The new Roomster 2 features 15-inch ‘Avior’ alloy wheels, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, electric front windows, remote central locking, curtain airbags and a trip computer all included as standard equipment at a price of just £11,630 ($19,956 or €14,969).

The car is powered by a 1.4TDI engine, capable of 80 hp, which with its 135g/km emissions of CO2 reduces the environmental impact.

“Our revolutionary MPV gives families everything they need from a car – practicality, value and style. The Roomster 2 is a popular family choice which is why we are offering the ‘Family Pack’ on this trim,” says Warren Richards, Product Marketing Manager at Škoda.

Improvements include the fine tuning of the front design to enhance the airflow parameters. Also, by lowering the chassis by 15 mm the forefront area has been reduced creating better airflow under the chassis. The reduction in weight in the new Superb GreenLine has also been helpful in reducing fuel consumption. For example, instead of the spare wheel in the boot there is now a tire repair set on board. These measures result to an avg. fuel consumption of 5.1 lt of diesel per 100 km or 46.1 MPG (US), which corresponds to 136 g/km of CO2 emissions.

Aiming to capitalise on the previous version’s popularity, the car will give Peugeot’s new 207 SW some tough competition in the growing supermini estate market.

As you can see, the Skoda carries on the styling themes of the hatchback, with a classy but understated look.

The rear is chunky yet curvy, and features the same neat tail-lights as the hatchback model. Our side profile image (above) is the only picture to
be released by Skoda ahead of the Frankfurt launch. It shows the newcomer’s long overhang at the rear.

This, along with increases in the wheelbase and body length, suggests the Czech estate will be one of the class’s roomiest models. The previous version provided owners with a maximum of 1,225 litres of boot space; the new car is set to beat that by 250 litres.

While the Skoda Roomster’s sliding rear seats are unlikely to appear, the load-lugging Fabia will still score on flexibility, with a rear bench that can be split 60:40 or folded flat. Thanks to the raised roofline, rear passengers should benefit from more legroom, too.

Skoda bosses are refusing to release further details until Frankfurt. However, there are rumours that the newcomer will also get a split tailgate with an opening rear window, to aid loading in tight spaces.

Customers will be able to take their pick from 1.4 and 1.6-litre petrol engines and 1.4 and 1.9-litre TDI diesels. Due to the model’s heavier body, an entry-level 1.2-litre petrol unit won’t be offered.

UK deliveries of the Fabia estate start early next year. Prices will follow the previous model, with a premium of around £1,000 over the equivalent hatchback.

Source: autoеxprеss.co.uk

Auto Express has learned that the car will be available only in five-door form when it reaches showrooms in early 2009. Buyers will be offered a choice of front-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive versions as Skoda targets the likes of the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. The engine range is set to include the latest turbo­charged and supercharged petrol motors from parent firm VW.

Dr Eckhard Scholz, Skoda’s head of technical development, revealed that the Czech manufacturer’s next project is a large MPV, which is likely to arrive in the next 18 months. ”The Yeti will be a Skoda take on the SUV, and our other new car will do the same for people carriers,” he said. At the same time, Scholz revealed that Volkswagen engineers have started development of a stop-start system, similar to the technology in BMW’s Efficient Dyna­mics package. This will be available on models across the VW Group ranges in the next year.

And it’s got a lot to live up to, as the previous Fabia Estate proved very popular with buyers – 630,000 were sold worldwide. It also has to face tough competition from the Peugeot 207 SW and forthcoming Renault Clio Sport Tourer.

As these images show, the Skoda carries over the classy and solid look of the hatchback. The rear end features a long overhang and uses the same rear lights as the five-door. With the seats up, the estate delivers a class-leading 480 litres of load space. This increases to 1,460 litres with the 60:40 split rear seat folded flat.

The addition of aluminium finish roof rails offers extra practicality, as do a number of clever storage features inside the boot. There are cubbies in the side panels, securing hooks and a neat stowage tray under the floor.

Customers will have the choice of three petrol engines – a 1.2-litre, 1.4 or 1.6. Derv fans can pick either a 1.4 or 1.9-litre turbodiesel unit. The car will arrive in British showrooms next year, priced at around £1,000 more than the hatchback version.

So the newcomer has its work cut out. Fortunately, first impressions are good. Longer and taller than the outgoing car, the Fabia shares its design with the Roomster compact MPV.

It has the same distinctive nose and upright, wraparound windscreen, while the angular rear and sloping roof panel can be emphasised with an optional contrasting roof colour, just like on the new MINI.

Inside, the old Fabia was notable for offering near VW levels of fit and finish in the non-premium market, and the new model is better still. The dashboard’s soft-touch panels fit together perfectly, and look especially good with a new two-tone colour option.

The front seats are comfortable, the steering adjusts for height and reach and there is more than enough headroom for two six-footers. Storage space is provided throughout, but the bins are a little small. There are two tiny gloveboxes, the upper one being air-conditioned to keep things cool.

But even though the Skoda feels big for the class, accommodation in the back is a disappointment – especially as it doesn’t have the sliding rear seats of some of the competition. Tall adults can just about sit one behind the other, but it leaves the cockpit cramped. A huge range of engines is on offer, starting with a 60bhp six-valve 1.2-litre, rising to a 105bhp, 1.9 turbodiesel.

We drove the two models likely to be the best-sellers, the 80bhp 1.4-litre turbodiesel and 86bhp 1.4 petrol. The latter unit is refined and smooth all the way to the red line. It can get a bit vocal when stretched, but 0-62mph in 12.3 seconds and a top speed of 108mph are respectable.

The diesel is the popular three-cylinder unit, which is noisy at idle, but surprisingly refined at speed. It’s more torquey than the petrol and delivers superb economy of 61.4mpg. The handling, meanwhile, is good, but it’s clear that the little car has been built for comfort rather than speed. The suspension swallows road bumps with ease, and at motorway speeds the Fabia is quiet and refined.

There’s some body roll in corners, but it is well controlled. And although the steering doesn’t have much feel, it’s direct and well weighted, while the brakes are powerful. So we ended our test drive very impressed. The Fabia has never looked fresher, and Renault and co. should be worried

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Source: autoеxprеss.co.uk