Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Upcoming Skoda rumors

Skoda Motors is planning a few new models before 2010. The new range will consist of SUV's, MPV's, family cars and sports vehicles.

2008:

Skoda Fabia Estate/Combi:

As we posted yesterday it will be launched at the upcoming Frankfurt Motorshow and the flagship grade will receive a six speed automatic transmission. Prices are expected to start around £11,000. The Fabia Combi will be an important model in the UK line-up.

Octavia Facelift:

The Octavia will be facelifted for next year and its sister; the Volkswagen Golf will be revised aswell. The facelift won't be minor just a nip & tuck.

Superb:

Unlike the current Superb which is a sedan the 2008 model will be a hatchback making it more practical. This will be Skoda's flagship model. The current Superb was based on the 2002 Volkswagen Passat platform, the new car will be using the same platform as the current Passat (late 2005 on). Spy photos of a pre-production model of the new flagship hatchback shows the car will be much better looking than the predecessor inside and out. The engines and transmission will be borrowed of the current Passat aswell.

2009:

Yeti:

Despite being a concept for many many years the new Yeti will be a small SUV and it will be taking mechanical components off the recently launched Volkswagen Tiguan. AWD and 4Motion will be optional on the Yeti otherwise it could be using 2WD with the power going to the front wheels. A world debut is expected at the upcoming London motorshow.

Joyster:

This was a concept last year which is based on the Fabia II platform. The Joyster is crossed between the Fabia and Roomster. Skoda hasn't given the green light just yet but car fanatics are almost certain this will go into production in 2009. Like the Morris Minor wagon, this will be a 3 door wagon with a conventional one door opening. No twin glazed doors. The Joyster will sit above the Fabia hatchback and sedan but below the Fabia Combi.

Fabia Convertible:

This is another rumor which has been lurking on the Internet. Seat and Volkswagen will be building convertibles based of their supermini's in 2009. The trio will remain and 4 seaters. Its not clear whether the cars will have fabric tops.
Skoda city car:

Incorporation with Seat and Volkswagen, Skoda will have its own version of Volkswagen's Up! city car. Expect petrol, diesel and hybrid powerplants.

2010:

Skoda Octavia/Octavia Plus:After the facelift in 2008 there will be a whole new Skoda Octavia. Early impressions which date back to 2003 shows the Octavia having the Roomster's face along with the same A and B pillars and the C-pillars will be similar to the Fabia II but the lines will be sleek and flowing.

The Octavia Plus will be based off the Volkswagen Golf Plus but the Octavia "Plus" could offer upto 7 seats but that could be unlikely. 5 seats sounds more reasonable. There are rumors of a high roof version of the Golf Plus which could make its way onto the Skoda model.