Archive for the ‘Skoda’ Category

Rendering – Skoda’s small car based on Up!

skoda small carThe small car from Skoda could use electric powertrains and high level of localization

We have no concrete details from Skoda India on its small car (dubbed Joyster) for the Indian market. During the Auto Expo, IAB spoke to Ashutosh Dixit, Sr. General Manager, Sales & Network Development, SkodaAuto India on the small car. He did not reveal anything about this car except that there are internal discussions and soon a decision would result.

While such measly information is OK for the others, we went a step ahead and assumed such a small car had to use the mechanicals of the VW Up! which could be manufactured at the Pune plant of VW a couple of years from now. We think VW will use a small petrol engine (say a 1.0-liter?) and diesels could result at a much later date.

VW will also experiment with electric powertrains on this micro car. It could be considerably smaller than the Polo/Fabia and serve as an alternative to the Tata Nano Europa.

click through for hi res image

Read More

See Also:
Entry posted on March 17th, 2010 and filed under Renderings, Skoda

Skoda Laura gets new engines, transmission in Europe

Skoda_Laura_headlampSkoda Laura utilizes VW’s engine and gearbox. Skoda should send them to India

Czech Auto major Skoda has added VW Group’s seven-speed dual clutch gearbox to the Laura (known there as Octavia).

The Skoda Laura also gets the renowned 105bhp 1.2-litre TSI engine which is used on the Yeti. This engine is coupled to either the six-speed manual or the new seven speed DSG gearbox. The new TSI engine is capable of delivering great performance like the 0-60 time – takes less than 11 seconds to achieve.

The Laura’s 105 bhp 1.6-liter TDI engine also comes coupled to the seven-speed DSG transmission.

Will the DSG or the 1.2-liter TSI engine accompany the Indian range? Skoda’s always bringing in new variants, and like they did on the Superb, they should bring these Laura variants to India too.

click through to view the Skoda Laura Image Gallery

Read More

See Also:
Entry posted on January 25th, 2010 and filed under Skoda

Skoda to launch Yeti in India in June-July 2010?

Skoda_Yeti_IndiaSkoda’s compact Yeti will not have a compact price tag

Burnyourfuel is reporting Skoda will launch compact SUV Yeti in India by June-July 2010. According to the report, Skoda plans to launch the Yeti in two variants initially and subsequently add variants. This has been their strategy with cars like the Superb and Laura.

The debuting Skoda Yeti will be loaded with features and its price is expected to be between 14 and 18 lakh rupees. Variants in the future could come without the same level of equipment and cost less.

click through for Skoda Yeti Image Slideshow

Read More

See Also:
Entry posted on January 18th, 2010 and filed under Skoda

Skoda brings Superb Combi, Octavia Scout, Laura S, Fabia Greenline in 2010

Skoda Superb CombiCars like the Skoda Superb Combi are in the Indian pipeline

Skoda apart from Yeti, has numerous model lined up for 2010 in 2010. The company is keen on enriching its portfolio with a wide variety of models and variants. This year, Skoda will launch Combi version of Skoda Superb, Octavia Scout version, Laura S, refreshed Fabia and the Fabia Greenline version if it is ready. The company will also unveil the Octavia successor (most likely to be based on the Polo platform) this year.

Skoda will also increase localization content on its models to about 50 percent by the end of this calender year.

Skoda feels its compact SUV Yeti will score higher than peers with its pricing and engine options.

click through for image gallery

Read More

See Also:
Entry posted on January 11th, 2010 and filed under Skoda

Skoda plans low-cost sedan; targets Dacia/Renault Logan

Skoda_badge_Steering_wheelThe new Skoda will use parts from the Laura and Fabia and sit inbetween

Skoda, the Czech unit of Volkswagen AG, will soon introduce a low-cost family saloon that will take on the Renault/Dacia Logan. Given the demand for low cost cars and the absence of an affordable sedan in the Skoda India line-up, it doesn’t take a lot of thinking to guess whether or not India will be on its list of markets.

CEO Reinhard Jung announced that inside the next three years, Skoda will bring in the low-budget sedan. Speculations are plenty about the target price but sources say the estimate is around 10,000-12,000 Euros (6.83 lakh to 8.20 lakh as per today’s exchange rate). Intense localization could bring costs further down in India but it too early to predict anything.

Whats more, the new car will be laid between the Laura and Fabia and would borrow components from both the models.

Sales of low-cost cars have reached new heights around the world and Skoda wants to capitalize on this opportunity. Skoda’s product line-up also has several empty seats and its about time those are filled up.

Skoda will launch the new Octavia, which according to reports uses the Polo platform, and enters India within the next one year. The Polo’s platform is also used to make the Fabia, and both roll out of the same factory.

So is the new Skoda Octavia and the Skoda’s Logan slayer one and the same? Guess we have to wait and see.

Read More

See Also:
Entry posted on December 15th, 2009 and filed under Skoda

International Wrap – 167bhp Punto, Sai, AuSTARlia, house full Geneva, 178bhp Fabia

Toyota_SAIThe Toyota SAI is based on the Lexus HS250h. It is meant only for Japan.

167bhp engine for Fiat Punto

For a minute you must have related the 167bhp to the higher spec Punto which Fiat is developing for India. Sadly, I’m not talking about the Indian Punto or customer. This totally pertains to the Abarth version of the Punto Evo which was shown at the Frankfurt show last month. The Abarth version of the Punto Evo will receive a 167bhp version of the Multiair engine, which is only applicable to the petrol unit. Abarth is the tuning arm of Fiat, for those in the dark.

Toyota Sai

Toyota has unveiled a new hybrid sedan christened “Sai” for the Japanese market. Toyota intends to sell 3,000 Sais monthly. It uses a 2.4-liter petrol engine producing just below 150 horsepower and 187 Nm of torque. Mated to an electric motor, powered by a nickel-metal hydride battery, an additional 140 hp and up to 270 Nm of torque is available to the wheels.

AuSTARlia – A-Star going to Africa, i20 to Australia

With the curtains coming down on the scrappage scheme in European countries, production levels in Indian manufacturing plants are not where they were before. To keep the plants operating in full swing, Suzuki is looking at exporting the A-Star to Africa, while Hyundai is looking to push the i20 down under. The companies hope both these markets will create enough demand and the production levels will be maintained higher.

A house full Geneva Motor Show 2010

Authorities charges with managing next year’s Geneva Motor Show have issued a statement that all auto manufacturers will take part in the 2010 edition of the show. This year’s shows saw a lot of absentees, and even the Japanese Motor Show that’s happening as you read this, has only two foreign brands participating. Let’s not forget Geneva is where Nissan will show the all-important next generation Micra.

Skoda’s 178bhp Fabia vRS is coming early next year

In early 2010, Skoda could introduce a 178bhp Skoda Fabia in UK. Wearing the vRS badge, this Skoda will boast of a maximum speed of 140mph. It will go from a standstill to 60mph in less than 7 seconds! Powered by a 1.4-liter ‘Twincharger’ unit, this Skoda will take its position as one of the insane variants, second only to the rally-bred Fabia S2000.

Read More

See Also:
Entry posted on October 20th, 2009 and filed under Fiat Grande Punto, Hyundai, Maruti Suzuki, Skoda, Toyota

Spied – Skoda Fabia facelift sans camouflage

Main Skoda_Fabia_facelift

With slimmer headlamps and redesigned foglamps, the Fabia now looks more mature

The facelifted Skoda Fabia was caught testing at night by the eagle eyed blokes at Auto Express. The model you see here in the photographs is the Fabia Estate, which will share its front fascia with the hatchback.

Caught without camouflaged, the images reveal the aggressive updated front fascia with slimmer headlights and redesigned fog lamps. The rest of the car looks the same.

Horsepower will be derived from the same 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6-litre petrol engines currently offered, along with 1.4 and 1.9-litre diesels.

Will the refreshed Skoda Fabia be a sight to the sore eyes at the Skoda counter in the Auto Expo? We’re investigating.

click “Read More” to view the image gallery

Read More

See Also:
Entry posted on October 6th, 2009 and filed under Skoda, Spy pictures

Report – Skoda Fabia bookings in India only via internet

skoda-fabia-booking-online

A move that in first of its kind, the Czech auto maker Skoda has initiated to sell Fabia entirely online. Come next week and you can buy your Fabia online.

The Car will be available through dealers only it’s just the paper work and buying experience made easy. The visit to the dealership will just be limited to test drives and delivery and even if a buyer goes to a dealership to book the car, the actual booking process will be paperless.

The move is done to lure customers for the festive season and make buying easy. To work on this embryonic ploy Skoda Auto India has partnered with a popular online portal.

We think this is the great move to gratify the buying experience by the Skoda Auto India who doesn’t have a big reputation in customer satisfaction, may be this could prove a shot in right direction and give them extra brownie points.

See what Thomas Kuehl, Director of Sales and Marketing – Skoda Auto India has to share on this:-

You will get the car through the dealership, but it will be available (for booking) only online. We are working on something completely new for the first time for the Fabia.

Read More

See Also:
Entry posted on September 30th, 2009 and filed under Skoda

Spied – VW Polo and new Skoda Fabia in India

polo-spied_Indiapolo-fabia_spied_India

Hardly 24 hours ago, Indian Autos Blog brought spy pictures of the new Fabia. Now, we have photographs of what we think is the new Fabia, testing on the roads of India.

The chaps at Carwale have photographed the Fabia and Polo (both share the same architecture) testing in Mumbai. Both the cars were wearing European plates indicating they are not part of the pre-production run from the Pune facility.

The Fabia caught was a lovely yellow color with low-profile tyres that are not offered in India.

The VW Polo debuts at the Delhi Auto Expo next year.

Read More

See Also:
Entry posted on September 29th, 2009 and filed under Skoda, Spy pictures, Volkswagen

Spied – Skoda Fabia facelift

Skoda_Fabia_facelift

You would need to have a sharp eye and a good knowledge of Skodas to crack this. The Skoda Fabia facelift is what a bunch of lazy engineers can come up with.

The facelifted model is scheduled for the release next year and its front fascia is similar except for the wider lower grille.

A similar change is anticipated to the rear bumper. Inside, the car is rumored to stay largely the same. In India, this is the car expected to come with fresh engines.

Read More

See Also:
Entry posted on September 28th, 2009 and filed under Skoda

Official – New Skoda Octavia (Popular) arrives end-2010

Skoda_Octavia_Tour

It is now official. If google translation service from Slovak to English can be trusted, the Skoda Octavia’s successor will be launched by the end of 2010.

The Skoda Octavia is the company’s most successful model with its 14-year life cycle when it meets its end next year. The replacement model will be an all-new design and with smaller engines and lower equipment levels to bring down the price tag.

The car could be named Popular sticking to Skoda’s tradition of looking into its history books for naming new products.

If you know your Slovak, then why not head to the source and extract some more info for us? We’ve developed rashes scratching our heads.

Read More

See Also:
Entry posted on September 14th, 2009 and filed under Skoda

Skoda Yeti tuned by Cobra

Skoda_Yeti_Cobra -0 1

The Yeti is arriving at the Delhi Auto Expo next January. With roughly five months to its Indian launch, we thought it would appropriate to show to you all how customizable this car is.

To help matters, in comes the lubricious Cobra kit for the Yeti. This tradition-breaking SUV with Cobra’s apparel looks more aggressive.

The Skoda Yeti gets a bullbar made out of stainless steel. The front bumper is also redesigned and stainless steel fenders add panache. Underbody protection is supplemented by a protection plate. A step plate is also available either in aluminum or stainless steel.

At the rear, the Yeti receives a protective plate under the bumper, which protects it from minor collisions. The Yeti also gets fashionable black twin-spoke alloys.

Skoda Yeti Cobra kit Image Gallery

Skoda_Yeti_Cobra -0 1Skoda_Yeti_Cobra -0 2Skoda_Yeti_Cobra -0 3Skoda_Yeti_Cobra -0 4Skoda_Yeti_Cobra -0 5

http://indianautosblog.com/2009/07/skoda-yeti-assembled-and-sold-india-2010
Read More

See Also:
Entry posted on August 26th, 2009 and filed under Skoda, Tuning

Skoda Superb Combi teasers released ahead of Frankfurt debut

Skoda_Superb_Combi_teaser - 1Skoda_Superb_Combi_teaser - 2Skoda_Superb_Combi_teaser - 3Skoda_Superb_Combi_teaser - 4

The Czech-based and Volkswagen-owned automaker Skoda, has outed teaser images of the around the corner Skoda Superb Estate that debuts at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month.

The Estate version, compared to the sedan, will score better in practicality with its larger boot space. However, from experiences in the past, companies will think twice before instituting estates in India. Indians have accepted station wagons poorly, be it a 5 lakh or a 15 lakh rupee vehicle. Not even a single luxury car makers in today’s crop tried importing estate models in spite of the sedans, which they are founded on, enjoying a respectable status in our country.

Offered with the new Superb Estate, will be a spread of engines including a 1.4 TSI powerplant (with various versions, ranging from 125HP to 170HP) and the top-end 260HP 3.6 liter V6. Diesel engines will also come, including a 170HP 2.0 liter TDI.

Read More

See Also:
Entry posted on August 26th, 2009 and filed under Skoda
Next Page »
« Home