Spied: All-New 2013 Skoda Octavia will Share Platform and Engines with New Golf 7

After eight years in the market, it's time for Skoda's successful family notchback to slowly give its place to a brand new Octavia that will make its world premiere sometime next year, either at the Geneva Salon in March or at the Frankfurt Motor Show later on in September.

For the first time, our scoop shooters seized a prototype of the production Octavia Mk3 as the Czech firm's engineers were performing high-speed tests at the Nürburgring track in Germany.

Evidently, it's not east to tell what's going on under the psychedelic-themed camouflage, but we can see that the third generation of Skoda's bread and butter model has a more athletic shape than the current Octavia with a lower front end and a sleeker roofline.

We cannot be completely sure from these images, but it is likely that the new model will keep the Octavia's traditional notchback styling that disguises a hatch tailgate.

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Euro Debt Crisis Reaches VW's Front Door, Cuts 2012 W. European Sales Target by 140,000 Vehicles

It was bound to happen sooner rather than later. The European sovereign debt crisis that started in Greece and spread to other countries including Cyprus, Portugal, Ireland and Spain, is beginning to have a deeper effect on companies like Volkswagen.

The continent's largest carmaker has cut its internal 2012 sales target for Western Europe by up to 140,000 vehicles, the German news daily Handelsblatt reported on Friday.

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Skoda Rapid Makes…Sensual Debut in Paris, Pricing Starts From £12,900 in the UK

An affordable compact-sized sedan with ample passenger and luggage room is just what the doctor ordered for many new car buyers in Europe. The new Skoda Rapid, which made its first public appearance at the Paris Auto Show this week, fits that description to a tee.

Loosely based on the VW Polo, the Rapid is 4.48 m (176.4 in.) long, 1.71 m (67.3 in.) wide and 1.46 m (57.5 in.) tall. It comes with a capacious 550-liter boot space and according to Skoda, ample room for “up to five persons”.

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One Helluva Dedicated Traffic Cop Hitches a Ride to Catch Lawbreaker

Now this is one traffic officer who really takes his job seriously! On September 19 (the date shown on the footage is wrong), a 46-year old policeman stopped a black Skoda Octavia for a traffic violation on the road alongside the Fontanka River in Central Saint Petersburg, Russia.

A driver of an unrelated car or truck, who we come to know as Roman Ilchenko from the name listed on his YouTube channel, was traveling on the street recording everything though his dashboard-mounted camera.

At around 1 minute and 25 seconds into the first video and on the right side of the road, you can see the traffic officer holding on to the side of the Octavia that was trying to make a getaway.

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BT Design ETAPE concept

BT Design has unveiled a new Skoda concept at the 2012 Auto Mobil International Show (AMI) in Leipzig, Germany. The ETAPE Concept, as it is known, is a sporty pick-up truck based on the Czech crossover which is quite a sight in real life.The ETAPE Concept features plenty of changes from its four-door crossover cousin.

Though the ETAPE is based on the production version Skoda Yeti, the Pickup concept has been given a complete overhaul with two doors, a wide body kit, a flatbed in the back and a new cabin. The concept also dons a new front and rear fascia, new side skirts, flared wheel arches housing larger alloy wheels wrapped in low profile tyres and redesigned interiors. The only aspect that is left unchanged is the car's bonnet.




Press Release


The concept of ETAPE cannot be ignored


Benet Automotive works closely with the car manufacturer Skoda Auto a.s., so it is no coincidence that BA chose Skoda Yeti model to show example customization, which is very effectively adapted to its own open concept ETAPE. They want to demonstrate on Yeti the possibilities of starting their own design proposal, from major structural modifications to precise work of modelers in the development workshop. Cycle theme of exhibition commemorates the long-term commitment of Skoda Auto in this sports sector. Last but not least, there is the analogy of everlasting efforts of the motorists to escape from the ‚peloton‘ of serial production towards individuality.


The trend confirms that individuality is desired goods on the road


Customers of BT brand are individuals who desire uniqueness as well as companies which use modified cars with unique design to promote their own products and services. As currently displayed concept ETAPE shows, the possibilies are virtually endless. Ambition of BT brand, however, reaches even further, which is clearly illustrated by the words of Josef Zajicek, managing director and mastermind of the project: ‘We want to inspire individuals and the whole industry.Our aim is to provoke even greater demand for individualization of cars from both end user and manufacturers. At the same time we want to present the possibility of building a completely unique promotional vehicles to order to various companies. Here at Benet Automotive we have enough creativity as well as technical support needed for implementation.‘


Invention is not improvisation


On the exhibition piece ETAP, only front bonnet remains from the original body parts of Yeti. Reinforcing of the structure was solved with the help of modern computer technology. In addition to designers and engineers have also come into play other professions, like people working on car body, modelers, painters, uphosterers and many others.

2012 Skoda Citigo

Skoda has releases details for Citigo city car, which will debut first as a
three-door hatch with a five-door variant following later in 2012. The car
goes on sale this year in its domestic Czech market while sales in the rest
of Europe will begin next summer (2012).

From the outside, styling of the Skoda is very clean, conservative yet
modern enough to fit in with the current Volkswagen/Skoda crop. The design
also seems to step away from the sometimes awkward design cues,
particularly in the front end, of other Skoda models.

The Citigo is powered by a three-cylinder 1.0 liter engine with either 60PS
(44 kW) or 75PS (55 kW). Both versions make 95Nm of torque and are mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox.

Performance figures for the 929 kg vehicle are a 159 kph top speed and a
13.9 seconds 0-100 kph time for the 60 PS variant and a 170 kph top speed
and 0-100 kph time of 12.7 seconds for the 75 PS version. Both models wear
14-inch wheels wrapped with 165/70 profile rubbers.

The Citigo will measure just 3.56 metres long, 1.65 metres wide and 1.48
metres high. It has a wheelbase of 2.4 meters and offers 251 litres of boot
space, which can be extended to 951 litres by folding down the rear seats.





Press Release

A small ŠKODA for city traffic - "City Clever"

9/27/2011

With its seventh model line, ŠKODA is entering the small vehicle segment. The ŠKODA Citigo will be launched on the Czech market in late 2011. Market launches in Europe scheduled for the beginning of summer 2012.

ŠKODA is continuing its product offensive by introducing its seventh model line. With the Citigo, at 3.56m long, the Mladá Boleslav automaker is entering the A00 segment. The Citigo will debut on the domestic Czech market this year. Other European countries will follow at the beginning of summer 2012. The Citigo offers maximum utilisation of space and seats for four passengers. The Citigo will be launched as a three-door, with a five-door version to come in 2012.

"The Citigo is one of the pillars of our growth strategy. It paves the way for our brand to enter a very promising segment," said ŠKODA Board Chairman Prof. Dr. h.c. Winfried Vahland. "The new product fully meets the corporate philosophy of the ŠKODA Brand expressed through the "Simply Clever" slogan. Despite its small size, it offers ample interior space, but is surprisingly agile, and attractive in terms of trims and technologies used.

Although the Citigo is a small car, it is a typical ŠKODA-and as such fits perfectly with our plans."The designers managed to give the car a distinct look that declares at first glance: this is the new ŠKODA. The finned grille set in a chrome-plated frame and precisely shaped headlamps give the car the typical ŠKODA look. The designers have done a fantastic job on the rest of the car's body. With a length of 3.56 metres, width of 1.65 metres and height of 1.48 metres, the Citigo is one of the smallest vehicles in its segment. The volume of the luggage compartment is 251 litres. It can be extended to 951 litres by folding down the rear seats.

The key target groups are young drivers, young families looking to get themselves a second or even third car, and also "best agers." They are customers who are rather cost-sensitive and have a rational approach to cars on the one hand but high demands for quality, practicality, design and safety on the other. ŠKODA did not have much to offer such groups of customers in the small car segment. Prof. Vahland: "We can see that the demand for small cars with low fuel consumption, at a favourable price and with reasonable operating costs is growing.

ŠKODA's new small vehicle is a reaction to this trend. We are entering new ground and the Citigo will attract a lot of customers mainly in our European markets."The Citigo places great emphasis on safety. For the first time in a ŠKODA vehicle, the designers have used a Head-Thorax side airbag to protect the heads of both the driver and the front seat passenger and together with other elements it forms an exemplary safety packet in its class. In addition, active safety is significantly enhanced by the new "City Safe Drive" brake assistant. The system is automatically activated at speeds below 30 km/h and a laser sensor identifies a danger of collision. Along with the Volkswagen up!, the Citigo is currently the only car in the small vehicle segment to offer the emergency braking functionality.

Two new, three-cylinder 1.0-litre petrol engines will be available after the Citigo's launch: both have a volume of 1.0 litre and their power outputs are 44 kW/60 HP and 55 kW/75 HP. In the economical Green Tec version average consumption is 4.2l/100km and 4.3l/100km respectively. Emissions are 97g and 99g CO2/km respectively. Fuel consumption and emissions are 4.5l/100km and 105g CO2 per km for the 44kW engine. The engine with a power output of 55kW consumes 4.7l/100km and emits 108g of CO2 per km.

Skoda Octavia vRS Bonneville with 600HP

Czech automaker Skoda announced its plans of competing in the famous Bonneville Speed Week in August (13-20), and they goal is to reach a speed of 200 mph.

The car features a 2.0-liter TSI petrol engine that has been equipped with a new Garret turbocharger. Thanks to high-octane race fuel and 26 to 28 PSI of boost, the engine will produce 550-600 PS (405-441 kW / 542-592 hp) and 450 Nm (332 lb-ft) of torque. Skoda estimates this will enable the car to hit a top speed in excess of 200 mph (322 km/h).

The car also features changes to improve aerodynamics and performance. That includes lowering it to run almost 80mm closer to the ground and a new sub-frame which houses a race prepared intercooler. The unique racer has been built to stringent Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) safety regulations, which means a reinforced roll cage, parachute, fire extinguishers and window cage.

Rear brakes have been removed to reduce aerodynamic drag – the Octavia will rely on a drag racing parachute to stop. Wheels are standard Skoda 15-inch steel rims wearing high-pressure Goodyear Eagle Land Speed tyres to give a total wheel diameter of 23-inches.





Press Release

ŠKODA TAKES ON BONNEVILLE SPEED WEEK......AT 200MPH

• Škoda to compete on legendary American salt flats to mark 10 years of vRS
• Specially built 600PS Octavia vRS aims to be the first 200mph Škoda

Simply Clever.....at more than 200mph! Škoda UK is to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its iconic vRS performance flagship badge by going landspeed record racing.

A one-off modified Octavia vRS saloon has been entered into the world famous Bonneville Speed Week in August (13-20). Its aim is to break the magic 200mph barrier and join the most exclusive club in motoring.

The brand's UK technical team at Milton Keynes has been working in secret on the vehicle for several months, with the assistance of performance software and tuning outfit REVO Technik.

The car is a factory-fresh production Octavia vRS, but some changes have been made to improve aerodynamics and performance. That includes lowering it to run almost 80mm closer to the ground and a new sub-frame which houses a race prepared intercooler.

It retains its production-standard 2.0-litre four-cylinder TSI petrol engine but the standard turbo has been replaced with a more advanced unit from respected component firm Garret. Generating up to 600PS, and producing 26-28 PSI of boost pressure, it drinks high-octane race fuel (with water methanol mix)rather than unleaded petrol.

The unique racer has been built to stringent Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) safety regulations, which means a reinforced roll cage, parachute, fire extinguishers and window cage.

Since its launch in 2001, vRS has captured the hearts of UK motorists who enjoy the thrill of sports car driving. Since then, the UK has become Škoda'slargest market for the Octavia and Fabia vRS with more than 12,000 cars sold since launch.

Robert Hazelwood, Director for Škoda UK, said: "The 10-year relationship between the UK and the vRS badge has been extremely successful. This is a landmark anniversary and going to Bonneville is a fitting tribute. It's also an ambitious project which might surprise a few people, but Škoda is all about engineering excellence and this car is pushing that to new limits."

The vRS is entered into the ‘2.0-litre production car' category and will race over a nine-mile straight, which includes a timed mile in the middle. Performance through that section determines the class winner.

The legendary Bonneville Salt Flats begin 90 miles west of Salt Lake City and cover around 50 square miles of north-western Utah. It has been the spiritual home to high-speed racing for almost a century and each August a variety of hot rods, roadsters, belly tankers, lakesters, motorcycles, streamliners and diesel trucks compete in Speed Week.

Škoda vRS models are designed to ignite the passion and thrill of sports car driving. They offer additional emotional involvement and an extra level of dynamic appeal, and stand out from the crowd thanks to their subtle but distinctive exterior features. These include aggressive bumpers, rear spoiler, bespoke alloy wheels and chromed exhaust tips. Inside, the attention to detail continues with fresh upholstery, unique badging and smart dashboard inserts.