The Skoda Fabia has been spotted for the first time, with the all-new city car caught undergoing testing at the Nurburgring in Germany. The Czech Republic automaker’s next-gen city vehicle that’s set to be introduced at this year’s Paris Auto Show in October, clearly mimics the styling of some of Skoda’s recent offerings including the recently launched Octavia and redesigned Yeti.
In spite of the heavy camouflage, it’s clear the front end sees an angular yet more modern grille application unlike the current model, and its front bumper and headlamps are more streamlined and sporty looking, too. The side profile shows a similar sharp-edged treatment to the glasshouse of the vehicle, whereas the hatchback comes standard with a stylized bootlid with small taillamps and a small rooftop spoiler.
The all-new Fabia is expected to be designed and engineered on the same underpinnings like the current model, rather than be built upon the MQB modular platform of VW Group, which is used for vehicles including the Audi A3 and Volkswagen Golf as has been widely reported. Nonetheless, the automaker is likely to borrow heavily from the VW product catalogue when it comes to infotainment systems and powerplants.
Engines will likely mirror those found in the upgraded VW Polo, including new 3-cylinder powerplants, in addition to, the existing 4-cylinder turbocharged 1.2 liter, which is now available in two states of tune (66kW/160Nm and 81kW/175Nm) instead of the existing 7kW/175Nm in that model range. Michael Irmer, Skoda Australia Director recently confirmed that the Fabia is due to arrive in Australia in the second half of next year, confirming both the wagon and hatchback.
Irmer said: “There will be a wagon derivative of the new model. It’s one of the only cars in this market space, which has a wagon body and it proved to be quite famous”, suggesting around 20% of Fabia sales locally had been the estate version. He also confirmed reports from late 2013 that there will be no replacement for the RS hot-hatch and wagon models, suggesting the lack of RS variant would not damage the brand’s image. “It will have an impact, but it won’t be significant,” he added.
Irmer instead suggested the brand would focus on its Monte Carlo models that are propelled by standard powertrains but feature sporty styling. “We sell very well off the Monte Carlo version in the Fabia range”, and “That is going to continue”, he said.
Well, going by the reports, Skoda is keen to reintroduce the Fabia when the new generation model is ready.
Image Courtesy – www.worldcarfans.com
