Aveo & Corsa beware - new Skoda Fabia coming!

[Bravada]

While the new Corsa is garnering positive reviews (and customer orders), and the Żerań factory in Warsaw is preparing to start production of Chevrolet Aveo for European markets, competition does not idle either. Volkswagen has just shown the first pictures of the second-generation Skoda Fabia supermini, to be launched at the Geneva show in March 2007.

The new model will succeed a very successful creation by Skoda, which won customers over by providing VW-like quality and design at relatively low prices, comparable to the Aveo. Skodas are popular both in developing markets of Eastern Europe and in the Western part of the continent, and the brand can be said the most successful and promising in the VAG portfolio.

The car apparently combines the overall silhouette of the previous model with a more rounded from end coming straight from Skoda's newest model, the Roomster "leisure activity vehicle", as well as styling cues apparently borrowed from... Suzuki Swift. I can only guess Kia sits there with gritted teeth, as it was probably their idea for the Kia Picanto replacement (even the color fits).

The Fabia now uses the current VW Polo platform and was the first vehicle to showcase its current generation, yet it is not immediately clear whether the new generation will follow suit and we are looking at a cousin of the upcoming Polo. The dimensions provided by Skoda are very close to Opel Corsa's (except for the Fabia being almost 10 cm narrower), although no data on the wheelbase is available.

Enough from me, here is the original press release:

*****

The new Skoda Fabia Hatchback - The successor of the successful compact automobile now presents itself



The new Skoda Fabia is characterized by all of the core values, which have made more than 1.5 million customers buy the first generation – and this has been further developed even further by Skoda. (...)

The total length of the new Fabia has, thanks to the new design of the front bumper, increased. With its external measurements (3992 mm x 1642 mm x 1498 mm) the new Skoda Fabia hatchback is among the largest in its class. The effectively usable space offers the occupants more space both in the front seats and in the rear. The boot has a basic capacity of 300 litres, and, when the rear seats are folded down, increases to 1163 litres. (...)

A total of seven engines will be available fort he new Fabia – four petrol and three diesel engines. Both of the popular three-cylinder petrol engines now have increased performance and provide the car with more elasticity.

Petrol Engines: Diesel Engines:
- 1.2 HTP/44 kW - 1.4 TDI PD/51 kW
- 1.2 12V HTP/51 kW - 1.4 TDI PD/59 kW (also with DPF)
- 1.4 16V/63 kW - 1.9 TDI PD/77 kW (also with DPF)
- 1.6 16V/77 kW (also with automatic transmission)

The world premiere of the new generation of the Skoda Fabia will take place at the Geneva Auto Show in March 2007. This will be followed by its launch in the European markets. Production of the bodywork versions, the Fabia Estate and the Fabia Sedan of the first generation will be continued.

Complete press release @ http://www.globalautoindex.com/news.plt?no=1659#

*****

For comparison sake - the current Fabia hatchback:



Skoda Roomster:



Suzuki Swift:

[igor]

I never warmed up to the new Skoda design language .. I think it will need some time to mature, and be shown on some bigger cars like the Octavia and Superb .... but for now neither the roomster nor the new Fabia are appealing to me..

I think VW is makingthe same mistake the they did with the Jetta/Bora from MkIV to MkV ... the MkIV was very seek "I will own BMW3er one day" design, and so was the Mk1 Fabia .. the new one is ... well .. different .. not as sleek and I do not like it.

I am coming over back to Europe next fall, and will rent .. so I will see whether I will get the old or the new Fabia when I am there...

PS: if there is one dimension important in the B-segment, WIDTH is it. 10mm is not much, but it helps .. the old Fabia looked proportioned - this one looks slabsided

Igor

[DanCBJMS1988]

This will be interesting no doubt about it.

[Butz]

Opel has nothing to worry about, but the Aveo, well that's another story.

[Bvonscott]

YUCK! Who designs these things and gets away with it!!

[Joevette]

is the suzuki swift the same car as this?

[Toto]

Originally Posted by Joevette

is the suzuki swift the same car as this?

No. Bravada show it only for the design and dimension comparison.

[paul8488]

Those pics make me realise how much I like the current version! Looks great from the back, especially in black.

[Bravada]

Oh well, I might be the only one here who does NOT really like the current design, especially the front end - it looks like a narrow-gauge electric railway engine or something, so the new front end is definitely an improvement. The Fabia used to be tall and narrow and is even more so now (just like the other VW superminis), but I guess the styling emphasizes it more now.

I chose nice photos of the old Fabia, but I assure you it is NOT a looker (still better than the Polo or Ibiza, but that's not saying much):



That said, I'd rather Skoda stuck with their own conservative edgy/bubbly style, as exhibited by the Octavia, rather than make cars that look like Kia renditions of Suzuki designs (I like the styling of both brands, it's not totally derogatory).


Octavia

PS. Orange is one colour Skodas should NOT come in!

[Kowalski]

Opel and Chevrolet should be afraid. Very afraid indeed.

Skoda is on a roll since they were bought by Volkswagen.

Who ever said that Volkswagen are unreliable? If you want a reliable VW buy a Skoda!

Here's why:

Skoda Top Among Mainstream Makes In The 2005 Top Gear
Customer Satisfaction Survey

Source: http://www.carpages.co.uk/skoda/skod...n-17-11-05.aspPublished: November 2005

Skoda is the top mainstream make in the 2005 Top Gear survey of customer satisfaction. For the third year in a row, Skoda is ranked second only to luxury-brand Lexus among the thirty-six makes included in the survey.

All three models in Skoda’s line-up were ranked in the Top Ten among the 159 models rated by their owners. The Superb, Skoda’s spacious and luxurious top-of-the-range model led the way in fourth place overall. In its first year in the survey, the Superb gained five out of five stars in engine reliability, brakes and suspension, fit and finish, performance, comfort and practicality, customer care and ownership costs. These are all traditional areas of strength for the Skoda brand and Superb owners are just the latest to choose Skoda for these reasons and more.

The Octavia, Skoda’s award-winning family car, was again ranked fifth overall. Owners of the Skoda Fabia supermini continued to rank the award-winner ninth overall.

Skoda Brand Director Chris Craft commented, "We’re very pleased with the results of the Top Gear survey, and happy that our customers are so pleased with their cars. We’re not entirely surprised, though, because we know that our cars are well-designed, engineered and built by our Skoda colleagues in the Czech Republic and the service our retailers provide is second to none."

Skoda continues to be the mainstream brand of choice for customers looking for outstanding products that are great to drive and easy to own, as this survey and others have shown year after year. Skoda’s "extra bit of car" is definitely found in the design and engineering of its cars, and extends all the way through the purchase and ownership experience.

The Octavia VRS is the ultimate bargain Q car.



The Superb is indeed a Superb car...for the money of course.



However, because they tend to be bargains, Skoda is seen as an Uncool brand for cheap people.

But take the Octavia VRS Estate for instance. Who gives a damn when you can have a practical, well equipped 145 Mph estate car, capable to go from 0 to 62 Mph in 7 seconds and it costs £18.000? Mind you, that £1.000 less than the VW Golf GTI 3-Door without the DSG gearbox.

Skoda is a rose by any other name. Don't be put off by the uncool image.

[jonboy78]

These are some very unique styling ques for such a small car. The market is either going to love it or hate it. So far i'm in the hater camp.

[camaro_freak]

these new skodas are OKAY... I wouldn't say they are stunning in any regard...

time will tell I guess but I like the Opels far more!

[Mikkoo]

Originally Posted by Kowalski

Opel and Chevrolet should be afraid. Very afraid indeed.

Skoda is on a roll since they were bought by Volkswagen.

Who ever said that Volkswagen are unreliable? If you want a reliable VW buy a Skoda!

Here's why:



The Octavia VRS is the ultimate bargain Q car.



The Superb is indeed a Superb car...for the money of course.



However, because they tend to be bargains, Skoda is seen as an Uncool brand for cheap people.

But take the Octavia VRS Estate for instance. Who gives a damn when you can have a practical, well equipped 145 Mph estate car, capable to go from 0 to 62 Mph in 7 seconds and it costs £18.000? Mind you, that £1.000 less than the VW Golf GTI 3-Door without the DSG gearbox.

Skoda is a rose by any other name. Don't be put off by the uncool image.

In the states, Volkswagon has a terrible reliability reputation that they have earned. I do however agree with your statement that Opel and Chevrolet
should be worried about Skoda in Europe. I lived in Finland the past three
years, after living my entire life in the USA. From what I have read here,
Skoda has a better reputation than Volkswagon, so I feel your comments
have merrit.

[powervette]

new Corsa beware of what ?!? A Fabia ?!? Is it a joke or You mean the previous generation Corsa Bravada?
As far as Aveo is concerned if GM DAT makes the same with the 3/5 door version that they did with the Aveo sedan,even Aveo will sleep peacefully.
However ,there is a very strong group of extremely loyal Skoda buyers who would never consider other car than a Skoda Fabia
Polish poor and poorly educated teachers

[paul8488]

Originally Posted by Kowalski

However, because they tend to be bargains, Skoda is seen as an Uncool brand for cheap people.

Yeah, my bosses boss 'inherited' a 2005 Skoda Octavia when he replaced someone who left, and while he admits it's a nice enough car, it's just not cool. He's ordered a Volvo S60 to replace it, and said he can't wait. Skoda's a fine buy, but not everyone wants to be known as the sensible one.