The model is a modified version of the production Skoda Octavia vRS hatch, having been prepared by Skoda UK, the team spent the week leading up to Speed Week putting the car through a rigorous dyno programme, supported by performance software and tuning outfit specialist REVO Technik.

The previous record, set in August 1998 was 216 mph, now beaten by journalist Richard Meadon, who set speeds throughout the week and beating the 200mph barrier on six previous runs.

The Skoda Octavia’s runs consisted of two official runs on the five mile course, at 225.513mph on 18th August and a return run at 228.647mph on 19th August 2011.

Robert Hazelwood, Director for Skoda UK, said: “This is a truly stunning achievement. Our goal was to break 200 mph as a celebration of 10 years of vRS, and we have achieved that, and significantly more. The success is a tribute to everyone who has worked so tirelessly and with such passion to make Skoda a world beater.”

source: carpages.co.uk

The car is equipped with a 114-horsepower electric motor, lithium-ion batteries. Maximum torque of this engine is 270 Nm. No extra charge electric car overcomes a distance of 140 kilometers. Acceleration from zero to hundred kilometers per hour and the machine takes 12 seconds and a top speed limited at around 135 kilometers per hour.

Ergonomics salon electropenalty Octavia is the same as gasoline and diesel is universal: in the back row freely placed three adult passengers. In this case, the trunk on the electrical modification was reduced to 115 liters – 490 liters. This is due to location of batteries – they are embedded in the passenger compartment floor, as well as the bottom of the trunk.

Produced from 1996, the car played a pivotal role in transforming Škoda Auto to a worldwide-successful car manufacturer. The Octavia line continues its success story with the second-generation Octavia Tour and the second-generation Octavia. Furthermore, a few weeks ago Skoda presented
its Octavia Green E Line concept: the first Skoda with an electric engine. The Octavia E Line is going
to appear on the roads next year as part of a special test fleet.

The first Octavia in the company’s new-age history left the production line in 1996 as a breakthrough product whose quality, design, driving properties and price helped in changing the image of Škoda – the brand became a synonym for reliable vehicles designed to meet the needs of drivers looking for
a useful and safe family car. The planning of this model started already in 1992, and the Octavia was thus the first car developed by the brand after Škoda Auto became part of the Volkswagen Group.
In 1998, the brand launched an estate version and later also a four-wheel-drive one. The enormously successful model was then modernised in 2000.

“The Octavia is the heart of the Škoda brand. Offering a basically unrivalled combination of roominess, usefulness and focus on family needs, the car perfectly embodies our values. The Octavia has been showing these values convincingly on the road for some 14 years and is going to represent them also in the future,” said Škoda Auto BOD Chairman Prof. Dr. Winfried Vahland.

The Octavia came with new engines and technologies, including automatic transmission, four-wheel drive, six-speed transmission, disc brakes on the rear axle, as well as sophisticated safety systems such as ESP, ASR and EDS. Furthermore, the Octavia was the first car in the brand’s history to come with a turbo charger (both petrol and diesel). Another breakthrough was a major change in the injection technology used in diesel engines, i.e. indirect injection replaced by direct injection (TDI/SDI). Since its launch, this model line has been offering an ever-increasing portfolio of economical and reliable modern engines.

The Octavia was a revolutionary product also in terms of design – the car not only won the Czech National Design Award in 1999 but, perhaps even more importantly, remained attractive for customers all over the fourteen years of its market presence. Even today, its liftback design, completely novel when the car was launched, underlines the huge size of the car’s boot, unrivalled in its class, and makes the loading and unloading of luggage easy and comfortable. The liftback body has become
one of the markers this successful model line.

The first-generation Octavia has won a number of awards, including several Car of the Year awards and the Best Estate award in the UK. The second-generation Octavia that Škoda Auto launched in 2004 and then modernised in 2008 continued the success story by winning countless awards, too, including the Auto Trophy in 2008 and 2009, the AutoBest award in 2010, the Best Family Car in 2010, etc.

To date, Škoda Auto has sold over 2,862,000 Octavias worldwide. The brand offers an extensive portfolio of versions, from the sporty RS (both diesel and petrol) to the Scout, a leisure-time vehicle with increased clear height and a “poor roads” packet designed to protect the car in off-road conditions. Customers seeking comfort and luxury can go for the Laurin & Klement trim, environmentally-focused drivers will appreciate the GreenLine version with reduced fuel consumption and CO2 emission levels.

The success of the Octavia is now being taken to the next level with the Green E Line concept that Škoda Auto has presented at the Paris Motor Show as its latest step towards sustainable mobility
in individual transport. This electric vehicle is going to appear on the roads in 2011 as part of a test fleet to provide Škoda with more information and experience required for further development of a series-production electric car.

source: skoda-auto.com

Held, as in previous years, at the Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire, the Competition attracted 35 entrants.

Class wins in the Competition went to the Skoda Fabia Elegance 1.6 TDI CR; Fiat Doblo 2.0 MultiJet Eleganza; Volkswagen Golf Match 2.0TDI 140; Skoda Superb Estate Elegance 2.0 TDI CR and Mercedes Benz E350 CDI BlueEfficiency Avantgarde Estate. Category awards for All-Wheel Drive vehicles above and below 1800kgs went to the Mitsubishi Outlander 2.2 DI-D Juro SST and Range Rover Sport TDV6 HSE.

The Skoda Superb is fast becoming something of a Caravan Club Towcar of the Year legend, this being its third overall win. In estate form, Skoda Superb adds yet another string to its already well-strung bow, to bring even greater versatility to its excellent performance and dynamic abilities.

But it had to work very hard indeed to earn the £25,000 to £32,000 class award as this was one of the most closely-fought classes in recent memory. Ford’s Mondeo Titanium X Sport estate nearly spoiled Skoda’s party, which itself had another Skoda Superb estate, the 1.8 TSI, snapping at its heels.

The results of the Competition were announced at The Caravan Club Towcar of the Year Awards ceremony at the Royal Automobile Club in London on 23rd September 2010.

Special guest, former downhill skier and Ski Sunday and Winter Olympics TV presenter, Graham Bell, attended the testing regime at Millbrook and then presented the prized Class awards to representatives from the winning manufacturers at the Awards ceremony.

Graham Bell commented, “It was great to see how thoroughly the cars are put through their paces and tested at Millbrook. It’s been fun to be involved with the Competition; caravans are familiar sights at sporting events so it was really interesting to see which towcars are the best and what their capabilities are.”

Grenville Chamberlain, Caravan Club Chairman, commented, “The Skoda Superb Estate Elegance 2.0 TDI CR is sure to be a popular choice with Caravan Club members. Our congratulations go to Skoda and all the class winners.”

source: carpages.co.uk

Powering the latest models is a new, 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbodiesel engine. It develops 75bhp. Other features include stop-start technology, energy recuperation and gear recommendation.

Further economy benefits come from improved aerodynamics and low rolling resistance tyres. The result is 83.1mpg and 89g/km for the Fabia Estate, while the Roomster manages 67.3mpg and 109g/km. Those economy figures are obtained without resorting to ultra-high gearing, so there should be no loss of performancecompared with similar, non-GreenLine models.

Prices and UK launch dates for the Fabia Estate GreenLine II and Roomster GreenLine II will be announced late

Škoda Auto has a long association with motor sport. At the beginning of the year, the competition car is derived Mladá Boleslav in the rally racing circuit and the world. Last car RS assume that this sport tradition, which provides second-generation Skoda Fabia RS one step ahead of the competition. And now for the first time there are two versions of the RS in the Škoda Fabia range: a hatchback and the estate continues Bodystyle Hospital changed its name a combination of athletic performance with fuel efficiency and exceptional environmental performance.

Both versions of the new Škoda Fabia RS is firmly in front bumper thanks to the single integrated fog lights, which can also optionally provided with cornering function LED lights or walking during the day. Symbol RS stands proudly in the frame chrome grille, while the red brake calipers painted mention their potential performance on the shelves behind the custom-made 17-inch “aluminum wheels Gigaro. Like tinted windows, sport rear bumper, new design and pipe dual exhaust. Spoiler roof and back of the sedan is available in black, white and silver on request and depending on the color of the car body.

Roof spoiler in both hatchback and support the current arrangements at a higher speed, which when combined with the equipment and reviewed the progress of performance-based electronic driver aids – ESP, ABS, TCS, TPM and HGH – Škoda Fabia RS provides agile and safe handling. Meanwhile, far from improving standards of driving pleasure XDS by braking the front wheel in when accelerating around corners, to transfer torque to the wheels out. Side couples can attract Škoda Fabia RS cornering, increasing its ability to bend and provide the agility found in Škoda Athletic.
Inside, new sport seats feature of the RS symbols of their records, while the Škoda Fabia RS customers can also order the seat covers red and black floor mats with silver stitching or compensation in accordance with the color red carpet ‘furniture. Color Onyx dashboard has a leather three spoke steering wheel with optional multi-function version with manual shift control paddles standard seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox. As with all versions of the Škoda Fabia, the steering wheel is adjustable for height and depth, with the driver’s seat height adjustment is also taken. Steering wheel, shifter and emergency brake handle are standard leather, while the pedals are fitted with the stainless steel tread. All Škoda Fabia RS Climate models equipped with air conditioning, an ‘put hospitals’ scoreboard and a system with four standard stereo speakers.

At the heart of the changes are improvements to the engine line-up. There will be a range of options to choose from, including four petrol engines and two diesel power plants. The updates to the exterior consist of a redesigned grille and as the Skoda press release states ’3D-shaped headlamps’.

The 1.2-litre TSI 105bhp petrol engine will be available with a seven-speed DSG gearbox that Skoda claims will deliver a combined fuel consumption of 53.3mpg. This particular engine will be available in two power guises – 85bhp and 105bhp. Along with the petrol options, the two diesel engines have CO2 emissions of less than 110g/km.

In related news, we also expect the vRS junior hot-hatch variant of the Fabia range to be on show at Geneva.

A sophisticated compressor-and-turbo combination increases the engine power smoothly and harmonically, and the maximum speed of 140 mph (141 mph in the estate version) and 0-62mph acceleration in just 7.3 seconds in both versions mean a sporty driving experience. With fuel consumption of 44.1 mpg, the Fabia vRS offers high power and maximum fuel efficiency as well as excellent environmental parameters.

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The vehicle’s sports-tuned chassis – with ESP, ABS and ASR – is designed for powerful dynamic and safe driving performance. To enhance the driving experience, the new XDS electronic differential improves the car’s cornering ability. It brakes the inside front wheel electronically to increase the torque on the outside front wheel. Accelerating through corners, the resulting torque gives the vRS impressive agility. A tyre pressure monitor (TMP) and uphill start assistant are standard, providing greater comfort and safety.

Both the Fabia vRS hatch and estate are fitted with height-adjustable sports seats with vRS logos on the backrests. A height- and reach-adjustable, three-spoke leather-wrapped sports steering wheel has paddles for manual control of the seven-speed DSG gearbox. The purity of the interior design is underlined by an Onyx-shaded dashboard and stainless steel pedals with an anti-slip surface.

In connection with the new design of the Fabia vRS, Skoda has also adapted the design of its rally car, the Fabia Super 2000. Under new FIA regulations for the Super 2000 category, the vehicle has been widened to 1,820 mm. To improve the performance of the Fabia Super 2000 rally car, Skoda has also adapted the engine’s air intake and exhaust system.

source:www.ultimatecarpage.com

Skoda's trumped the competition, beating even premium brands to be crowned Best Car Manufacturer.

The accolade was given to Skoda as an acknowledgement of the quality of its products, the great value for money and high standard of customer care that the brand offers. The Which car test team and Which members have all been impressed with Skoda's reliability, customer care and the quality of its dealerships.

Chief Executive of Which, Peter Vicary-Smith, who presented the award said: "Skoda is a car company ideally suited to the times, as people demand more but want to pay less. It offers a great range of reasonably-priced, well-built cars."

Editor of Which Car, Richard Headland added, "People might know Skoda as a purveyor of value, but what they might not know is that this brand should be equally recognised for its quality of product, its reliability and its excellent dealer network."

Skoda UK Director, Robert Hazelwood, commented: "We're really pleased to win this award. It shows just how highly Which rates our products and service. We're very proud of the excellent engineering and great value in every one of our cars, and pleased that Which has recognised the outstanding personal service our retailers give their customers."

Skoda manufactures five models in its range: the Skoda Fabia supermini with its new sport vRS version; the family carrier Skoda Roomster; the Skoda Octavia range, including estate Scout and vRS versions, the Skoda Superb and new Skoda Superb Estate; and the Skoda Yeti crossover.

The brand was named the Most Improved Fleet Manufacturer and the Skoda Superb model won the accolade of Best Upper-Medium car, at a glitzy awards ceremony held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London on the 16th March 2010.

Commenting, Martin Burke, Skoda's head of fleet sales, who collected the awards on the evening, said: "Over the past few years, our team has worked hard to educate fleet managers on the benefits of choosing Skoda over another brand, and it is excellent to see that hard work really paying off.

"We have an excellent selection of products on the market, which perfectly fit the fleet offering, particularly the Octavia and Superb models, and since its launch in 2008, the Superb has really shone brightly as an exemplary luxury vehicle for both work and home. I'm really proud of everyone in the factory, the brand and the retailer network who has contributed to this success. It's recognition for us all."

The judges contending the Most Improved Fleet Manufacturer category, said: "[This was] a unanimous decision thanks to Skoda's improved products, better support from the fleet department and the dealer network." Regarding the Skoda Superb, they added: "High quality, more legroom and excellent cabin comfort make the Superb the best place to be when chalking up big miles."

Fleet News added: "Skoda has gone from strength-to-strength in 2009 and its flagship Superb typifies the carmaker's success. Skoda achieved a record 1.6 per cent share of the corporate market in 2009; a tremendous performance considering it had no presence in fleet only five years ago.

"There are many rational reasons for choosing the Superb, including competitive residual vales and all-round running costs. There is also a low-emission GreenLine version allowing the Superb to offer among the lowest benefit-in-kind tax liability."