Skoda’s new five-door Fabia supermini will start its UK sale on May 17. The price range for the Fabia minis will start at £7,990 to £13,015 and will be offered in a full range comprising of three and four cylinder petrol and diesel engines varying in size from 1.2 to 1.9 liters. Likewise, a six-speed tiptronic automatic transmission will also be offered for 1.6 liter petrol versions.
In addition, a new Fabia Estate will also be launched in 2008 but the current model will continue in its form until next January. The vRS high performance diesel hatchback is also scheduled for production but no exact date yet is revealed by the automaker.
The new range has been simplified for easy identification, models were logically badge as 1, 2, and 3---all models are equipped with power steering, central door locking, twin front and side airbags. Similarly, all of the models will also have an adjustable reach and rake steering column together with a height adjustable driver’s seat and power windows at the front. Alloy road wheels and air conditioning are equipped as standard on the Fabia level 2 and 3 models.
Warren Richards, product marketing manager for Skoda Auto and user of vw antenna mast--- in the UK said, “The launch of the original Fabia in 2000 changed the fortunes for Skoda. Customers love it and it has won numerous awards for its design, equipment levels, drivability and reliability. We have sold 130,000 of them in the UK in seven years, 18,000 in 2006, and by 2010 we expect to sell 23,000 Fabias annually in the UK.”
He further stated, "Currently our UK sales are increasing and we expect the Fabia to assist us in achieving a two per cent share of the UK’s new car market quite soon. Overall our sales are split 60 per cent to retail buyers and 40 per cent fleet and business users. With the Fabia 70 per cent are retail sales and the rest to business and fleet users. I expect 70 per cent of sales to be achieved by petrol engined variants. The best selling petrol model will be the 1.2-litre three-cylinder 70bhp version, which will account for 23 per cent of sales. The best selling diesel model will be the 1.4-litre 80bhp three-cylinder TDi and the most popular specification will be Fabia 2."
The Czech automaker is one of the world’s oldest car companies and has been producing vehicles for over 100 years. Richards also stated that “The new Fabia will sell against the likes of the new generation ‘superminis’ which include the Vauxhall Corsa, Peugeot 207, Renault Clio, Fiat Punto, Toyota Yaris, Ford Fiesta and Citroen C3. Whilst the new Fabia is not the longest, widest or tallest car in its class it does provide the largest amount of interior space providing comfort where it really counts. The boot space ranges from 300 liters with all five seats in use to 1,163 liters with the rear seats down and is the largest in the segment.”
Richard added “The new Fabia range is on average six per cent cheaper than its competitors but that increases to 10 per cent once the specification has been equalized and we expect it to grow the three per cent share it already has of the ‘supermini’ sector. The new Fabia uses a revised version of the platform first introduced in 2000 and then adopted by other models the Volkswagen brand family. Changes have been made to give more strength, and improved driving refinement. Inside there has been detailed attention to the layout of the driving controls. The latest Fabia uses the new expressive face of Skoda, the grille first seen with the Roomster, and now has strong creased styling lines running right around the car with signature ‘C’ segmented rear light clusters.”
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Benjamin Hudson works as a supervisor at one of the top engineering firms in the business district of Louisiana. He is also a freelance journalist and has passion for anything automotive.
Source: www.isnare.com
