Check out this witty new commercial video dedicated to the Skoda Yeti: the rapper and co-star of the popular American program “Pimp My Ride” Alvin Nathaniel Joiner, aka “Xzibit”, takes care of the wreck of a young and nerdy looking guy. Notice how the label “Czech Coast Customs” replaces the original “West Coast Customs”, the real name of the workshop Pimp My Ride. What is the irony of an ad like this? The Yeti is not marketed in the U.S. !

View the full Skoda Yeti Urban Limited Edition photo gallery.

During the last Frankfurt Motor Show Skoda showed up with the Mission L concept, and today we received the first lot of spy shots starring the future production version of that model, which - according to the latest rumors - will be named Rapid. If these rumors have to be believed, the choice would be quite strange as the VW Group is already selling a sedan version of its own Polo in India with the same name, a model that could also be introduced in Europe later on. However, some people think that this last model will end up being sold in Europe as a 3-box variant of the Skoda Fabia.

Going back to the spy shots, it is fair to say that this new Rapid will be positioned in Skoda’s current range between the Fabia and the Octavia, and that a hatchback and a station wagon versions are also in the cards. Moreover, the model will be marketed in Spain as the new version of the Seat Toledo.

The next Skoda Rapid will be developed on the standard platform - hence it will not be based on the brand new MQB one - and will come with the most recent VW’s engines and gearbox options. The definitive version should be ready by the summer, and chances are that its official unveiling will happen at the next Paris Motor Show.

What we have here is a bunch of spy shots picturing a Skoda Superb prototype equipped with Scout parts, which has been spotted together with a mule of the production version of the VisionD concept car. Rumors of a Superb Scout model have been floating around for quite some time, and we suspect that the car has probably been ready for almost as long as these rumors have, but as usual it’s Skoda’s parent company Volkswagen that makes the decisions, and it is likely that VW wanted to find a better time to introduce this model in order to not get in the way of their own Passat Alltrack.

In light of the fact that it is Volkswagen making the rules here, we guess that Skoda will not be allowed to use the 170 hp TDI engine for their Superb Scout. Chances are that the model will end up using the less performing 140 hp TDI unit, but at this moment there is no official information on this topic. The Superb Scout is expected to share engines and drivetrains with the ‘regular’ Superb 4×4.

Skoda releases the first image of the 5-door Citigo (above), which will be officially unveiled at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show (March 8-18) alongside the Volkswagen Up! with the same body-type. The two city cars have been developed on the same platform and - unlike their 3-door variants - the side views are basically identical.

The 5-door version of the Skoda Citigo will be available with a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder petrol unit available in power steps of 60 and 75 hp, while the addition of a RS edition equipped with the 1.0-litre TSI unit of the GT Up! has not been confirmed yet. The eco-friendly Green Tec variant instead has already been confirmed, boasting an average fuel consumption of 4.1 l/100km and CO2 emissions of 96 g/km.

Skoda has begun testing of its electrically powered estate car, the Octavia Green E Line, deploying a fleet of no less than 10 units. The model is the first ever all-electric vehicle from the Czech manufacturer, which aims at collecting as many data as possible during the tests in order to further develop the model, in view of a possible mass production.

The Octavia Green E Line is based on the Octavia Combi whose structure was deemed ideal to host the whole electric package (battery, electric motor and electronic controllers). Its powertrain is credited with a constant power of 80 hp (60 kW) and maximum output of 114 hp (85 kW) for about 60 seconds, while its impressive 270 Nm (199 lb/ft) of torque is available right from the start. All in all, Skoda Octavia Green E Line’s performance figures are not too bad, boasting a 0-100 km/h (62 mph) sprint time of 12 seconds and a limited top speed of 135 km/h (84 mph). Power comes from a 315 kg 26.5 kWh ion-lithium battery, which provides the car with 150 km (93.2 miles) of range and requires a charging time of 8 hours at 230 V (single-phase AC) and just 2 hours at 400 V (three-phase AC).

Skoda CEO Winfried Vahland commented: “The Octavia Green E Line shows our technological expertise in the field of electric mobility. It is a milestone in our comprehensive sustainability strategy“. Skoda R&D main man Eckhard Scholz added: “There is no doubt electric propulsion is becoming more and more important for mobility with as low emissions as possible. Working as we are with our Group partners, we think we are making very good progress.”

View the full Skoda Octavia Green E Line photo gallery

via | Škoda

Skoda Superb 1.4-litre TSI with DSG transmission just set a new record that will go down to automotive history books: it is the first ever car that went from Shanghai to Beijing (1,200 km - 745 miles) with less than one tank filling. The model that achieved this particular record is a standard custom car which was driven in normal conditions on public roads and highways. The Superb was filled up in Shangahi, where two official lawyers supervised the sealing of its fuel tank, and covered the whole distance with renowned stunt director Li Zhi behind the steering wheel. With an average fuel consumption of not even 4.5 litres/100 km (52.3 mpg), Skoda Superb simply set a new standard in fuel efficiency.

Commenting on the achievement right after the arrival of the Superb in Beijing, Skoda China President Dr. Gerrit A. Marx said: “The low consumption is proof of the quality of our Superb, but it is also evidence for the great infrastructure in China and the importance of the driver with more than ten percent consumption in his right foot”. Superb indeed.

via | Auto-Media.info

Skoda Yeti’s success is persuading the top management of the Cech brand to broaden their offer in the SUV segment. According to Auto Bild, it is confirmed that two more models will enter the market by the end of 2016: a 4.3 meters long model will replace the Yeti while an older sister measuring 4.6 meters in length - based on VW Tiguan - will also join the fold, and will probably be able to accommodate up to 7 people in its cabin. Rumor has it that both cars will be heavily inspired by the design of the Mission L Concept - recently showcased at the Frankfurt Motor Show - and that their front end will become a signature feature for most future Skoda cars.

This new policy toward the SUV market alongside the introduction of brand new versions of both Fabia and Octavia models should allow the Cech brand to achieve the 500,000 units sold target in 2018, as estimated by the VAG Group’s global strategy plan. Skoda is actually expanding its customer base by entering new segments of the market with such models as the Up!-derived Citigo and a new MPV based on VW Sharan. Also a saloon car called Rapid is recently entered into production in India, but it is destined to extra-European markets only.

Putting aside the cute girls in the little white dresses, here is the Skoda MissionL Concept in live pics from Frankfurt. The new sedan concept will soon become a production model on world markets, including Europe, and will be the sixth Skoda model in the line-up to be placed between the Fabia and the Octavia.

The Skoda Mission L Concept is a large model measuring 4.5 metres long, and much of that space is dedicated to the interior in a roomy environment for passengers. No technical specs were released at the show but we can expect a standard VAG engine range.

The production version Mission L should be ready for an Indian market debut by 2011 end, to be then rolled out across international markets with Europe and Russia following in 2012. The difference between models for various markets will mostly be the trim available. Other models from Skoda at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show are the Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo edition and new Yeti and Roomster models.

Some might say that Skoda is “Volkswagenising”, and others might see this new Mission L Concept as an example of how the Skoda brand has matured under VW ownership. Despite the rear design in these images, apparently the Skoda Mission L Concept is actually a five-door hatchback.

In any case, the concept marks a new C segment model for Skoda on international markets and will be available in Europe, China and Russia as part of the brand’s expansion plans. No details on the platform or engine range have been released and compared to the futuristic and more Audi-like VisionD Concept seen at Geneva we get a boxier, more 80’s look on this model.

The new Mission L Concept is an introduction to a model which should slot in between the Octavia and the Fabia (rather than substituting the Octavia), in order to provide a more complete offering in the Skoda range, but more details will be available when the concept is officially presented at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show.

Skoda Mission L Concept

The Skoda range will get a new upmarket offering in the form of the Skoda Superb Combi Laurin & Klement. The name comes from a turn-of-the-century bicycle builder that Skoda Works went on to purchase. The wagon seems an appropriate choice for a luxury Skoda, and the new package gives it exterior chrome trim and 18-inch alloy wheels.

On the inside we get dedicated Magnetic Brown leather upholstery, piano black trim and stainless steel door sills. The engines available include a 2.0 TSI with 200 hp, a 3.6 FSI V6 with 260 hp and a 2.0 TDI with 170 hp. The model comes after nearly a decade when we last saw the Octavia Laurin & Klement model.

Skoda Suberb Combi Laurin

Source | World Car Fans

The Skoda Rapid sedan, based on the Volkswagen Vento and Polo sedan, will soon get to market in India and these spy shots show it in testing phase. While the same VW platform is being used, apparently the Skoda model could prove to be quite different, with restyled body panels and styling cues from the Skoda VisionD concept being used to give it a new look.

The Skoda Rapid is set to have the same engine line-up, though, with the Vento’s 1.6-litre petrol and diesel powertrains matched to manual and automatic transmission. It will cost less on the Indian market than the VW and should contribute to expanding the Skoda presence in other markets as part of Volkswagen’s bid to become the world’s biggest car manufacturer.

In fact, Asia has been cited as a source of significant growth for brands like Seat and Skoda and we assume that the new Skoda citycar model will also debut eventually in a market like India. The low-cost Skoda sedan demonstrates the potential that VAG has to expand right across its brands and we won’t be surprised in the future if Volkswagen makes its world domination target, offering both luxury and low-cost ranges.

Source | Indianautosblog

The Skoda range will expand in the future to include a Skoda citycar based on the Volkswagen Up! and what will possibly be the production version of the Skoda VisionD concept seen at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. The models have been confirmed by CEO Winfried Vahland, who says that the citycar model will be available both in Europe and Asia from this year.

The plans are part of VW’s group bid to become the world’s largest car manufacturer by 2018 and brands like Seat and Skoda could represent the opportunity for large volume production of lower-cost vehicles. The citycar will sport the new Skoda logo presented at the Geneva Show.

The Skoda VisionD concept will likely form the basis of a sedan vehicle to be placed between the Fabia and Octavia. We liked the almost SUV-like, crossover design of the VisionD and were betting on some good looking competition in the low-cost market. But it looks like Skoda won’t be doing anything radical with large production numbers in sight.