From a Czech fan's point of view, the most anticipated new item of this fall is officially here! Skoda stopped playing cat and mouse with the gradual unveiling of the new Fabia and after seven consecutive teasers finally showed the small hatchback as a whole.
The novelty does not look bad – compared to the current second generation, which is often criticized for its excessive disproportion , the three looks really good, but it lacks something for the title of the most beautiful of the segment. As already hinted by the teasers from last week until yesterday, the Fabia took a considerable amount of inspiration from its bigger siblings, Rapida and Octavia . The radiator grille is directly connected to the headlights with LED diodes for daytime lighting, the side profile is accompanied by the Tornado line , which directs the air flow, for example, in the rain, and in the back, despite all the sharp lines, we simply see the original first generation Fabia , whose design can be described as timeless . The beautiful blue color of the body in combination with 17-inch wheels certainly adds to the beauty of the car, which will, however, be replaced by 3-inch smaller discs on lower equipment.
We already know more information about engines or technology from before, so let's remember that the Fabia stands on a modified PQ26 platform and is 8 mm shorter, 31 mm lower and 90 mm wider than its predecessor. In general numbers, this means 3992 mm in length , 1467 mm in height and 1732 mm in width. The 2470 mm long wheelbase has been extended by 5 mm , and the wheel track has also increased – by 30 mm at the front and 31 mm at the rear. The trunk holds 330 liters (+15 liters) in the basic configuration , but only 1150 liters (-30 liters) when the rear seats are folded down. For the first time ever, the lightest model will have a curb weight below one ton , namely 980 kg.
Under the hood we find engines based on the technology of models with the MQB platform. The petrol engines include a three-cylinder 1.0 MPI with indirect fuel injection and a power of 60 or 75 hp, respectively a four-cylinder 1.2 TSI with direct fuel injection and turbocharging with a power of 90 or 110 hp. If you prefer diesel, you will choose one of the three power variants (75, 90, 105 hp) of the new three-cylinder 1.4 TDI with an aluminum engine block and direct Common Rail fuel injection. All engines transmit their power to the front wheels using a five-speed manual transmission, only in the case of the more powerful 1.2 TSI is the six-speed manual the basis. In addition to the most powerful TSI and the middle TDI, Skoda will offer an additional seven-speed DSG automatic transmission. The most environmentally friendly version of the new Fabia will be the GreenLine with a 75 hp TDI diesel engine with a consumption of 3.1 l/100 km (thanks to various ecological modifications), but it will not arrive until the end of 2015.
Although we don't yet know the shape of the interior, we already know that the MIB multimedia system with a 6.5-inch touch screen will be included in the base of the third Fabia for the higher versions of the equipment. Hand in hand with the multimedia system will also go the optional MirrorLink function , which allows smartphones with the Windows or Android operating system to use USB to connect the mobile phone to the infotainment system and project navigation (the Fabia will not be equipped with it even for an additional fee) or call information onto it. The downloadable Smartgate application is also connected to this function, through which one can see, for example, congestion or economical driving.
From other electronic assistants, the Fabia will receive a speed limiter , keyless entry, a fatigue monitor, a multi-collision brake , automatic lights and wipers, or a rear parking camera. Six airbags, ESP and finally central locking appear in the basic equipment. In the additional comfort equipment we can find a panoramic roof , on the other hand, you would look for xenon lights in vain.
Production will start in Mladá Boleslav at the end of the month , and the first customers will receive the car in the fall, right after the premiere at the Paris Motor Show . In addition to the hatchback, a more practical station wagon will also arrive, on the other hand, there is no plan for a sporty version of the RS.
Source: Skoda
