The Skoda Fabia's third generation impresses with sporty proportions combined with a design language that is significantly sharper, more dynamic and full of emotion. Skoda now brings innovative safety, comfort and infotainment systems into the small car segment; systems that were previously reserved for higher car segments. One highlight: you can now pair the Fabia with a smartphone via MirrorLink™ and SmartGate. Despite more tech and spec, this new version is up to 65 kg lighter and up to 17 per cent more efficient than the previous model. The lightest Fabia weighs just 980 kg. In typical Skoda fashion, the car offers lots of space with best-in-class boot capacity and optimum functionality with 17 'Simply Clever' features.
"The new Skoda Fabia is the ideal car for modern, urban mobility. It is compact and offers lots of space for passengers and their luggage, a modern crisp design and great efficiency and safety, bringing together all of Skoda's brand values," says Skoda CEO Prof. Dr. h.c. Winfried Vahland. "In designing the third generation, our aim was to bring innovative technology into the small car segment. Our focus was on the environment, fuel efficiency, safety and comfort. The third generation of the new Skoda Fabia will make a visual impact with its sportier and emotionally-rich design language. The fact that we are able to offer this vehicle at an affordable price proves the strength of our brand. We think this great car will write another chapter in the Fabia's success story and bring new customer groups to the brand," says Vahland.
The Fabia is the brand's second bestselling car right after the Skoda Octavia. Since its debut in 1999, the Czech car maker has sold almost 3.5 million Fabias worldwide to date (as of 31st August 2014). From the beginning, the Skoda Fabia has embodied all of Skoda's good qualities: lots of space within compact exterior dimensions, a wide array of convenient solutions, fuel efficiency, dependable technology and excellent value for money. It is this combination which has made the Fabia one of the most popular cars of its class.
A large number of renowned awards has confirmed this success. The second-generation Fabia alone has won an impressive list of national and international honours since 2007. Among the most important international honours is the 'Red Dot Design Award'. In Germany, the honours included the 'Golden Steering Wheel' and 'Company Car of the Year'; it was also named 'Most Affordable Small Car' at the 'AutoTrophy' and best imported small car in the 'Best Cars' competition. In Great Britain, among others, the Fabia won 'Best Small Car below £16,000' at The Caravan Club and 'Small Car of the Year' at the Scottish Group of Motoring Writers.
Pure emotion: a crisp, sporty design
"The design of the new Skoda Fabia represents the evolution of the Skoda design language," says Dr Frank Welsch, Skoda Board Member for Technical Development. "For the first time, a Skoda vehicle incorporates design elements of the VisionC design study. With its sporty proportions, the Skoda Fabia is modern, crisp and fresh. We also transferred some of the genes from our rally cars to create the most emotionally-rich Fabia ever," says Dr Welsch.
Balanced proportions, crystalline shapes, a distinctive interplay of light and shade, precise lines and sharp edges mark out the new generation of the Skoda Fabia, as it impressively demonstrates the brand's increased emotional charisma. The new Skoda Fabia is 8 mm shorter, 90 mm wider and 31 mm lower than its predecessor. The front appears more assured and imposing thanks to the added width and distinctive elements such as the razor-sharp, wide headlights, crystalline glass, a characteristic slatted grille and the brand's logo on the bonnet's 'nose'. The designers highlighted the graphic unity of the grille and the lights, precisely marking out all lines and edges such as in the two distinctive beadings running from the outside to the inside of the bonnet.
A crisp tornado line and the so-called wing line mark the side of the car and underscore the Fabia's dynamic appearance. Slim pillars, the contrast between light and dark shades as well as an all-new attractive range of wheels complement its distinctive appearance.
The rear of the Fabia exudes strength and assurance. It is clean and boldly contoured with yet another emphasis on horizontal lines. As with all Skoda vehicles, designers paid special attention to shaping the taillights, now with rich, dark and contrasting edging. In the style of the Czech glass-making tradition, every detail has been polished in order to achieve brilliant luminosity. Of course, the taillights in the new Fabia retain Skoda's typical C shape.
A first for Skoda is the scope for individual configuration of the Fabia both inside and out. For instance, customers can choose from four colours for the roof, the mirror housings and the wheels. The car's all-new interior impresses with quality, precise workmanship, a horizontal emphasis and a wide array of colours and colour combinations.
First Skoda with MirrorLink™ and SmartGate
The infotainment systems in the new Skoda Fabia are all-new concepts based on Volkswagen's MIB (modular infotainment matrix) technology. They enable an array of attractive applications previously unavailable in a small car including a touch display with swipe operation. Customers can choose between three radio systems.
The new Skoda Fabia is the first Skoda to offer the option of easy pairing with a smartphone thanks to so-called MirrorLink™ technology, which enables display and operation of selected smartphone applications on the Bolero infotainment system's screen. The new Skoda Fabia also comes with the SmartGate function, enabling display, storage and use of certain vehicle data. One example is Skoda's own Drive app, which will show drivers how efficient their driving has been on any given trip. The MFA Pro app lets users display onboard computer functions and multifunction display (MFA) content on their smartphones. More apps will be available in the future.
New benchmarks in efficiency and emissions: from 82 g CO2 per km
Engineers have made great progress with the new Skoda Fabia in terms of fuel efficiency and emissions. The result is a reduction in fuel consumption down to 3.1 l/100 km and CO2 emissions of just 82 g/km in the Skoda Fabia GreenLine (available in 2015). These remarkable improvements are the result of a completely new generation of petrol and diesel engines, radical weight reduction down to 980 kg and improved aerodynamics.
Customers can choose from a total of four petrol and three diesel engines. All engines comply with EU6 emission standards and come with a Start-Stop System and brake energy recovery. Power output in the petrol engines ranges from 44 kW (60 PS) to 81 kW (110 PS). The new three-cylinder diesel range offers between 55 kW (75 PS) and 77 kW (105 PS). Transmissions are modern manual or automatic DSG gearboxes.
Comfortable chassis
The new chassis of the Skoda Fabia was designed with added comfort and optimum ride stability in mind. Finely-adjusted interplay between the new electro-mechanical steering, the new engines and the redesigned engine mounting enabled designers to significantly improve the chassis setup. The model benefits not least from a wider track (30 mm) both at the front and the rear and a wheelbase that is 5 millimetres longer. The vehicle design of the new Fabia is based on a modular concept, drawing for the most part on Volkswagen's MQB technology, e.g. engines, electro-mechanical steering and a large part of the electrics (electrical architecture, such as ECUs, instrument cluster, infotainment and assistance systems).
Despite added technology and comfort, designers succeeded in significantly reducing the vehicle's weight. Compared to the second generation, the new Skoda Fabia is up to 65 kg lighter (depending on vehicle configuration). The Skoda Fabia with a 1.0 MPI three-cylinder engine has a kerb weight (without the driver) of just 980 kg.
Top-level safety: technology from higher vehicle classes
The new Fabia comes with cutting-edge safety systems that were previously reserved for higher vehicle classes. The optional Front Assistant with integrated City Emergency Braking Function, which automatically brings the vehicle to a complete stop, reduces the risk of rear-end collisions. The Multi-Collision Brake System will automatically slow the car down after an accident to prevent a follow-on collision. The Driver Activity Assistant will detect fatigue in the driver, while the new Speedlimiter can prevent the car from exceeding a pre-set speed. Hill Hold Control will help drivers start on a gradient. Also, the new Fabia comes with an electronic tyre pressure monitor as standard in EU countries.
The new Skoda Fabia has the enhanced electronic differential lock function XDS+ as standard, which maximises traction when cornering.
Passive safety elements include up to six airbags finely adjusted for interaction with the car's three-point seatbelts.
Comfort is a priority
A first in the Skoda Fabia is KESSY (Keyless Entry Start and Exit System), the automatic locking and starting system. Front and rear parking sensors also make a debut in this Fabia. Previously, this technology was only available for the rear of the Fabia.
The Rain-Light Assistant ensures optimum visibility with integrated sensors for rain and ambient light. The rain sensor automatically controls the windshield wipers' frequency, while the light sensor switches the low beams on and off depending on light conditions.
Making its debut in the Skoda Fabia is the new C-EPS (Column-Electric Power Steering), which saves weight and fuel and replaces the electro-hydraulic power steering used previously.
For the first time, customers can order the Fabia with a large panoramic glass roof which adds to the 'feel-good' factor on board.
Lots of space, 17 'Simply Clever' features
The new Skoda Fabia impresses with lots of space and even more functionality. The model has 17 'Simply Clever' features on offer.
No other small car offers as much boot space as the new Skoda Fabia. The car's boot has a capacity of 330 litres (1,150 litres with the rear seats folded down).
The passenger compartment is 21 mm wider (in the front) and 8 mm longer. Front-seat passengers enjoy more headroom even though the new Fabia is lower overall.
17 'Simply Clever' features make the new Skoda Fabia one of the most practical vehicles in its segment. New features in the Fabia include: an ice scraper in the fuel filler flap, a multimedia cradle located in the cup holder at the front, an extra storage compartment for a high-vis vest, a rubbish bin located in the door, storage nets on the inside edges of the front seats, bottle holders in the rear doors suitable for 0.5 litre bottles, MirrorLink™ and SmartGate systems. In addition, a dedicated space for a 1.0-litre bottle is now available in the glove compartment.
The car also features an array of other great details such as various holders, hooks and nets in the boot.
Source: Skoda