Skoda Fabia News

Music, traffic information, navigation and cloud-based vehicle management will all be happening via the internet, most likely through a SIM card mounted in the car but also through connected mobile phones.Connexion Media chief executive George Parthimos is planning to be an integral part of moving cars online and already the little Aussie company has outfoxed some much bigger rivals by getting accreditation from large car companies such as General Motors to supply applications and hardware.That is not a guarantee of success but given that car model runs can continue for up to seven years, it is a very handy foot in the door.Connexion's miRoamer system is now available as an option in the new Skoda Fabia and in many Volkswagen models, using a MirrorLink that allows a plugged in mobile phone to provide data for built-in systems.However, the big new development for the company is the imminent launch of a plug-in diagnostic device that will be able to keep real-time tabs on a wide variety of vehicle data.That could be particularly useful for hire car fleets, with drivers able to be warned if they are breaching rules such as speed, engine revs or straying on to a dirt road."You can set a range of alarms and notifications and it is a great opportunity to change driver behaviour in real time," explained Mr Parthimos.It could also be a great way to raise some extra revenue if certain boxes have been ticked in a rental agreement.For other fleets, the opportunity to know where trucks or cars are at any time and get relevant information such as vehicle mileage and an approaching service should be well worth the estimated two minutes of productivity improvement a day that is required to pay for the system.Longer term, Mr Parthimos has plenty of apps and hardware to keep Connexion at the forefront of cars with built-in SIM cards but the current products should start some useful cash flow this year. A speculative buy.Many biotechnology companies are great at coming up with alternative uses of their research.Cancer treatment company Circadian is a good example, with a highly promising eye treatment now one of the keys to the company's future.While it has three solid tumour cancer compounds in clinical testing with large pharmaceutical partners, the treatment for age-related wet macular degeneration of the eyes (AMD) could well be a company maker on its own.With an estimated US market alone of greater than $5 billion a year and the incidence of AMD increasing as the population ages, it is a major commercial opportunity and a chance to slow down the major cause of blindness in people aged 55 or older.The two existing drugs for the condition block the action of what is known as VEGF-A while the Circadian treatment blocks VEGF-C and D.Either on its own or in conjunction with the existing drugs, Circadian's OPT-302 drug holds the promise of preventing the blood vessel growth and leakage that lead to wet macular degeneration.Chief executive Dr Megan Baldwin said testing in mice had shown a significant improvement compared to treatment with existing drugs alone.Circadian has assembled an impressive range of US and Australian AMD experts for its clinical board, including some who helped develop the existing AMD treatments.A speculative buy, given the size of the world market for a better eye treatment.

Key to the growth will be the brand's mid-size car plan for Australia. The new mid-size car is expected to be the slingshot to propel the Czech company - and Volkswagen Group member - into a new sales

Australia's most successful international rally driver claims that at 32 he can still force his way back into the top level of racing in the World Rally Championship. The quietly-spoken Gold Coaster is the hot favourite for this weekend's International Rally of Queensland where he is competing in round three of the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship that he is currently leading."I've still got a lot of years left in me," he said yesterday at the shakedown for this weekend's event through the slippery forest roads of the Sunshine Coast hinterland."Just look at (Petter) Solberg who got a factory drive with Ford at 38 and is still running at the front, so I reckon I've got at least another eight to 10 years in me."Atkinson won the Queensland event in 2004 before heading to the WRC with the Subaru factory team until 2008. He has since competed in the past two APRC seasons, coming a frustratingly close second last year."The break from WRC has really refereshed me and now I'm keen to get back to the top," he said.In an effort to revive his WRC career, Atkinson will compete in a Ford Fiesta in the Finnish and German events later this year for "drift king" Ken Block's team."I need to be doing WRC events. That is the only way to show your true speed up against the best in the world," he said."I've been in discussion with teams, but they want to see what we can do in the WRC."There are still only a handful of drivers who can run in the top three and we used to be one of those. But that was three years ago and people want to see I can still do it."Atkinson doesn't mind the pressure of being "hot favourite" for the third year in a row at the Queensland rally, despite mechanical issues in the past two years preventing him from converting that favouritism into victory."I guess that's expected at a home event," he said."I put the same pressure on myself and you have to work harder than the others. It's a rally I have to win."But rallying is a team sport and our team is better prepared this year."Atkinson has switched from a Proton to a faster Skoda Fabia S2000 this year and is leading the series with team-mate Gaurav Gill second."That's the first thing you have to do; beat your teamnmate, but Gill will be quick."His other main rival is his replacement at Proton, Per-Gunnar Andersson, a two-time Junior World Rally Champion. Atkinson said the wet clay surfaces in the forestry stages will make this event "tricky"."Usually it's a hard surface with plenty of grip here, but there are some new surfaces with clay on top and when it gets wet it's more like ice than dirt," he said."There will be a lot of changing from wide roads with good grip to narrow roads with no grip, so you will have to drive precise and choose the right tyres and car set-up."The 44th International Rally of Queensland also features other series running concurrently such as the Australian Rally Championship and, for the first time, the Side-by-Side Rally Challenge with former Australia including three-time ARC winner Cody Crocker driving with V8 Supercar racer Tim Slade.PROFILEChris AtkinsonBorn: November 30, 1979, BegaWRC career: Subaru 2004-2008, Citroen Junior team 2009. 68 rallies, 6 podiums, 41 stage wins, fifth in 2008 season.Career highlights: 2003-04 Super 1600cc Asia Pacific champion; second in 2004 ARC, winner 2002 Australian Privateers Cup 

Skoda is punching hard as it lifts its profile, firing up cars as small as its budget-priced Citigo city car - expected here around February - and the new mid-size Rapid that will be on sale mid-year and take on the Mazda3, Ford Focus, Holden Cruze and Toyota Corolla.The entry of the Rapid - a Volkswagen Polo-based liftback - also opens the door to the 2013 Octavia that grows in size to dimensions shared with rivals including the Ford Mondeo and its own cousin, the Passat. Carsguide drove the five-door Citigo in Portugal earlier this year and was impressed by the compact car's ability to mix nimble inner-city handling with 120km/h open-road touring.The Citigo is Skoda's take on the Volkswagen Up, which is expected to go on sale in Australia before this Christmas. Skoda Australia spokesman Karl Gehling says that, officially, the Citigo is still "under consideration''.  But significant legwork has been done by Skoda to make the car fit into its Australian line up. It could be here by February and carry a price tag of about $15,000.The Rapid - which borrows its name from Skoda's sporty, rear-engined two-door model made from 1984 to 1990 - is almost the same size as the current Octavia. It is almost identical to the MissionL (CORR) concept car first shown by Skoda at last year's Frankfurt motor show and then at last month's car show in Beijing.Australia will get the Rapid from the Czech factory and not from Skoda plants making the car in India or, from next year, China. It will come with a choice of Volkswagen drivetrains, the most likely a 1.4-litre and 1.8-litre turbo-petrol and 2-litre turbo-diesel. The Rapid inherits the Octavia's liftback - a large hatch that makes it look like a sedan - and variable seating for SUV-like flexibility to make it a hit with families. Skoda hints that it will have a wagon version within a year of the liftback's launch.The arrival of the Rapid will kick start the launch of the bigger Octavia, giving Skoda by the end of 2013 an incremental model line-up from this car down to the Rapid, Fabia and Citigo. Skoda CEO Winfried Vahland told Carsguide at the Citigo launch in February that there were also plans for a larger SUV based on a platform similar to the Audi Q5. That SUV, to complement the Yeti and Octavia Scout, won't be seen until late 2014. 

The charge will be led by the Skoda Fabia small car range and the Yeti compact SUV, with both aiming to provide an entry-point for the Czech range as well as its VW parent when launched at the Australian International Motor Show in Melbourne mid-year. The Fabia small-car range will kick off with a hatchback model in manual petrol form - using the 77kW TSI engine - as well as a Monte Carlo model, with DSG and wagon models to follow later in the year. A hot RS variant - with 132kW and only a DSG transmission - is also set for touchdown before the end of 2011. The Yeti compact SUV will be the second star for Melbourne, with both two and four-wheel drive versions on the list of vehicles Skoda hopes will bring in younger buyers, with an emphasis on tapping the female side of the market. Local brand boss Matthew Wiesner says the two small vehicles will be price-competitive in the two fast-growing segments and have buyer appeal. "The Yeti will have very broad appeal, the whole segment is evolving with 2WD and 4WD, there's a strong younger buyer part to that 2WD segment," he says. "The Fabia - hatch, wagon, Monte Carlo and RS - offers a mix of vehicles for younger buyers, the wagon will get some older buyers in as well," Mr Wiesner says. The Australian International Motor Show in Melbourne will see these two debut, as well as the Skoda brand's new-look logo and refreshed brand personality first seen at the recent Geneva motor show. Wiesner is aiming to double the Skoda sales figure of 1632 (a 31 per cent improvement on 2009) for 2010 this year, with 2012 expected to double that already-lofty 2011 target. "We will go close to doubling our 2010 volumes this year, and again doubling that effort for 2012" he says. Wiesner says the brand's representatives in the larger segments are hamstrung by supply that's well short of demand - the Superg flagship will be expanded the front and all-wheel drive offerings for the large car range. "We'll be adding the 103 TDI drivetrain that's in the new Scout to the Superb range." The Octavia Scout could also have another engine on offer - "We'll see how it goes, a petrol TSI engine would be nice if and when it becomes available, there's still a significant petrol market there," he says.

The first will be the Volkswagen Up followed by a Skoda version and then one from Spanish arm, Seat. But while each shares the platform and drivetrain, the body style, cabin features and even the target audience will be subtly different, says Skoda board member for sales, Jurgen Stackmann. "We call it our New Small Car - it hasn't a name yet - which will sit under the wing of the Fabia,” he says. "It won't be a Volkswagen. This is a Skoda so the emphasis is on practicality, strength, reliability and function.” The NSC - which will share a Volkswagen 1.2-litre engine that is expected to be a three cylinder - won't, however, be sold outside Europe. "It is designed for dense cities and has been designed to be compact on the outside and spacious on the inside. "This is a clear sign that we are expanding our product portfolio. But we are a relatively small company so we have to take deliberate steps to retain our philosophy. We are the entry portal to the Volkswagen Group and a high-quality option to Asian products.” The NSC, expected to be shown at the Frankfurt motor show in September, is the first of up to four new models planned over the next three years. Mr Stackmann says the replacement for the Octavia is due in 2013 and shares some design themes with the Vision D concept car shown at this year's Geneva motor show. "That car isn't as relevant as some people believe,” he says. "But, wait two years - until 2013 - and you'll see some elements of it in a new product,” he says in reference to the next Octavia, now coded the A7. The next Octavia is predicted to move up slightly in size and likely to create a gap in the product range for a car about the same size as the Mazda3. "It's clearly a growing segment in other (non-mainstream) markets such as China, the Middle East and so on,” he says. "It would work everywhere except Western Europe,” he says, believing the trend is to smaller cars and that the current market is highly competitive. However, he won't rule it out and that means it has promise for Australia. The other vehicle could be a larger SUV built on the Superb's 4WD platform. Mr Stackmann says the SUV market was still strong but hinted that rather than a conventional wagon design, Skoda could offer something that was quite different. "It could have all the space and high driving position of an SUV but wouldn't look like any other SUV.” Asked if Skoda would consider a commercial vehicle such as one based on the Volkswagen Amarok, he says it wasn't within the company's mandate to make such vehicles. "It makes no sense. It would be a huge step outside of what we are and where we plan to go. There are just too many more attractive options.” Skoda is planning to produce 1.5 million vehicles by 2018 - up from 850,000 expected for this year and the 500,000 annual production of only two years ago. "It's a rich figure,” says Mr Stackmann of the proposed production target. "If things come together as planned, it's achievable. Kia did it - I can't see why we can't.”

The charge will be led by the Fabia small car range and the Yeti compact SUV, with both aiming to provide an entry-point for the Czech range as well as its VW parent when launched at the Australian International Motor Show in Melbourne mid-year. The Fabia small-car range will kick off with a hatchback model in manual petrol form - using the 77kW TSI engine - as well as a Monte Carlo model, with DSG and wagon models to follow later in the year. A hot RS variant - with 132kW and only a DSG transmission - is also set for touchdown before the end of 2011. The Yeti compact SUV will be the second star for Melbourne, with both two and four-wheel drive versions on the list of vehicles Skoda hopes will bring in younger buyers, with an emphasis on tapping the female side of the market. Local Skoda brand boss Matthew Wiesner says the two small vehicles will be price-competitive in the two fast-growing segments and have buyer appeal. "The Yeti will have very broad appeal, the whole segment is evolving with 2WD and 4WD, there's a strong younger buyer part to that 2WD segment," he says. "The Fabia - hatch, wagon, Monte Carlo and RS - offers a mix of vehicles for younger buyers, the wagon will get some older buyers in as well," Mr Wiesner says. The Australian International Motor Show in Melbourne will see these two debut, as well as the Skoda brand's new-look logo and refreshed brand personality first seen at the recent Geneva motor show. Mr Wiesner is aiming to double the Skoda sales figure of 1632 (a 31 per cent improvement on 2009) for 2010 this year, with 2012 expected to double that already-lofty 2011 target. "We will go close to doubling our 2010 volumes this year, and again doubling that effort for 2012" he says. Mr Wiesner says the brand's representatives in the larger segments are hamstrung by supply that's well short of demand - the Superb flagship will be expanded the front and all-wheel drive offerings for the large car range. "We'll be adding the 103 TDI drivetrain that's in the new Scout to the Superb range." The Octavia Scout could also have another engine on offer - "We'll see how it goes, a petrol TSI engine would be nice if and when it becomes available, there's still a significant petrol market there," he says.

Australia's star in the World Rally Championship has been sitting on the sidelines since Subaru pulled out of motorsport before the start of the 2009 season, apart from a one-off run to fifth in Ireland in a Citroen.Now Chris Atkinson has been signed by Proton to lead its attack on this year's Asia-Pacific Rally Championship, which could easily become a stepping stone back into the WRC with the Malaysia maker. Proton is competing in the new S2000 category with a Satria Neo developed in Britain by Mellors Motorsport and Atkinson's team mate is speedy Scot Alistair McRae.The pair will open their 2010 action in just over a week in the Malaysian Rally before competing in six other events including Rally Queensland on the Sunshine Coast from July 31 to August 1. Ironically, Atkinson drove the course car for the Queensland event last year during a break at home on the Gold Coast while he was searching for a drive."I've been out for a year and that was tough, but to be out of the sport for two years would have been way too much," Atkinson says. "I really appreciate this opportunity to work with Proton, it's going to be great to get behind the wheel and go racing again."His car has been quick in previous starts, although not as pacey as the latest S2000 Ford Fiesta and Skoda Fabia. It has had several podium finishes in Europe. But the Asia-Pacific series has been dominated in recent years by another Australia, Cody Crocker in a showroom-class Subaru Impreza, and he is not competing in the championship this year as he works towards a start in the world championship.Atkinson has already tested the Proton in Wales and will run again in Malaysia before the rally, after a break this week in Queensland."I'm really excited about the year ahead. I've tested the Satria Neo S2000 briefly in Britain and it's a very, very good car," he says.Atkinson should be the pace-setter in the Asia-Pacific series after 32 points-scoring results in his 67 starts in the world championship with Subaru. He was also a class champion in the regional series with Suzuki on his way up the rally ladder."To be honest, I can’t wait to get started," Atkinson says.

The facelifted Fabia hatch unveiled at the Geneva motor show is now firmly in contention thanks to more favourable exchange rates that should bring a sub-$20,000 starting price. Until now, and despite coming from the Czech republic, the Fabia would have been a $25,000-plus car and that would have priced it well above the baby Polo and close to the Golf which come from the same Volkswagen Group product pen. And that means it would have been well beyond the reach for budget-conscious Australian buyers. But Skoda is finally getting a Fabia plan that could work, building it around the hot RS model which starred for the brand in Geneva and pushing hard for a value starter car. “There’s still some way to go but clearly the RS would make a great halo car. It’s high on our wish list," says the head of Skoda in Australia, Matthew Wiesner. He says the success of the company’s existing performance flagships, the Octavia RS sedan and wagon, means there is a ready fit for the Fabia RS, which is also available as a hatch and wagon. “It would be in good company,” he says. The go-faster Fabia RS gets a Volkswagen-developed turbocharged 1.4-litre TSI engine that develops 132kW/250Nm. So the Fabia will hit 100km/h in 7.3 seconds and has a top speed of 224km/h. Like Volkswagen's Polo GTi, the RS also gets a seven-speed DSG gearbox with paddle shifters. Wiesner says Skoda Australia has been trying to make the numbers work for the Fabia for 18 months but Czech costs and unfavourable exchanges rates have been a problem. The Fabia is the car always needed for Skoda in Australia, as the quirky Roomster has struggled for sales and the Octavia and full-sized Superb (both very good cars), have not been able to draw the youthful converts needed to give the brand any real traction. “If you look at the areas we’ve launched in, we’ve had to battle into very traditional conservative segments. We’ve effectively been the Octavia car company but that’s changing and we’re seeing that with the Superb," Wiesner says. If the Fabia does get the green light, it is likely to sit at the top of the light-car segment and go head-to-head with its Volkswagen Group cousin, the Polo. It too, has recently been updated, but with a complete overhaul that should give it a much better bottom line for Australia. Apart from the Fabia, Wiesner says the Yeti soft-roader remains Skoda's main new-model priority. The high-rider wagon was unveiled last year at the Paris Motor Show. “The whole focus has been on Yeti, and from a brand volume and dealer perspective it has probably been more important than the Fabia,” Wiesner says. “The compact SUV segment is continuing to get stronger, which makes the Yeti very important for us. I think that once we’ve got a full complement of Yeti derivatives it will have a far greater impact than the Octavia." The Yeti is a Volkswagen Tiguan sized off-roader and set to arrive by the end of the year, when it will be available in both front and all-wheel drive with diesel and petrol engines.

At the car’s unveiling in Geneva yesterday, Skoda Australia boss, Matthew Wiesner, says favourable currency rates are now putting the Fabia into the picture for Australia. “There’s still some way to go but clearly the RS would make a great halo car,” he says. “It’s high on the agenda.” Wiesner says the Fabia RS would be a good fit with the company’s Octavia RS range. For the time being the company is focused on the Yeti, which is set to arrive by the end of the year. The VW Tiguan size off-roader will be available in both front and all-wheel drive. The RS uses a VW sourced 1.4-litre TSI engine with 132kW and 250Nm from 2000 revs, and can hit 100km/h in 7.3 seconds and has a top speed of 224km/h.