is 36 per cent lighter and more compact than in previous systems. This version of Bosch's ABS features active speed sensors that are more precise than the passive type and are able to monitor low speed and reverse manoeuvres. The Aygo employs 247mm ventilated discs at the front and 200mm drums at the rear, providing ample stopping power for a vehicle that weighs only 790kg."
