Completely New Super-City Charade Unveiled At Geneva
Published: 6th March 2003
- Supermini-sized interior from stylish three and five-door city car body
- UK’s most economical petrol-engined four-seater at 68.9 mpg Extra Urban
- Lowest CO2 emissions for a petrol-engined four-seater at 114 g/km
- Qualifies for £70 Road Fund Licence (12 months)
- ‘Best–In-Class’ 1.0 litre top speed – almost 100 mph
- ‘Best-in-Class’ 1.0 litre acceleration – 0-62 mph in 12.2 seconds
- ‘Best-In-Class’ aerodynamics at ultra-low 0.31 Cd
- ‘Best-In-Class’ ride and refinement with larger Renault Clio as target car
- 4-Star passenger and 3-Star pedestrian NCAP safety compliance
- Big car equipment availability includes ABS with EBD, air-conditioning, four-speed automatic transmission, alloy wheels, CD player, driver, passenger and side airbags, speed-sensitive electric power steering, electric windows and door mirrors, central locking and height-adjustable steering wheel and front seat-belts
- On sale in May when prices will be announced
Unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show (4 March, 2003) and on sale in the UK in May, the Charade is perfectly timed for those seeking the lowest possible running costs but who need a car capable of covering longer journeys in comfort.
Because of its highly efficient 58.5 PS 1.0 litre engine and lightweight, low-drag, wedge-shaped body, the Charade manual reaches a class-beating top speed of 99.4 mph. Even the four-speed automatic peaks at 93.1 mph.
This means there is ample power in reserve for motorway cruising – not always the case with the Charade’s conventional city car competitors.
Both manual and automatic Charades also have best-in-class acceleration figures of 12.2 seconds and 15 seconds respectively for the 0-62 mph dash.
Especially long-travel front and rear suspension with damping tuned on European roads and a new type of engine mounting ensures Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH) levels are from the next class up. In fact, the Renault Clio was Daihatsu’s target car for ride and refinement.
Key competitors include the Daewoo Matiz, Fiat Seicento and its replacement, Hyundai Amica, SEAT Arosa.
