Tag: Skoda

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Audi Safety Issues Skoda Volkswagen

Audi, Skoda to join Australian DSG recall

Audi A1

The news just keeps getting worse for the Volkswagen Group with word that Audi and Skoda will be joining Volkswagen Australia in the voluntary recall to remedy problems with the 7-speed DSG (DQ200) transmission.

Nothing official has yet to emerge from the PR departments of Audi or Skoda but it is understood over 6200 A1 and A3 vehicles, as well as around 1750 Octavia and Superb models will be included in the recall. As with Volkswagen, the date range for the affected vehicles falls between 2008–2011.

That takes the total number of Australian sold vehicles to be included in the voluntary recall well beyond 30,000. That’s gonna take some time to work through!

[Source: Go Auto]

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Skoda

2013 Skoda Octavia vRS revealed

2013 Skoda Octavia vRS

Skoda brings us an official preview of its all-new Octavia vRS, which have a full debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on 10 July. New car launches are always accompanied by a raft of attention grabbing headlines and this new vRS is no exception, carrying the tag of “fastest Octavia everrrrr!”

Of course, the Octavia vRS has the luxury of nicking the drivetrain from the Mk7 Golf GTI which gives the car a great head start. Although, it’s interesting to note that in the Octavia vRS the 2.0 litre turbocharged four cylinder has been capped at 220PS (162kW); they’ve not been granted access to the extra 7kW made available in the GTI Performance Pack.

Fans of oil burners can also rejoice in the new Octavia vRS for it is also available with a 184PS (135kW) 2.0 litre turbocharged diesel.

You can choose from a 6-speed manual or 6-speed DSG with either engine and with the manual and 2.0 litre petrol boxes ticked you’ll reach 100km/h in 6.8 seconds.

As you’d expect the vRS model has the sporty bits bolted on, meaning uprated suspension running 12mm lower than the regular Octavia. Also featured is the XDS electronic differential lock, although it’s worth noting this is not the trick mechanical XDS+ from the GTI.

Safety features and driver aids get a good run in the new vRS as well. Things like Front Assistant with city emergency braking, Lane Assistant, Automatic Post Collision Braking System, Driver Fatigue Sensor, Adaptive Cruise Assistant, Intelligent Light Assistant and more can be had to help make your driving experience a safer and more pleasurable one. We do like the keyless entry system which has been titled KESSY.

For now we’ve only been given a handful of pics, but we like what we see. Some interior shots would have been nice, but we expect Skoda will come good with all the detail during the Goodwood FoS.

And we’ve saved the best for last, too, the Octavia vRS is available in estate form—and it looks fantastic! Be cool, buy the estate.

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Skoda

Skoda Australia named as GWS Giants major sponsor

Skoda, GWS Giants major sponsor

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.

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Skoda

2010 Skoda Superb Wagon – Australian pricing

Skoda Super Wagon

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.

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Motor Shows Skoda

MIMS 2009 – Skoda

Skoda at the Melbourne International Motor Show 2009

Skoda kicked off their presentation at the Melbourne International Motor Show by revealing an updated Octavia range. Matthew Wiesner, Head of Skoda Australia, then introduced Australian cycling legend Phil Anderson to assist with the launch of the Skoda Superb.

Both models certainly look the part and with their Volkswagen DNA they are cars that are not short on substance.

Proving this was a Skoda Scout on display, which recently travelled over 20,000kms around Australia in six weeks.

More pics and press releases below.

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Drive Thru Reviews Skoda

Drive Thru: Skoda Octavia RS

Skoda Octavia RS

Imagine you have your (affordable) dream car and love the joy it brings you. Whether that’s behind the wheel, or simply admiring the gentle shoulder line of its three-door shape. Your car has oodles of torque that make it a delight to drive. There’s enough power to have fun, but not too much to be stupid. Fuel economy, too, is quite good, if you want it to be.

Life is good.

Then, imagine you have to sell the car you enjoy so much! Not because of financial or other outside influences, but simply because impending fatherhood is about to render that svelte three-door shape a bit too impractical for its own good.

This is a predicament a mate of mine recently faced, and while his initial quandary gave him a little displeasure, it’s nice to know that everyone looks like living happily ever after.

Steve’s dream car was his Mk5 Golf GTI (pictured below). Like myself (or my wife that should be), as soon as the three-door option for the GTI was announced by Volkswagen Australia in late 2006, he took his chance to buy the perfect complement to his near mint condition 1985 UK-spec Mk2 Golf GTI. A few months later, when his new car arrived, the first in the country in United Grey paintwork, he was smitten.

If the GTI had to go, then what would prove to be an adequate compromise between driving enjoyment and family-friendly Sunday outings? Given the picture and title at the start of this post, it’s no surprise that Steve opted for a Skoda Octavia RS sedan.

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Audi News Skoda Volkswagen

Volkswagen claims ‘Green’ medal at 2008 Olympic Games

Volkswagen official automotive partner for 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing

The 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing start next Friday—08.08.08—and Volkswagen is looming as having as much presence around the Chinese capital as any of the athletes. A total of 5,000 vehicles have been assigned by Volkswagen Group China to aid logistic support during the Games, moving around athletes, Olympic guests and media. The vehicles assigned to the press center have been labelled the “Green Fleet” on account of their low emissions and low fuel consumption.

Volkswagen, ready to harness a captive audience, will also have a special pavilion at the Olympic Games—the 2000m2 Volkswagen Showcase. Volkswagen Group China expects 4,000,000 visitors to pass through, or as many as 160,000 per day. Lutz Kothe, Head of Sponsoring & Events at Volkswagen AG, commented, “The pavilion gives our guests to the Olympic Games the opportunity to experience the Volkswagen Group and its brands in the unique environment of the world’s biggest sporting event.”

The pavilion will feature models from Volkswagen, Audi and Skoda. More images and Volkwagen’s full press release can be seen below.

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