Compact, attractive and with a fresh attitude, the new Skoda Yeti will be introduced at the Geneva Motor Show extending the brand’s model range to five. The 4.2 metre long, five-door vehicle bears the well-known and distinctive features of the brand. An impressive front end with a ribbed grille and stylish headlamps confidently demonstrate Yeti’s relationship with the Skoda family. It has a robust and solid look on 17-inch wheels, whilst its fresh styling and high seating position enable the Yeti to exude lightness rather than looking bulky. The carefully balanced running gear and agile handling, combined with turbocharged and frugal engines, makes the Yeti fun and dynamic to drive. Two petrol and three diesel engines are on offer. (more…)

As a world premiere, Škoda Auto is going to present a facelifted version of the Octavia at this year’s Paris Motor Show (2-19 October, 2008).

Produced or assembled in altogether eight countries, the Octavia is Škoda’s bestseller. The rejuvenated version is now coming with a more emotionally powerful design. “The Octavia has always had a special position among Škoda vehicles. It is our most successful model, very popular worldwide. Now it has gone through a complete transformation that is apparent in the new interior and exterior, as well as the applied technology,” said Dr. Eckhard Scholz, BOD Member responsible for technological development.
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Skoda reinvented the family MPV Roomster 2 using a new Family pack which includes lot of new features with no extra price. The new kit received a panoramic sunroof, acoustic rear parking sensors, metallic paint, sunset glass and electric rear windows.

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).
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Skoda released the Fabia Blue Line Special Edition and it is available for the moment only on the British market in a 500 pieces limited edition. The new model features a white roof, new alloys and lowered suspension for a more sporty and trendy looks.

At the interior, the Fabia Blue Line got the “Magic” upholstery, climate control air conditioning. Storage boxes under the front seats and a glasses storage space.

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Few surprises are in store – it follows the formula set down by the Roomster and Octavia Scouts. So it’s based on the estate version of the new Fabia, but has only ‘visual off-road features’. That means no four-wheel drive to you and me, so it’s another weird faux-by-four. Skoda has concentrated on plastic cladding and chromed roofrails on this concept car that’s surely a dead cert to enter production.
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It was way back in 2000, when the first Fabia was launched, as part of the ‘new’ Skoda line-up. It certainly put a stop to the jokes but far from being an amusement, the company’s makeover succeeded.

The Fabia’s part in the revival of Skoda, or should that be resurgence, amounts to over 2million units exiting the production line since its launch, which serves to indicate the company was and still is, doing something right. In fact the Fabia won no less than seven important awards in the first two years and a good few more since then.

Solid build quality, plenty of interior space and practicality were the supermini’s main qualities and people soon came to realise that any Skoda, represented Volkswagen quality at a bargain price.

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Skoda has reeled in rally legend Carlos Sainz to further the development of its Fabia Super 2000 machine. The Spaniard has joined an extensive test programme for the car, which is being conducted under the watchful eye of former racer and Volkswagen Motor Sport Department boss Hans-Joachim Stuck.

Sainz was impressed with the Fabia 200 and said: “I have got to know the Skoda Fabia really well and I can see a huge step forward as far as the development of the competition version is concerned.”
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The project objective is to map out the behaviour of vehicles in real road accidents and make use of the survey findings to further enhance the already existing cars, as well as vehicles whose development is underway.

In cooperation with Czech police, the country’s National Fire Department and other agencies Ministries of the Interior, Transport and Health, Škoda Auto is launching a new road safety survey.
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Skoda owners are so happy with their cars that they have placed the manufacturer second in the 2008 JD Power & Associates Customer Satisfaction Survey. The company has now featured in the top five of the survey for 13 years in a row.

After placing joint second in the 2007 survey, Skoda was the clear runner-up this time, with a total customer satisfaction index (CSI) of 84.6 per cent. Only premium car maker Lexus beat Skoda’s impressive performance.

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Škoda’s results for the first quarter of 2008 have exceeded all expectations. Sales over the past three months totalled 173,474 vehicles – that’s an increase of 15.7% compared to the same period last year.

Elsewhere, the Octavia also retained its popularity with buyers. Nearly 71,000 were sold in the first 12 weeks of 2008.

These impressive first quarter results were largely due to growing demand in Eastern Europe and China. Over 27,000 Škoda vehicles were sold in Eastern Europe (up 38.6%) with Chinese sales totalling 16,212.