Last year Skoda raced a parts bin special Octavia RS-P at Targa Tasmania. This year the same car has been given an orange coat to mark the company’s sponsorship of new AFL team GWS. The changes run deeper, too, with the car altered to make it eligible to run in the two-wheel drive Showroom class at Targa 2011.
This year is the 20th anniversary of Targa Tasmania and the rally runs from 5–10 April. Entry numbers have swelled to near 400 for the anniversary event.
Å koda has gone the extra mile at Geneva by unveiling a new logo as well as a new concept model. The concept, called the VisionD, reveals the company’s design direction for future models. A long wheelbase and short overhangs are the order of the day, according to Å koda, as this will allow for better interior space.
The logo is accompanied by an updated slogan, as well: “The new power of Å koda”
Jürgen Stackmann, the Board Member responsible for marketing and sales, says, “We are keen to express the new power of our brand not only through our future products, but also in the way we present ourselves to partners and customers.
“Å koda is synonymous with attractive cars offering exceptional value for money, countless clever solutions and precisely executed work. All this is clearly reflected by our updated corporate design.”
When you consider the gravity of these announcements the whole affair seems incredibly low key. The concept pics present a nice enough car, but maybe there could have been some more life in the official pics released. Take a look for yourself and see what you think.
Despite winning the 2009 International Engine of the Year award speculation is rife that Volkswagen will be discontinuing its twincharged 1.4 litre engine. While the clever use of supercharging and turbocharging offers excellent access to power right through the rev range it’s believed Volkswagen considers the engine to be too complex and expensive.
Until Volkswagen makes a public comment we won’t know for sure if that is their official stance. However, reliability seems to be a real concern for this otherwise charming and efficient engine, too.
At least, that’s the case based on anecdotal evidence posted to our user-based Golf VI 1.4 TSI Tried & Tested review. Of the 16 comments posted to date, half relate to engine complaints. A quick google search of “VW 1.4 TSI engine problems” will also yield many more results than Volkswagen would care for.
So, it’s probably a case of watching this space to see how Volkswagen responds. What effect this news may have on the new Polo GTI or A1 1.4 TFSI is also unclear.
[Source: Autocar via Car Advice]
Here at AUSmotive we like it when the motoring and AFL worlds collide. So it is with keen interest we follow the news of Skoda Australia being named as the major sponsor for the 18th AFL team the Greater Western Sydney Giants.
You’ll be able to see the GWS Giants and Skoda more when the team enters the AFL competition in full for the 2012 season. There’s a full statement from Skoda after the break.
Here is the AUSmotive photo gallery from the Australian International Motor Show industry day. There are 128 photos in all and you can simply click on each thumbnail to access a 2000px super image.
Highlights include a couple of track specials in the form of the awesome Porsche 911 GT3 Cup and the rear-engined V6 Renault Megane Trophy. Others to look out for are the Toyota FT-86G concept, the Ford Focus RS, a trio of Lamborghini Gallardos and the highly desirable Audi R8 V10 Spyder, which looks great in all white.
Dedicated articles on the following cars can be access by clicking on the links below:
A big thank you to Daniel McKenna who joined the AUSmotive crew at AIMS and brought you many of the pictures you see here.
Recent vehicle sales may indicate an upward trend in the SUV segment, but Euro wagons will always rate highly on the AUSmotive cool wall. If you need a large family-sized car, buck the trend and get a Euro wagon. They have a je ne sais quoi that cannot be matched by any SUV.
The new Skoda Superb Wagon perfectly fits the estate car mould that says no to bling and just goes about its job without fanfare and without screaming look at me.
Space aplenty, quirky features and an engine range catering for all desires are just some of the attractions with the Superb. An entry list price of $40,990 is also quite a hook for a car of this ilk. That gets you the excellent Volkswagen Group 118TSI four cylinder in Ambition trim. As you move up the price range you can say yes a 125kW TDI ($43,990), and you can even say yes again to the 118TSI, this time in Elegance trim ($46,990). What you really want, though, is the V6 powered 191FSI 4×4 ($57,990).
The V6 is sourced from the very tidy Volkswagen Passat R36 and while marketing forces rob 19kW when the 3.6 litre narrow angle engine is found under a Skoda bonnet it will still provide enough poke to give you one of the coolest sleepers on the new car market today.
A Skoda wagon with a Haldex IV all-wheel drive system that accelerates to 100km/h in 6.6 seconds, while sounding as angry as a Rio Tinto executive at a Labor Party conference, well, sign me up!
Skoda have stuffed plenty of kit inside the Superb Wagon, too. Park Assist is one example you will find across the entire range. For more info and a full list of prices take the jump and read what Skoda’s PR team has to say.
Volkswagen offspring Skoda didn’t want to be left out of the Wörthersee action, so they rocked up with a few S2000 rally cars and a couple of new vRS+ concept vehicles. The one you see above is the Fabia vRS+ Concept. The other, the Octavia vRS+ Concept, can be seen below.
Sadly, these two models have been only enhanced cosmetically. Indeed, Jozef Kabaň, Head of Design at Å koda Auto, explains the thinking behind the Fabia vRS+, “The two-colour combination highlights the car’s unique architecture – the green colour is a reference to our involvement in the IRC rally programme and the unique connection with the Fabia Super 2000. The grey represents the vehicle’s sporty expression and simplicity combined with design details.”
This was Skoda’s first appearance at the annual Wörthersee show. The twin vRS+ models are a promising start, but let’s hope they make some performance mods next year.
More after the jump.
Skoda Australia’s wicked one-off creation, the Octavia RS-P, is all set to make its tarmac rally debut at Targa Tasmania which kicks off next week.
The recipe is pretty simple, take one standard Octavia RS, turn up the boost of the 2.0 litre turbo, fiddle about with the intake and exhaust. This will see you increase power from 147kW to around 190kW. Then throw on some adjustable suspension, a few strut braces, some uprated brakes and fit semi-slick tyres to great looking 18″ alloys and you’ve just cooked yourself one very cool, and surprisingly rapid, Euro estate. Five stars!
At the wheel of the Octavia RS-P will be Mike Sinclair, Editor-in-chief of carsales.com.au, with Justin Hunt guiding the way in the nav seat. Further detail, and extra pics are available after the jump.
Skoda Australia has raided the parts bin and created a one-off track-focused Octavia RS-P. In this case P stands for Project and that is a perfect description for this car.
Fitted with semi-slick tyres, fully adjustable suspension, including front and rear strut braces, there is method to this factory backed madness. Further enhancing the car’s performance prowess are seriously uprated four pot brakes up front and a three inch stainless exhaust with custom cold air intake. All the underskin enhancements have been set off beautifully with gloss black 18″ alloys.
At this stage the ECU has been left untouched, but the 2.0 litre turbo should be good for a few more kilowatts thanks to the exhuast mod. A Skoda Australia rep says plans do exist for upping the car’s boost, which should take power to at least 190kW and torque up to around 350Nm.
There are no plans to sell the RS-P to the public just yet, but what do you think? Do you reckon Skoda could sell a few tweaked RS-P’s to the Australian market?
For brief drive reports check out The Motor Report and Car Advice. More pics below.
Cycling fans are beside themselves in anticipation of the 96th running of the Tour de France which starts this weekend. And, for the sixth year in a row, Å koda will be beside the competitors.
Å koda will supply as many as 350 vehicles for the event, with 250 of those used by event organisers as TdF official vehicles.
The Volkswagen-owned company will also use the Tour to premiere its new mini SUV model, the Yeti, to the French market.
Fresh images of the updated Octavia vRS have been released by Skoda. The facelifted Octavia range pushes the exterior design away from the more squared off look of its predecessor. It’s probably a 50/50 result, some will prefer the previous look, others will prefer the update. AUSmotive HQ falls into the latter category and are fans of the more sculpted bonnet and sportier lower grille treatment on the vRS.
The comparatively flowing headlights, which can now be optioned with xenons for the first time, are also a welcome addition. Jumping on the latest lighting fad, the Octavia vRS also has LED daytime running lights.
Of course, as with most cars that offer a wagon and sedan version AUSmotive reckons the wagon is the pick. Ever since Audi’s RS2 there has always been something intrinsically appealing about sporty estates.
The vRS can be powered by petrol and diesel four cylinder engines, both donated from parent company Volkswagen, and both with healthy performance. The 2.0 T FSI is good for 147kW and emits a relatively low CO2 figure of 175g/km. The 2.0 TDI CR, meanwhile, produces 125kW and emits 150g/km of CO2.
Both model variants are matched to a six speed transmission, which can be a manual or DSG.
Pleasingly, the updated model is lighter than the car it replaces. The petrol versions weigh 20kg less and the TDI is down 15kg. After driving the previous model and coming away more than impressed, this should only further improve the car’s sporting capabilities.
More from Skoda after the jump.
Following images of the new vRS the Octavia Scout has been given the once over by the Skoda facelift team. The look is almost more Subaru Outback than the Outback itself. Subtle additions to the bodywork give the Scout the car a purposeful and rugged appaearance.
Despite the looks the car has just 179mm ground clearance which is good, but not great. Having previously owned a 2001 model Outback, which had 200mm ground clearance it’s easy to see plenty of situations where the Scout will be compromised. Still, in reality, this will matter little to the majority of owners who will only indluge in the lightest of off-road journeys, if at all. On that basis, a lower centre of gravity is a good thing.
The Scout can be powered by a 118kW 1.8 TSI petrol engine or a 103kW 2.0 TDI diesel. A six speed manual is the only gearbox on offer and both cars utilise Gen IV Haldex all-wheel drive technology.
Earlier this year, Skoda Australia proved the car’s ability by sending a pre-facelift Scout around the country, covering over 20,000kms in six weeks. You can read more about that in AUSmotive’s Melbourne International Motor Show article on Skoda.
More after the jump.