The new entry-level Skoda EV will be underpinned by Volkswagen Group's MEB architecture, which also underpins the Volkswagen ID.3.

Skoda is said to be working on an all-new entry-level electric model, which will replace the brand's popular Fabia hatchback.

According to a media report, Klaus Zellmer, CEO of Skoda Auto, confirmed that the current-gen Fabia will be succeeded by an all-electric model, which will be priced similar to the ICE-powered hatchback. Zellmer, however, added that their biggest challenge would be the cost of making such a compact battery electric vehicle.

On the occasion of the unveiling of the Vision 7S concept, Skoda also confirmed an Urban EV and a crossover. These will further be followed by two other electric cars, one of which will be the Fabia replacement. This earmarks Fabia's EV replacement to arrive sometime during the last quarter of the decade.

Reports also suggest that the new entry-level EV will feature a radically different styling compared to the Fabia; in line with the brand's new design language previewed by the Vision 7S. The new EV could also feature an SUV-style bodywork rather than the hatchback styling of the Fabia.

The new entry-level Skoda EV will be underpinned by Volkswagen Group's MEB architecture, which also underpins the Volkswagen ID.3.

Source: Autocar UK

The 4th-generation Skoda Fabia hatchback has been globally unveiled. The new Fabia is now larger, more powerful and comes packed with features.

Skoda has unveiled the fourth-generation Fabia hatchback.

The new Skoda Fabia is now underpinned by the Volkswagen Group's MQB-A0 platform. This gives the hatchback larger proportions, compared to its predecessors. The new Fabia is now 4,108 mm in length, 1,780 mm in width and has a wheelbase of 2,564 mm. It also comes with 380-litre of boot space, which can be extended further by folding the rear seats.

In terms of design, the new Skoda Fabia now features a much sharper styling, offering a more sporty appeal. It features LED headlamps with integrated LED DRLs, a signature front grille with chrome surrounds, LED tail lights with Skoda's crystalline elements and 18-inch alloy wheels on the higher trims (14 and 15-inch steel wheels offered on the lower trims).

Inside, the 4th-generation Fabia now comes with a host of updates, features and equipment. This includes a new dashboard layout with a large 9.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto at its centre, a fully-digital 10.25-inch instrument cluster with five layouts, two-spoke steering wheel with mounted controls, dual-zone climate control, LED ambient lighting, premium upholstery with contrast stitching and many others.

In the international market, the new Fabia will be offered with three engine options - The first is a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder MPi in two states of tune; producing either 64 BHP or 78 BHP and 93 Nm and mated to a 5-speed manual transmission.

The second is a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder TSI engine again offered in two states of tune; producing either 93 BHP / 175 Nm and mated to a five-speed manual gearbox or 108 BHP / 200 Nm paired to a 6-speed manual transmission with the optional 7-speed DSG on offer.

The range-topping variant of the Skoda Fabia comes powered by the brand's 1.5-litre, four-cylinder TSI engine. It produces 148 BHP and 250 Nm paired with a 7-speed DSG as standard.

The Skoda Fabia also comes with a 50-litre fuel tank capacity, which the brand claims offers a

Skoda claims that the Fabia offers a max tank range of 900 km (WLTP cycle) from its 50-litre fuel tank.

Skoda has revealed the official design sketches of the interiors of the upcoming 4th-generation Fabia hatchback.

Skoda has released a design sketch of the interiors of the fourth generation Fabia hatchback.

The sketch indicates that the new-gen hatchback gets a two-spoke steering wheel similar to some of its larger siblings. The image also reveals a large central touchscreen infotainment system, which will come with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and other connected technologies.

The new Fabia is also expected to feature the brand's customisable virtual cockpit, circular air vents at either end and coloured highlights all over the dashboard and the door panels.

The Fabia will be part of the brand's MQB-A0 platform, giving it larger dimensions compared to its predecessor. This, in turn, should translate to better cabin space for both front and rear passengers.

The fourth generation Skoda Fabia will be premiered in the beginning of May. Skoda will reveal more details and technical specifications of the car at the time of unveiling.

The fourth-gen Skoda Fabia design sketches have officially been revealed. Skoda has confirmed that the new Fabia will have its global premiere in May.

Skoda has released the first set of official design sketches of its fourth-gen Fabia hatchback. The Czech brand has confirmed that the world premiere of the fourth-gen Skoda Fabia will take place sometime in May.

The new Skoda Fabia will be underpinned by Volkswagen Group's MQB-A0 platform, giving it larger proportions, translating to better cabin space. The larger dimensions is also said to improve the boot capacity on the upcoming hatchback, which is claimed to have been increased by 50-litres compared to the older model.

The design sketches of the fourth-gen Skoda Fabia also showcases the sharp design full LED headlamps with integrated L-shaped LED daytime running lights. The front also features the large signature grille with chrome surrounds. The design sketches also reveal the LED tail lights, with Skoda's signature crystalline elements.

Skoda is yet to announce any technical details of the new Fabia.

The new Fabia is set to make its global debut later this year, but is unlikely to come to India.

Skoda has released official images of the pre-production Fabia hatchback. The car is set to make its global debut later this year, but is unlikely to come to India.

The new Fabia will be based on the modular MQB A0 platform. The car measures 4,107 mm in length, 1,780 mm in width, 1,460 mm in height and its wheelbase is 2,564 mm. It has a boot capacity of 380 litres.

The new Fabia will get Skoda's redesigned front fascia with a more angular grille and sharper lines. It has slim LED headlights, while the rear features wraparound tail lights with V-shaped LEDs. Skoda claims that the new model is more aerodynamically efficient. It has a drag co-efficient of 0.28.

On the inside, the new Fabia will come equipped with a digital instrument cluster as well as a touchscreen infotainment head-unit, panoramic sunroof, folding front passenger seat backrest, USB-C socket on the IRVM among others features.

Under the bonnet, the car will get a 1.0-litre petrol engine in two states of tune - 64 BHP / 95 Nm and 70 BHP / 95 Nm. This naturally aspirated petrol motor will be offered with a 5-speed manual transmission.

Additionally, there will be two turbo-petrol engines on offer. These include a 1.0-litre TSI producing 94 BHP / 175 Nm and 108 BHP / 200 Nm. The former will get a 5-speed manual, while the latter will be paired with either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed DSG.

The third engine option will be a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol producing 148 BHP and 250 Nm. This unit will be mated to a 7-speed DSG automatic transmission.

The new Fabia will not be offered in India. Instead, the carmaker will be focusing on the Kushaq and a new sedan.

A close-to-production test mule of the next-generation Skoda Fabia hatchback has been spotted testing somewhere in Europe. 

The new Fabia will be based on the MQB A0 platform which also underpins its sister car - the VW Polo, in Europe. The car is expected to be over 4 meters in length with a wheelbase of 2.55 meters.

The spy images suggest that the new Fabia will get Skoda's redesigned front fascia with a more angular grille and sharper lines. It has slim LED headlights, while the rear features wraparound tail lights with V-shaped LEDs. 

In the European market, the next-gen Fabia is expected to be offered with a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine producing either 94 BHP or 108 BHP. A naturally aspirated motor with 79 BHP could be offered in the entry-level variants.

Skoda has no plans to introduce the new Fabia in India. Instead, the carmaker will be focusing on the Kushaq and a new sedan. 

Source: Autoweek

Volkswagen India has rolled out the 5,00,000th car from its plant at Chakan, near Pune. Car no. 5,00,000 is a red Polo GT TSI hatchback with a 7-speed DSG transmission, built for the domestic market.

Volkswagen started production of cars at the Pune factory in March 2009. Since then, more than 4 lakh units have been rolled out for the domestic market as well as thirty-two export markets across three continents. The plant produces the Polo and Vento sedan (in both, left and right hand drive versions) and the Skoda Rapid sedan. The Skoda Fabia hatchback was also produced at this plant till the end of 2013.

The Chakan plant is spread over an area of 572 acres. It has a body shop, a paint shop and an assembly facility. It has an installed annual capacity of 2,00,000 cars in a two-shift system. At present, it is producing 1,30,000 cars (430 per day) in a two-shift system. The plant provides employment to approximately 3,200 direct and indirect employees. It builds cars in right-hand drive and left-hand drive variants. Cars built here are also exported to 32 countries across 3 continents (Asia, Africa and North America).

Volkswagen Pune Plant Chronicles:

• March 2009: Volkswagen Pune Plant inaugurated and first Fabia rolled out
• December 2009: Start of Polo production
• August 2010: Start of Vento production
• December 2010: Start of production for export to South Africa
• July 2011: 1,00,000th car rolls out of Pune Plant
• October 2011: Start of Rapid production
• July 2012: Start of production of left-hand drive cars
• October 2013: Start of export to Mexico
• April 2014: 50,000th export car rolled out of Volkswagen Pune Plant
• December 2014: With 1,11,444 units, the highest number of cars produced at Volkswagen Pune Plant within one year is achieved – in the same month the 100,000th export car was also produced
• 19 May 2015: 5,00,000th car rolls out of Pune Plant

Compact SUVs/crossovers are now moving from a trend to nearly an inevitability. Slapping on roof rails, bumping up the ground clearance and attaching skid plates hardly makes a vehicle an off-roader, but that won’t stop manufacturers from partaking in the practice. Skoda will now reportedly develop a new Fabia sized crossover which could be launched in 2017.

The Volkswagen group has been working towards the creation of a wider SUV range for its global portfolio, to better target markets like the USA. Skoda has only one SUV on offer i.e. the Yeti. Skoda’s leadership is targeting 1.5 million sales in the next 5 years and the strategy would depend greatly on SUVs, given the expectation that the global SUV segment will account for 22 million sales by the year 2020.

Skoda’s portfolio could include a total of 3 SUVs by the end of 2017, including a successor to the Yeti, a new 7-seater SUV and this “Fabia crossover” – that could make its debut in 2016, ahead of a launch in 2017. The report adds that the crossover will be based on a shortened version of VW’s MQB architecture and will not share its DNA with the Taigun concept. Volkswagen is working on a similar development in the form of a "Polo SUV".

Source: Auto Express

*Images are renders indicative of the design

Czech carmaker Skoda has revealed that it is planning to bring the Fabia hatchback back to India as a premium offering.

The Fabia saw poor sales in its previous stint in India. Skoda tried to push the car's sales by announcing multiple price cuts, but was not successful. The company was losing a sizeable amount of money on every unit of the Fabia sold and finally, Skoda had to pull the car out of the market.

Last year, Skoda reworked its strategy for India and has repositioned itself from being a mass market player to a value-luxury brand. This has resulted in lower sales, but higher profits for the company. The company claims to be benefitting from sharing manufacturing infrastructure with sister companies, Volkswagen and Audi. It has also delinked its pricing mechanism from that of Volkswagen. Skoda also claims to have started focusing on customer satisfaction.

The Premium hatchback segment in India is growing. Hyundai's Elite i20 has been successful and sells at more than 9,000 units a month on a regular basis. With Maruti Suzuki planning to launch the YRA and Honda about to re-introduce the Jazz, Skoda will not want to be left behind.

Source: Money Control

Last week, Skoda unveiled the next-generation Fabia hatchback through images. Now the Czech manufacturer has released a picture showing the dashboard of the car.

The image indicates that the Fabia gets a dual-tone interior with a 3-spoke, multifunction steering wheel and typical Skoda instrument cluster. At the centre of the dash are the AC vents, infotainment system, climate control and USB and Aux-in points and power outlet.

The new Fabia is 8 mm shorter than its predecessor, but its interior is more spacious. The length of the interior has increased by 8 mm to 1,674 mm and elbow room has increased by 21 mmto 1,401 mm at the front and by 2 mm to 1,386 mm at the rear.

Skoda has stated that the Fabia has 330 litres of boot space, which is 15 litres more than the old model. With the rear seats folded down, the boot space can be increased to 1,150 litres. The loading area is 960 mm wide, which is 2 cm wider than the previous generation and the loading lip is lower too.

The new Fabia features a new infotainment system which can be connected to a smartphone via USB. It is the first Skoda to feature MirrorLink technology, which allows smartphone apps to be displayed on the screen of the infotainment system. Other features include an ice scraper in the fuel filler cap, storage spaces and corner light function of the fog lamps.

Skoda has not yet revealed any plans of bringing the Fabia to India.