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| Skoda produces two-millionth Octavia |
Skoda has recently produced its two-millionth Octavia in the Czech Republic. The milestone vehicle was a silver Octavia Scout 2.0 TDI.
The Czech firm has been producing contemporary Octavias since 1996 (the first cars to sport the name were produced in the 1960s). In 2004, the current generation model was launched. However, due to huge demand, the older model (now called the Octavia Tour) was also kept in production.
Main production of the Octavia Tour takes place in the Czech town of Vrchlabí. However, there are also assembly points in India, Russia, Kazakhstan, the Ukraine and Bosnia. Current generation models are produced in Mladá Boleslav with assembly points located in India, Russia, the Ukraine and Bosnia. Since 2007, the vehicle has also been manufactured in China under a licensed production arrangement. The Octavia is called 'Laura' in India and 'Ming Rui' in China.
Both models are available as a 4x4, while the new Octavia is also available in vRS and Scout guise.
Altogether the company has produced 1,315,000 first-generation Octavias and 685,000 second-generation Octavias since the market launch 12 years ago.
Skoda delivered 72,529 Octavia Tours and 237,422 new Octavias in 2007. |
| Skoda's Fabia estate hits the showrooms |
Skoda's new Fabia Estate is on sale from Thursday the 7th of February.
The compact load lugger, which costs between £9,360 and £13,775, not only represents great value for money but is also supremely practical thanks to its 1,460-litre stowage potential.
Insurance groupings that start as low as 2E for the 1.2 HTP (70bhp) Fabia Estate 1 and a whopping 60mpg combined (1.4 TDI 80bhp), should also help keep running costs to a minimum.
Skoda's network of nearly 130 retailers is expecting big demand for the new model. Over 30,000 examples of its predecessor were sold between 2001 and 2007 and the 2008 version looks set to do even better. |
| New Skoda Superb breaks cover |
Škoda has unveiled the first official photographs of the all-new Superb. Offering generous interior space and a striking new look, the 2008 Superb looks set to shake up the upper medium segment.
At 4,838mm long and 1,783mm wide the new Superb is 35mm longer and 18mm wider than its predecessor. It stands at 1,461mm high and has a wheel base of 2,761mm - 8mm lower and 42mm shorter respectively than the model it replaces.
As customers have come to expect from the Czech firm's products, the new Superb features a number of smart technological solutions including adaptive cornering headlamps, a new electronic air conditioning system, automatic parking assist and much more that will be revealed over the coming weeks. Safety was one of the top priorities in developing the new Superb, and with nine airbags altogether it is now safer than ever.
A total of up to six engines will be available in the new Superb - three petrol and three diesel. Outputs will range from 105bhp to 260bhp and the units will be combined with a selection of manual or DSG transmissions. The full UK engine line-up will be announced closer to the model's UK launch date.
The Škoda Superb will be manufactured in the car maker's Kvasiny plant in the Czech Republic and will be on sale in the UK in September 2008.
It will make its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show on 4 and 5 March 2008. |
| New Skoda Superb breaks cover |
Škoda has unveiled the first official photographs of the all-new Superb. Offering generous interior space and a striking new look, the 2008 Superb looks set to shake up the upper medium segment.
At 4,838mm long and 1,783mm wide the new Superb is 35mm longer and 18mm wider than its predecessor. It stands at 1,461mm high and has a wheel base of 2,761mm - 8mm lower and 42mm shorter respectively than the model it replaces.
As customers have come to expect from the Czech firm's products, the new Superb features a number of smart technological solutions including adaptive cornering headlamps, a new electronic air conditioning system, automatic parking assist and much more that will be revealed over the coming weeks. Safety was one of the top priorities in developing the new Superb, and with nine airbags altogether it is now safer than ever.
A total of up to six engines will be available in the new Superb - three petrol and three diesel. Outputs will range from 105bhp to 260bhp and the units will be combined with a selection of manual or DSG transmissions. The full UK engine line-up will be announced closer to the model's UK launch date.
The Škoda Superb will be manufactured in the car maker's Kvasiny plant in the Czech Republic and will be on sale in the UK in September 2008.
It will make its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show on 4 and 5 March 2008. |
| Skoda Auto to enter new continent |
Skoda Auto is about to enter another continent. In October, first Skoda cars are going to be delivered to new customers in Australia.
The brand will offer the Skoda Roomster and Skoda Octavia models, including their vRS versions. The launch is planned for the Australian International Motor Show 2007 in Sydney (October 11 - 21). Skoda will start its operations with approx. 14 dealerships across the country.
"The launch in Australia is another symbol of Skoda Auto's international expansion," said Fred Kappler, Skoda Auto BOD Member responsible for sales and marketing.
Australia will become the fifth continent where Skoda Auto sells its cars. At the same time, the country is rounding off the number of the brand´s markets to 100.
Skoda Auto sold altogether 311,062 cars worldwide over the first six months of 2007 (+13.2 % compared to 2006). In 2006, Skoda Auto´s total sales worldwide exceeded the half-a-million threshold for the first time in the Company's history, reaching 549,667 Skoda vehicles delivered to costumers (+11.7% compared to 2005). |
| Favorit helped to transform Skoda |
Twenty years ago, on July 1, 1987, the plant in Mladá Boleslav produced the very first ("pre-series") Skoda Favorit. Six months later, the series production was launched, starting one of the most important periods in the history of what is today the Czech Republic's largest car manufacturer.
Referred to as Skoda 781 at the pre-launch stage, the Favorit was Skoda's first front-wheel-drive vehicle. Drawing attention from several strong international players, the concept of a lower-middle-class front-wheel-drive hatchback with a transversally mounted engine in the front proved to be successful - the Favorit played a major role in VOLKSWAGEN AG's decision of 1991 to join Skoda AUTO.
Skoda cooperated with a number of foreign companies at the development stage - the most important partnership was that with the Italian-based design studio Nuccio Bertone that designed the final version of the body. Another major brand heavily involved in the development of the new vehicle was Porsche - with the objective of achieving the best possible acoustics-and-vibrations parameters, the German-based company got the task of designing the engine-mount solution. In the end, altogether 42 patents were registered in connection with the new vehicle.
However, the financial power of the then Czechoslovak car manufacturer was limited, because the budget was approved by the government. Political pressures nearly forced the developers to use the old engine, but the emerging environmental wave helped to change that decision and made it possible to make at least some basic adaptations. The development cost reached 210 million Czechoslovak crowns, but was still lower than if Skoda had bought licences for the production of the respective components.
Initially, the company management planned to produce 336,000 vehicles by 1990 and then terminate the production of this model. However, Skoda then continued producing the Favorit until 1994 (altogether 783,163 vehicles) and gradually extended the line with the Forman and Pick-Up versions (223,059 and 70,900 vehicles, respectively). The price of the Skoda Favorit was 143,500 Czechoslovak crowns - with 3,000 Czechoslovak crowns being the average earning at that time, the customers had to pay nearly 50 monthly salaries to get the new vehicle. Today, the basic-version Fabia costs 13 average salaries (average salary in the Czech Republic), i.e., about four times less. |
| Skoda aim new Fabia at younger buyers |
Skoda is looking to attract younger buyers with its all-new second-generation Fabia hatchback.
The car, which goes on sale in the UK on May 17, has borrowed some styling devices from the Mini, such as different-coloured roofs in white or silver, with matching door mirrors. Skoda is also hoping to capitalise on its rallying pedigree - a VRS version is in the pipeline, which will borrow styling cues from the S2000 rally-spec version on show at Geneva.
The average age of the Fabia owner is currently 56, and as a result the car's design cannot be too radical. We're keen to reduce this but we don't want to alienate existing buyers, said Skoda GB's Marc Mustard.
At launch, new Fabia will have a choice of 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6-litre petrol engines, together with three diesel options - two 1.4-litre units and a 1.9-litre oil-burner. But there will only be one body style - 5-door. Skoda has never made a 3-door hatch, and that's unlikely to change. Fabia pricing should start a shade below £8,000.
Fabia is expected to account for almost half of Skoda's UK sales - Fabia and Octavia accounted for all but 2,500 of the 38,000 cars sold by the Czech brand last year. By the end of the decade, Skoda hopes to grow this to around 58,000 cars a year, helped by the Roomster crossover, which is expected to sell about 7,000 units this year, and the Yeti crossover, which is scheduled to go on sale in 2009. Unfortunately, it looks as if last year's Joyster sporty concept will remain just that, rather than a production model. |
| October sales put rivals out in the cold |
- October sales up 6.8%
- New Octavia vRS diesel proves an instant success
- New Roomster off to a flying start
- vRS models account for 13.6% of Skoda sales in October
No surprises here - Skoda is enjoying a spectacular end to the year. Winter may have arrived with a bang, but Skoda order books show no sign of cooling off. October sales were up 6.8% compared to 2005 - comfortably outperforming an overall car market that registered a barely noticeable 0.9% increase.
And the good news doesn't stop there. The broader picture is just as encouraging with year to date figures (YTD) showing that Skoda is on course for another record year. In an overall car market that witnessed a 3.2% drop in sales, Skoda once again proved that great design and outstanding value for money remain core values for British buyers by posting a 1.7% increase in sales.
The arrival of the new Roomster has also caused a flurry of activity at Skoda retailers across the UK. The innovative MPV has made an outstanding start and despite being on sale for just a matter of weeks, already accounts for 4.1% of Skoda's October sales.
Another success story has been the performance of the new Octavia vRS TDI and the vRS brand in general. The third model in the acclaimed vRS product line, the vRS TDI, has proved an instant hit with buyers and now accounts for 34.5%of total Octavia vRS sales. The equally entertaining Fabia vRS continues to sell strongly and represents 6.8% of overall Skoda sales in the year to date, a remarkable achievement. In total, all vRS models (including Fabia vRS) represent 12.2% of Skoda's YTD sales and an even more impressive 13.6% of Skoda's October sales. |
| The company car of the future |
The company car is set to be revolutionised over the next 40 years, according to respected think-tank, Centre for Future Studies. In a report commissioned by Skoda, fleet vehicles are to become a virtual colleague to company car drivers by 2050.
The increased robotisation of the car will ultimately hand over control to the vehicle, which will boost road safety and enable motorists to use their travelling time to watch the morning news, video conference or answer emails. Manufacturers will implement haptic systems - a set of technologies from the aerospace industry that add a sense of touch to the man-made interface - to warn of dangerous conditions or even wake up drowsy drivers by vibrating the steering wheel or activating actuators in the driver's seat, much to the relief of fleet managers across the country.
The next generation of the internet, or 'Next Net' will encompass all digital devices, from PC to mobile phone and television, and will include the ability to interact instantaneously with more than one billion web users across the globe.
Next Net will extend the office to the car, enabling the company car driver to have full interaction with the office computer and personal assistant, meaning motorists can do the majority of what is done in the office, in the car. Essentially, vehicles will become a virtual colleague with full communication interaction. Features will include technology that can read out incoming emails to the driver, allow the driver to dictate responses, permit the driver to set up meetings, update 'to-do' lists and write short memos.
Automated highway systems will operate on major commuter routes, creating trains of automatically controlled cars that travel close together at high speed. The agent-based software will also calculate the most cost-effective route for every journey.
However, with technology come perils; it will come as no surprise to many that company car drivers will lose their map reading abilities as dependence on satellite navigation becomes far more widespread.
Commenting on the findings of the study Dr Frank Shaw from the Centre for Future Studies said:
Skoda is to be applauded for thinking about how we will use vehicles in the future. The most effective car manufacturers spot the trends of tomorrow and start building them into the cars of today.
The key drivers of change determining the design, manufacture and usage of the car of the future are technology, energy supply and demographics. Technology will make cars safer, cleaner and more intelligent and will also provide alternatives to our oil dependency. The car of the future will be far more of a versatile, eco-friendly, cyber-connected travelling space.
Martin Burke, Head of Business Sales for Skoda, comments: Clever car design that enhances the vehicle's experience is central to Skoda's current and future success. This report is an important part of helping Skoda engineers to think about how people will use cars in the future and design vehicles that meet those needs.
This forward thinking is evident in our fourth model, the Roomster, and even more so in our Yeti and Joyster concept cars. |
| Practical, exciting and frugal? The new Octavia 2.0 TDI PD vRS |
The Skoda Octavia vRS has established itself as a genuine performance car with the ability to carry five in comfort, and proves that practicality and excitement really can be had in one package. It has also proved that an estate can have the same sporting DNA as a coupe - another unique feat in the sector.
We're pleased to announce that the Octavia vRS now has another trick up its sleeve - the ability to return a spectacular 48.7mpg. The Octavia 2.0 TDI PD vRS goes on sale next month and combines all the dynamic brilliance and class-leading practicality of the petrol version with an advanced 2.0-litre turbodiesel powerplant that produces 170bhp.
The Octavia has never been short of pulling power, but the new engine takes flexibility onto a new level. With 350Nm of torque available from just 1,800rpm, the 2.0 TDI PD vRS offers amazing thrust from low revs. Thanks to piezo injector technology that provides exceptionally accurate high-pressure fuelling to each cylinder, the diesel-powered vRS is every bit as thrilling to drive as its petrol counterpart. The 0-62mph sprint can be dispatched in just 8.5 seconds (8.6 seconds for the Estate) and top speed is 140mph (Estate 139mph).
Then there's the fuel consumption. As the award-winning Fabia vRS has proved on many occasions, a great sporting car doesn't always need to punish you at the pumps. Both the hatch and estate versions of the Octavia 2.0 TDI PD vRS return an amazing 48.7mpg on the combined cycle, which gives a potential tank range of 589 miles.
As you would expect, the new Octavia 2.0 TDI PD vRS is fully EURO IV compliant and is fitted with an advanced diesel particulate filter (DPF) which helps reduce exhaust emissions to a minimum. In terms of CO2 output, both the hatch and estate versions produce just 157g/km.
Finally, there's the price. The Octavia 2.0 TDI PD vRS costs £18,370 (OTR) for the hatch version and £19,220 (OTR) for the estate. That's a premium of just £845 over the 2.0 TFSI petrol version.
As with the petrol vRS, both the hatch and estate enjoy the same luxurious specification, which means creature comforts such as climate control, CD player and alloy wheels are fitted as standard. Safety equipment includes ESP and traction control, plus driver, passenger and side airbags.
Deliveries of the new Octavia 2.0 TDI PD vRS start next month and given the success of the petrol-engined version, business is expected to be brisk. After all, how often do you come across a car that's practical, exciting and frugal?
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| Skoda Superb freshened up for 2007 |
Skoda is updating the Superb for the 2007 model year. Built at the Skoda assembly plant in Kvasiny, Czech Republic, the Superb offers exceptional interior space and generous trim levels that continue to include equipment normally found in luxury-class cars.
The most striking change to the exterior design is a new radiator grille, updated to give it a new, more 3-dimensional design in line with the new face of Skoda. Turn indicators have been integrated into the wing mirrors and the front indicators have been combined with the headlamps. Similar to those of the new Skoda Roomster and the Octavia, the tail lights are C-shaped, giving the Superb rear view a distinct character. In addition, customers can choose from four new colours: Cappuccino Beige, Olive Green, Anthracite Grey and, from November 2006, Satin Grey.
The Superb MY 2007 has changes to the interior, including a new dashboard configuration on all trim levels. The instruments clusters are backlit with very gentle white light.
The existing equipment level portfolio - Classic, Comfort and Elegance - will continue without modification and has been extended with the Laurin & Klement, a new top-of-the-range model. Named after the company's founders, the Superb L&K includes 17 alloy wheels, dual exhaust and special badging. The vehicle's interior includes leather seats, wood trim and sleek metal-finished frames on ventilation outlets and door handles. Pricing of this model is yet to be confirmed.
The Skoda Superb continues to be available with three petrol and three diesel engines, with performance levels ranging from the 115 bhp 2.0 litre to the 2.8 V6 with 193 bhp in the petrol engines and from 105 bhp in the 1.9 TDI to 160 bhp in the 2.5 V6 TDI in the turbo diesel engines. |
| Skoda sales continue to grow in the first half of 2006 |
Skoda Auto sold 274,904 vehicles worldwide of its Fabia, Octavia, Superb and Roomster model lines in 90 markets worldwide in the first half of 2006, achieving 12.4% growth year-on-year.
The best-selling model line was the Octavia (136,902 vehicles, +21.4%), followed by the Fabia (126,450 vehicles worldwide, +4.2%) and the Superb (10,709 vehicles, +2.6%).
Skoda's fourth model line made its debut in the market - the Roomster was launched in June, beginning in the Czech Republic. The first 843 Roomsters have already been delivered to customers there and the company is going to launch the brand new vehicle in other European markets in the second half of this year. Customer orders indicate very good market acceptance of Skoda's newest model.
Skoda supplied a total of 155,030 vehicles to customers in Western Europe over the first half of 2006 (10.3% growth). The most important factor in the good result was a positive trend in Germany, Spain and Belgium. The 19.2% growth, to 50,615 vehicles, in Germany has reinforced Germany's position as Skoda's largest market. Despite the overall market slump in Spain, Skoda sales have grown by 13.9% to 13,017 vehicles. Altogether, 6,905 customers (+50.7%) bought Skodas in Belgium from January through June.
Sales in the UK totalled 19,916for the first half of 2006. This is a market share of 1.6% and a five percent increase over the same period of 2005. Fabia is the biggest-seller at 9,577, followed by Octavia (9,218) and Superb (1,121).
The Czech Republic, the company's domestic market, saw a 6.1% decrease in demand for new vehicles over the same period. A strong factor affecting the new-vehicle market in the Czech Republic is a 12.6% increase in the number of used vehicles imported into the country. Despite the difficult conditions, Skoda Auto has managed to defend its dominant market share with 31,954 vehicles in total.
Pushing up its sales by 17.8% and continuing to increase its market share compared with the previous year, Skoda Auto sold 67,667 vehicles in the growing region of Central and Eastern Europe (the Czech Republic not included). The most dynamic growth areas included the Ukraine (+89.4%), Russia (+79.9%), Romania (+40.9%) and in the Baltic countries.
Skoda has also increased its sales in Asia and overseas, (20,253 vehicles in total from January thorugh June 2006, +44%). The most successful overseas markets are India (6,004 sales), Turkey (3,690) and Egypt (2,566). |
| Skoda Roomster will make its debut |
Skoda Auto presents the first official pictures of the new Skoda Roomster, the brand's fourth model line. Not only does the Roomster represent Skoda's move into a new market segment, but also a new development stage as the century-old brand starts on its next hundred years.
The Roomster made its first appearance as a design study at the 2003 Frankfurt International Motor Show. In light of the positive response by the motoring press and customer interest, Skoda decided to develop the concept into a production car. After less than two and a half years, Skoda is now introducing its new Roomster to the public in Geneva.
The Roomster car concept is unique, with its variable interior and a young, fresh design. As usual with Skoda products, the Roomster impresses with excellent value for money, a vast luggage compartment and loads of storage space - Skoda's extra bit of car. The Roomster will also impress with its new Varioflex rear seat design which offers an easy method of re-arranging the passenger and carrying space to meet the ways that people use cars today.
The side view of the Roomster is dynamic, while large windows underline ample interior spaciousness and light. Customers can choose their ideal engine from three petrol and three diesel powerplants combined with a selection of manual or automatic gearbox .
The Skoda Roomster will be manufactured at the company's Kvasiny plant. The Roomster will be launched in many European markets, including the Czech Republic, beginning in the summer and autumn of 2006.
The new Skoda Roomster will make its first public appearance at the International Motor Show in Geneva on 28 February 2006. |
| Skoda adds more value |
Skoda has added even more value to its Octavia and Superb model ranges with new engine and trim combinations and lower prices on some Octavia models.
From 1 January, prices for the Octavia 1.6 FSI will be reduced significantly, and an additional trim level will be added to this engine, the Classic 1.6 FSI. Available in both hatch and estate, the new model will be priced at just £11,990 on the road for the hatch and £12,480 for the estate version. The Classic 1.6 FSI will have the same standard equipment as other Octavia Classic models, including electro-mechanical power steering, electric front windows and door mirrors, air conditioning, driver and front passenger airbags and central locking.
Prices for the rest of the Octavia 1.6 FSI range have been reduced significantly. The Ambiente 1.6 FSI is now priced at £12,990 and the Elegance at £13,990. Both are reduced by £725 and both continue to give buyers the same standard equipment they have in the past. The Ambiente adds features to the Classic such as front and rear electric windows, remote central locking, tinted glass, 15 alloys, trip computer, cruise control and a six-CD autochanger. The Elegance adds 16 alloys, rear parking sensors, dual-zone air conditioning, cruise control and auto dimming rear view mirror with rain sensor wipers and fog lights.
All Octavia models include Skoda's renowned extra bit of car, with litre water bottle holders in the front door pockets, a ticket holder inside the front windscreen, lots of storage cubbies and the biggest boot in its segment, with 560 litres of space in the hatch and 580 in the estate, expanding to 1,350/1,620 with the rear seats folded.
The 1.6 FSI engine is state-of-the-art technology from Skoda. The EUIV petrol engine generates 115 bhp, with torque of 155 Nm at 4,000 rpm. Fuel consumption is outstanding, with a combined economy figure of 40.4 mpg, comparable to some diesel engines. Emissions of CO2 are 168g/km, making the engine among the best petrol engines available.
In addition to changes to the Octavia 1.6 FSI, the price of the Octavia Sport 2.0 FSI has been reduced to £15,800, a savings of £350 over 2005 prices.
The Superb range is being expanded with the addition of 1.9 TDI PD 105bhp in Comfort trim. The 2.5 V6 TDI Tiptronic is now available on Classic and Comfort Superb as well.
All in all, Skoda's legendary value is in full force as the new year begins. |
| Skoda sales boost |
As early as a month before the end of the year 2005, Skoda Auto managed to break its own annual sales record achieved last year. From January to November 2005, customers on 85 markets bought a total of 452,973 Skoda cars, which is 43,022 (+10.5%) more cars than during the same period of the previous year and 1,298 more than throughout the whole of 2004.
This good result was achieved mainly thanks to Skoda car sales in Western Europe with a total of 255,783 (+17.8%) cars sold there while a total of 41,867 (+50.2%) units were sold in Eastern European countries. On the home market in the Czech Republic, the Skoda cars have gone to 3,132 more customers than last year (a total of 58,837 units) since the beginning of this year.
In addition to a higher number of customers, Skoda Auto has also earned itself better and better customers' appreciation as regards car and service satisfaction. Being the best European contender, Skoda finished third overall in a customer satisfaction survey including almost thirty world-wide brands operating within the European car market.
Commenting on the company's results, Detlef Wittig, the Chairman of the Board of Management of Skoda Auto, said: We are proud that we have achieved our all-time sales record in the year when the Skoda brand celebrates a centenary of automobile manufacturing. The increasing customer satisfaction with the Skoda cars is a great motivation for our future effort.
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| Skoda Auto to support private teams on 2006 WRC |
Skoda Auto is to continue giving official support to entries in next season's FIA World Rally Championship with the Fabia WRC model again spearheading the programme. The decision ensures that the Skoda brand's involvement with the WRC remains unbroken and at the same time extends the motorsport presence of a famous brand that celebrated a century of competition in 2001.
Skoda Auto has selected two partners for the future WRC co-operation, one based in the Czech Republic and the other in Austria. The team from the Czech Republic will be based around Czech Champion Jan Kopecky. It will be a single-car private team and Jan will contest 10 European rounds of the 2006 championship using the current Fabia WRC 05 model.
The Red Bull Skoda Team will run two Skoda Fabia WRCs on 10 events under the new 'Manufacturer 2' category that allows private and officially supported teams to contest a reduced number of events instead of the full 16-round WRC programme. The Red Bull Skoda Team will be run by Austrian Raimund Baumschlager and his Baumschlager Rally & Racing (BRR) Team. Already confirmed as one of the drivers for the Red Bull Skoda Team is 21-year old Austrian Andreas Aigner. Andreas has been gaining WRC experience in recent seasons as part of the Red Bull Junior Team. A second driver with international experience will be confirmed shortly.
Skoda Motorsport will provide both teams with the same level of extensive support including the supply of Fabia WRCs and a package of parts for the programme. Technical support will also be available throughout the season and additional engineers will be provided on events. The support will also extend to national activities of Skoda Auto importers in various European markets.
The 2006 WRC starts with the Monte Carlo Rally (January 20-22). |
| Skoda sales continue to storm ahead in November |
Skoda sales continue to outpace the market, with a November total of 2,560 sales, resulting in year-to-date sales of 34.989. Coming shortly after an all-time record-setting month in September, Skoda has maintained its 1.5% market share and is already ahead of total 2004 sales.
Skoda sales are up 9.7% year-to-date in a market that is down nearly 6% over the same period last year, Buyers are coming from both retail and business sales segments, with fleet sales up by a stunning 88% over the same eleven-months of 2004.
By model, year to-date sales are lead by Fabia with 17,134 followed by Octavia with 15,155 and Superb with 2,680. The sporty and exciting vRS models - Octavia and Fabia - account for over 10% of total sales, with 2,816 Fabia vRS going to new owners and 832 of the first-generation Octavia showing the continuing popularity of the model. The new-generation Octavia vRS will make its debut in Skoda showrooms across Britain in early January.
Skoda 's strong sales in current market conditions are further confirmation that more and more new car buyers are finding Skoda's combination of great products, excellent value and outstanding customer service is the right choice for them. |
| Skoda top among mainstream makes in survey |
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. |
| Skoda Motorsport season runs beyond Australia |
The Fabia WRC 05 will contest two 'celebratory' events on the weekend of November 19-20 in both Italy and the Czech Republic.
The Monza Rally Show is a rally taking place within the confines of the famous Formula 1 circuit. Last year Rinaldo 'Dindo' Capello took a Fabia WRC to victory on the event and the 41-year old sportscar driver will return to Monza to defend his title. He will be part of a two-car team with 37-year old Scot Colin McRae in the sister car for his third appearance in the Fabia WRC 05.
At the same time at the Autodrom Ceska Lipa (used as the opening stage of the Bohemia Rally) at Sosnove in the Czech Republic, Jan Kopecky will contest the fourth Meeting of Champions, a series of head-to-head contests on the superspecial style track. The stars of Czech rally, autocross and rallycross will compete against each other while the WRC category is always the most popular with Jan so far winning all three previous events - first year with Toyota Corolla WRC and twice with the factory Fabia WRC.
Martin Muehlmeier (Head of Skoda Motorsport): These two events are very different from everything else we have done this season and are mainly fun competitions. However they are also important as they allow us to thank our fans for their support in an entertaining way and I am sure that 'Dindo', Colin and Jan will all prove to be popular drivers for the fans.
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