Skoda has updated the Fabia Sport. The new model can be identified by its 15mm lower ride height. Other equipment standard on the Sport includes tinted windows, 16-inch alloy wheels, a tailgate spoiler and new front bumper incorporating fog lamps. Inside, the driver gets a three-spoke leather steering wheel, trip computer and curtain airbags.
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.
(more…)
In April Skoda’s market share reached its highest level since December 2000. Registrations for the month were 4,137 vehicles, representing a total market share of 2.36 per cent for the Czech manufacturer. This exceeded the 2.26 per cent market share recorded by the company in February this year.
So far in 2008, Skoda has registered 14,367 new vehicles, representing market share of 1.67 per cent for the year. This is a significant improvement on 2007, when the company’s year-to-date market share was 1.53 per cent by April. This impressive performance is ample proof that the quality of Skoda’s vehicles is making a mark on British consumers.
(more…)
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.
It looks as if Skoda is about to go exploring again. This is the Fabia Scout – a rugged version of the new Estate. As with the Octavia and Roomster Scout variants, it has protective body mouldings and a raised ride height. To that it adds a handy, fold-out rear ledge and a system of luggage straps in the boot. With more room than a Volvo V50 and chunky looks, it should prove popular when it goes on sale next year, priced from around £12,000. A facelifted Octavia will also arrive in 2008.