First glimpse of new Fabia 21 | 07 | 2014
SKODA HAS GIVEN us a first glimpse of how the new Skoda will look after revealing a sketch: the image offers a glimpse of the direction the supermini’s reworked design is heading. The car, which will be officially unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in October, enters Scottish showrooms early next year.
The third generation Fabia looks likely to borrow significant lines from the recent Octavia. It'll also benefit from the sharply styled panels, shorter overhangs and better shoulder line definition that has become a hallmark of the VW Group’s current output.
Still shy of four metres long, the new Fabia is roomier as a result of being 90mm wider: the additional space also houses new front and rear axles. The result, combined with the fact it's also 30mm lower in height, should also be a car which looks more athletic and planted on the road.
Not surprisingly, the latest powerplants from the VW Group will be incorporated into the new Fabia range: this will mean a new Euro 6-rated engine line-up comprising two petrol units and the latest all-aluminium, 1.4-litre three-cylinder diesel.
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The diesel's likely to prove attractive. Currently fitted to the latest Polo, as a 74bhp Greenline variant it's capable of more than 90mpg and emits just 82g/km. The more powerful 103bhp oilburner still just emits less than 95g/km.
And don't rule out Skoda offering a seven-speed DSG auto 'box on the 88bhp diesel: it'll be the first time an automatic transmission has been offered in an oil-burning Fabia.
The new range will start with the entry-level 1.0-litre three-cylinder, five-speed manual petrol — currently fitted to the Citigo — will be available in in both 59bhp and 74bhp outputs.
Inside the new Fabia's cabin, expect to see larger touchscreens in the more expensive models; this will dovetail with Skoda's Mirror Link system which presents a clone of your smartphone's display.
There's also more luggage space, expected to set a new benchmark in its class of 330-litres, and the dashboard is understood to have been significantly revamped.
There will though be no vRS Fabia, simply because the previous version didn't sell as well as had been envisaged, and no four-wheel drive variant. There will though be a more 'sporty' Monte Carlo edition.
Skoda's also likely to be more aggressive in its use of two-tone colour schemes in the Monte, which will also benefit from bigger sills and rear spoiler.
And while the Monte is expected to be available across the entire new Fabia range — with any engine or gearbox — buyers will also have the opportunity to order their car with a 15mm lower ride height. The result should further enhance the car's 'athletic' styling.
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Jim McGill