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The fourth generation of the ŠKODA FABIA is among the finalists in the race for the “Best Buy Car of Europe in 2022” title. The jury for the annual award event held since 2001, comprising renowned automotive journalists from 32 European countries, has selected the FABIA, along with five other vehicles, for the final test drives. The 32 jury members will convene at Fahrtechnik-Zentrum Teesdorf in Austria on 24 and 25 November to test all the finalists, with the winner announced in mid-December. 2002 saw the first generation of the FABIA voted “Best Buy Car of Europe”, while in 2014 the third generation was among the finalists, as were the KAMIQ and the OCTAVIA in the past two years.

The European AUTOBEST organisation was founded in 2000 and has been awarding its annual trophies since 2001. The current jury is composed of 32 journalists representing 32 European countries. Jury members each select three favourite vehicles from the year’s finalists, in 13 different categories – from exterior and interior design to practical usability, technologies, eco-friendliness and price. The categories have different point scores, ranging from 100 to 500. The winning vehicle is the one that achieves the highest score out of a maximum of 2,500 points.

The fourth generation of the ŠKODA FABIA is more emotive and dynamic than ever before and is based for the first time on the Volkswagen Group’s Modular Transverse Toolkit MQB-A0. The FABIA is the most spacious car within its segment and boasts enhanced comfort features as well as a plethora of new safety and assistance systems. Classic brand qualities, such as excellent value for money, high functionality and a host of Simply Clever features, make this car the perfect entry-level model to the ŠKODA range. The FABIA is longer and, at 4,108 mm, exceeds the four-metre mark for the first time. The boot – which was already the largest in the segment – has gained an additional 50 litres and now offers a capacious 380 litres of luggage space. Five petrol engines from the Volkswagen Group’s current EVO generation deliver power outputs ranging from 48 kW (65 PS) to 110 kW (150 PS). Segment-leading aerodynamics with a drag coefficient (c_d) of 0.28 and the optional 50-litre fuel tank enable a range of more than 900 km in the WLTP cycle.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

ŠKODA AUTO is now responsible for developing the Volkswagen Group’s existing MQB-A0 Global Platform. This will be used by the Group brands ŠKODA and Volkswagen to develop new entry-level models for regions with high growth potential including India, Russia, Africa as well as the ASEAN countries and Latin America. On the heels of ŠKODA’s specially adapted MQB-A0-IN platform for the Indian market, the Czech carmaker is taking on responsibility for a global platform for the first time. ŠKODA is drawing on its high level of development expertise, ability to coordinate complex Group projects and experience in entry-level segments to implement this project in individual regions.

“By assuming responsibility for the MQB-A0 Global Platform, ŠKODA AUTO is in charge of the worldwide development of a platform for the first time. We are applying our development expertise, taking on even more responsibility within the Volkswagen Group and at the same time strengthening ŠKODA AUTO’s headquarters as an important European development centre for the Group. I am convinced that we will be able to win over many new customers thanks to the MQB-A0 Global Platform and bolster the Group’s position in the entry-level segments.”

Thomas Schäfer, ŠKODA AUTO CEO

Through our comprehensive platform strategy, we achieve economies of scale that enable us to offer our customers worldwide state-of-the-art technology and high quality at competitive prices. Based on this, the Group’s volume brands – Volkswagen and ŠKODA – can quickly deliver products to customers that are unique in the volume segment. As a brand with significant expertise in entry-level mobility, ŠKODA is ideally positioned to assume worldwide responsibility for the successful further development of the MQB-A0 Global Platform within the Volkswagen Group. This way, we are creating synergies that will further increase profitability within the volume group.”

Ralf Brandstätter, Chairman of the Board of Management at Volkswagen

Our development team has a deep understanding of the entry-level segments. We are now bringing this to bear with the development of the MQB-A0 Global Platform. For us, this is a great award and at the same time strong motivation to make the project a success. Based on this platform, new models will be created that are precisely tailored to the diverse customer needs in the various regions.”

Johannes Neft, ŠKODA AUTO Board Member for Technical Development

The MQB-A0 Global Platform is used worldwide and forms the basis for new models with combustion engines in the entry-level segments. The focus is on India, Latin America, Russia, Africa and the ASEAN countries where the entry-level segments are of major importance and at the same time offer further growth potential.

ŠKODA AUTO: High level of development expertise; many years of experience in entry-level segments
The Volkswagen Group relies on ŠKODA AUTO’s high level of development expertise and many years of experience in the price-sensitive entry-level segments. The Czech car manufacturer already has responsibility within the Volkswagen Group for India, Russia and North Africa. At the beginning of June, series production of the KUSHAQ started at the Indian plant in Chakan, Pune. This is the first series model based on the MQB-A0-IN version of the Modular Transverse Toolkit that ŠKODA has specially adapted for the Indian market. The platform will also be used for other Volkswagen and ŠKODA models. In the medium term, there are plans to offer the KUSHAQ in other emerging markets, as well. The second model is already in the starting blocks and will be unveiled later this year.

Additional, highly qualified employees
ŠKODA will require highly qualified employees for the MQB-A0 Global Platform, especially in the area of Technical Development. While some will transfer to the project from other positions, the majority will be newly recruited.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

The new SUPERB was presented for the first time at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2001. The company’s stand at the prestigious IAA fair was an impressive retro spectacle, featuring a restored black SUPERB 3000 limousine from 1939, an exhibit of the ŠKODA Museum in Mladá Boleslav, that passed the baton to the modern SUPERB. The generous wheelbase of 2,803 mm and exterior dimensions of 4,803 x 1,765 x 1,469 mm promised more than enough space for the car’s occupants and their luggage.

The first production ŠKODA SUPERB rolled out of the Kvasiny plant, which had been modernised at a cost of around 200 million euros, on 1 October 2001. By the end of the year, 581 units had been built, with the large sedans reaching their first customers in spring 2002. For the first time in its history, ŠKODA even began offering a lifetime mobility guarantee. For owners, this meant that if they had a problem on the road a service vehicle would be dispatched for free, including towing to an authorised workshop if necessary, as well as other services such as the provision of a replacement car.

The new SUPERB honoured the modern concept of a self-supporting “unibody”. The front axle was powered by one of the three petrol and two diesel engines on offer. Specifically, these were the 2.0/115 hp (85 kW) and 1.8 Turbo/150 hp (110 kW) four-cylinder engines, while the 2.8 V6/193 hp (142 kW) six-cylinder engine was a prestigious option that pushed the SUPERB to speeds of up to 237 km/h. The turbocharged V8 as well as the aforementioned V6 unit utilised sophisticated timing technology with five valves per cylinder.

Despite its spaciousness and high practicality, the SUPERB also proved to be very economical, especially if the customer opted for the basic 1.9 TDI/130 hp (96 kW) turbodiesel with standardised fuel consumption of 5.7 litres per 100 km. The most powerful of the diesel units had six cylinders, a 2.5 TDI/155 hp (114 kW) engine paired with a six-speed direct-shift gearbox. Both six-cylinder engines also came with an optional five-position Tiptronic automatic transmission.

The ŠKODA SUPERB also added a number of safety features to the Czech brand’s range: the braking system received the standard ABS anti-lock braking system and the EDS electronic differential lock. The ASR anti-skid system came in handy, especially in the case of the turbo-diesels and their considerable torque. The six-cylinder engines came with the ESP electronic stabilisation system with brake assist as standard.

The sedan body protected the five occupants not only with its rugged construction, but also with four standard airbags – specifically two front airbags, plus a pair of side airbags for the front seats. Airbags to protect the occupants’ heads in both rows of seats were already being offered at an affordable extra cost at the time. Bi-xenon headlights with washers were also available, while the more demanding passengers were pampered with electrically adjustable and heated front seats, Climatronic automatic air conditioning and a navigation system with a colour display.

As time went on, the SUPERB range naturally continued to increase in utility value in terms of model-based care. The 2005 model brought a significant increase in interior variability. The rear seat backrests were now divided in a 1/3:2/3 ratio, so that the sedan’s luggage compartment could be enlarged from 480 litres to 945 litres.

Production of the first modern generation of the ŠKODA SUPERB at Kvasiny ended after seven years on 17 March 2008. A total of 136,068 units had rolled off the production lines. In addition to the Kvasiny plant, this model was also made in China, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. In total, almost one and a half million SUPERBs of all modern generations have seen the light of day since 2001.

Articles source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

The second production model after the KUSHAQ from the INDIA 2.0 project spearheaded by ŠKODA on the Indian subcontinent will be known as the SLAVIA. The new saloon for the A0 segment was named with the earliest days of ŠKODA AUTO in mind. Starting in 1896, one year after the founding of the company, Václav Laurin and Václav Klement successfully marketed their first, jointly developed bicycles under the SLAVIA name. The coming new ŠKODA SLAVIA will once again set out to define a new era, this time on the Indian market. There, the notchback model, which is due to be presented later this year, will complement the OCTAVIA and SUPERB saloons, which are highly regarded in India.

Zac Hollis, Brand Director ŠKODA AUTO India, says, “ŠKODA has a rich global legacy spanning more than 125 years. The SLAVIA name represents the beginning of a success story that has seen ŠKODA become one of the most renowned car makers. Rich in tradition, the SLAVIA name will now once again mark the start of a new era for the ŠKODA brand, this time on the Indian market. The SLAVIA will bring forth impeccable build quality, reliability and driving experience. We look forward to substantially growing our volumes in India and the SLAVIA will play a key role in delivering this objective.”

After the KUSHAQ SUV presented in spring, the ŠKODA SLAVIA is the Czech manufacturer’s second new model developed specifically for the Indian subcontinent. This is the region where ŠKODA AUTO oversees all Volkswagen Group activities as well as the INDIA 2.0 project, with the latter encompassing a model offensive comprising a total of four new cars for the A0 segment. The KUSHAQ and the SLAVIA as well as two Volkswagen models are all based on the MQB-A0-IN version of the Modular Transverse Toolkit, which ŠKODA has adapted to meet the particular needs of the Indian market. In vehicle production, ŠKODA AUTO achieves localization of up to 95 percent.

The SLAVIA name harks back to the very early days of ŠKODA AUTO. It was in 1895 that founding fathers Václav Laurin and Václav Klement first started repairing bicycles in Mladá Boleslav. Soon they began designing their own bikes, successfully marketing them under the SLAVIA brand name from 1896 onwards. In the case of the new saloon for the Indian market, this name pays homage to the company’s beginnings. While the ŠKODA KUSHAQ took inspiration from Indian tradition, the SLAVIA represents the close ties between the Indo-European as well as Czech and Indian cultures.

In the early days of the 20th century, the bicycles manufactured in Mladá Boleslav under the brand name SLAVIA stood for reliability, affordability and inventiveness. These are still the key virtues defining ŠKODA AUTO’s Simply Clever philosophy today. The name SLAVIA quickly became synonymous with quality and innovation, and the same designation was also adopted for the motorbikes introduced by Laurin & Klement in 1899. More than 120 years later, the new ŠKODA SLAVIA embodies these same ideals and will perfectly complement the OCTAVIA and SUPERB models in India, which have become highly regarded in the subcontinent over the past two decades. The new SLAVIA will once again be an elegant, powerful and safe saloon car, which is exactly what Indian buyers expect from ŠKODA.

2021 is a year of expansion for ŠKODA AUTO in India. As part of the INDIA 2.0 project, Volkswagen Group has invested one billion euros in the development of four new vehicles (two ŠKODA and two Volkswagen models). Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the new ŠKODA KUSHAQ has had a successful start, with more than 10,000 orders received since its launch in July. Together, the KUSHAQ and the new SLAVIA are expected to boost sales in India considerably. The country plays a key role in the Czech car maker’s global growth plans.

In developing the KUSHAQ and the SLAVIA for India, ŠKODA AUTO focused on the expectations of Indian customers, which are changing dynamically. Cost, range and comfort are particularly important considerations. At the same time, ŠKODA AUTO is investing in the ongoing expansion of its Indian dealer network. The Czech brand is currently represented in more than 100 cities, with 165 sales and service locations. The goal is to increase the number of locations to 225 by the end of 2022.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

In collaboration with the Technical University of Liberec, ŠKODA AUTO’s Technical Development department has developed a sustainable, ecological material and applied for a patent. The innovative raw material is made from sugar beet pulp. ŠKODA AUTO is also researching another material based on the reed plant miscanthus. Both could be used in the interior of new ŠKODA models in the future, for example for the door trim and decorative inlays in the dashboard. Using a purpose-built OCTAVIA, ŠKODA AUTO demonstrates the wide range of possible applications for the new materials.

Johannes Neft, ŠKODA AUTO Board Member for Technical Development, explains: “We aim to play a pioneering role in the area of sustainability. We are taking a holistic approach to this issue, and we are addressing much more than just the CO2 emissions of our vehicle fleet; we are also focusing on researching and using ecologically sourced materials and investigating, for example, how materials such as coconut fibres or rice husks can be used in the future.”

ŠKODA AUTO has already applied for a patent on one material that is ideally suited for use in the interior of its vehicles; the car manufacturer uses a special process to dye sugar beet pulp to create design accents in the interior. The car manufacturer obtains the material directly from the town of Dobrovice, not far from its headquarters in Mladá Boleslav. This avoids long supply chains and optimises the CO2 footprint.

ŠKODA AUTO has obtained another sustainable material from the reed miscanthus: The fibres can be processed and used for the door trim, for example. Organic residues from production make excellent ecological raw materials, as they can be processed further without the need for additional resources. This reduces the requirement for industrially produced raw materials.

From raw material to the vehicle: a walk-through OCTAVIA demonstrator
In partnership with the Technical University of Liberec, ŠKODA AUTO is continuously working on innovative and sustainable materials that can be used in vehicle production. ŠKODA AUTO is trialling new basic materials in an OCTAVIA specially prepared for this purpose. The floor and right-side panel of the so-called ‘demonstrator’ have been removed to give designers and engineers an unobstructed view of the interior. This is where they process the new materials and test them for feel and fit to give them an accurate picture of which eco-materials are suitable for use in series production models. Door panels and vehicle pillars are finished using miscanthus-based fabric, and sugar beet shavings are used in the door panels and on the dashboard.

ŠKODA AUTO has designed its vehicle production to be as sustainable as possible: for example, 30 per cent of the seat covers in the Design Selection ‘Lodge’ for the ŠKODA ENYAQ iV are made from 100% new wool, which is certified in accordance with the strict requirements of the Woolmark Company. The remaining 70 per cent of the fabric is made of polyester from recycled PET bottles. The covers offer a unique feel and ensure outstanding seating comfort. ŠKODA also pays particular attention to sustainable leather production; the cognac-coloured leather of the Design Selection ‘ecoSuite’ is tanned using an extract from olive leaves.

Another option for the use of renewable raw materials is the regenerative fuel HVO, to which the diesel engines of ŠKODA vehicles will be converted from model year 2022. Pure HVO is already available in Sweden and Finland and is produced from various renewable sources. Using these fuels can reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90 per cent.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

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