Skoda Wins Super 2000 World Rally Championship PHOTO GALLERY

Skoda won last weekend’s RACC Rally of Spain and with it, the Super 2000 World Rally Championship – the first rally title in the company's 110-year old history.

Juho Hanninen and Mikko Markkula completed 18 stages and 406.5 km (252.6 miles), the longest event in the calendar, over both tarmac and gravel. After three days, they brought their Skoda Fabia S2000 to the finish line in first place in their class and 10th overall to win the title after their main rival, the Estonian Ott Tanak, retired on the first day.

“This is a perfect day for all of us and an excellent achievement, one of the milestones of my career”, said Hanninen.

“Everything worked perfectly and, although we didn’t have to take risks, we were at the head of the pack throughout this rally. I wish to thank all those who’ve been helping us on our way to this achievement”, added the Finn driver.

Nasser Al-Attiyah and Giovanni Bernachinni in their Ford Fiesta S2000 finished 11th overall, and second in the S2000 class, 14.9 seconds behind the Fabia.

PHOTO GALLERY

Skoda Citigo

The Czech automaker's smallest vehicle will go on sale in its home market before the end of this year, with the UK and other European countries following at the beginning of summer 2012.
Unlike its Wolfsburg sibling that will launch in a three-door body style, the Citigo will be offered in both three-door and five-door versions.


Even though lately the Volkswagen Group has tried to cover up the common platform and mechanical hardware shared amongst its brands with unique body shells, that's not the case with the Citigo.


The main styling differences with the VW Up! are limited to the Skoda's front end including the bumper, headlamps and grille designs, the alloy wheels plus the tail lamp graphics (not the shape) and the bumper.


The two cars share more or less the same dimensions, with the Citigo measuring just 3,563mm long, 1,641mm wide and 1,478mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,420mm.


The Czech automaker says the Citigo can accommodate four-passengers in comfort. Boot space is a respectable (for the car's size) 251 liters, which can be extended to 951 liters by folding down the rear seats.


There are no photos of the interior yet, but we suspect that there won’t any be significant / noteworthy styling changes over the VW Up!. Like its German sibling, the Citigo will be offered with an available portable navigation system featuring a 5-inch screen, which will also provide hands-free calling with built-in Bluetooth and onboard infotainment.


The Skoda model will launch with two new, three-cylinder 1.0-litre petrol engines delivering 60HP (44kW) and 75HP (55kW) in both standard and Green Tec flavors.


The standard versions return 62.8mpg UK (52.3mpg US or 4.5lt/100km) and 105g CO2/km for the 60HP engine, and 60.1mpg UK (50.0mpg US or 4.7lt/100km) and 108g CO2/km with the 75PS unit.
The Green Tec derivatives are rated at 67.3mpg UK (56.0mpg US or 4.2lt/100km) and 65.7mpg UK (54.7mpg US or 4.3lt/100km) respectively with emissions of 97g and 99g CO2/km respectively.

Škoda Mission L Sedan

The MissionL Concept will lead to a production vehicle that will be the sixth model in the Czech automaker's range after the Fabia, Octavia Classic, Octavia, Yeti and Superb

The new car is a C-segment model similar in size to the Focus sedan that bridges the gap that exists between the Fabia and the Octavia. Like the Octavia, it will sport a five-door, liftback body-style.

The production version of the MissionL will be available in Europe, Russia and China, with different specifications for each market. Moreover, a special version will be sold in India.

In 2013, the Yeti compact SUV will be launched in China, where it will also be produced. In addition, Skoda, in cooperation with Shanghai VW, will manufacture a new compact model for the local market, increasing the brand’s Chinese range to five models.

But Skoda’s expansion doesn’t stop here: in order to achieve its ambitious 2018 goal, it will increase production in Russia by manufacturing the Yeti locally with the help of VW Group' joint venture with GAZ.

Finally, the company is also increasing production capacity at its home factory in Mlada Boleslav, where it will add a third model line while, from late 2012, it will begin production of the twin-clutch DQ200 gearbox at its Vrchlabi plant.

New MissionL Small Sedan Concept at Frankfurt Auto Show

A new concept model that previews an upcoming small sedan will be the star attraction for Skoda at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

The MissionL Concept will lead to a production vehicle that will be the sixth model in the Czech automaker's range after the Fabia, Octavia Classic, Octavia, Yeti and Superb

The new car is a C-segment model similar in size to the Focus sedan that bridges the gap that exists between the Fabia and the Octavia. Like the Octavia, it will sport a five-door, liftback body-style.

“Revealing the look of our new compact model, the MissionL shows exactly the direction our brand is going to take”, said Skoda Chairman Dr. Winfried Valhand. “The world premiere in Frankfurt gives a clear signal that Skoda is going full steam ahead now.”

The production version of the MissionL will be available in Europe, Russia and China, with different specifications for each market. Moreover, a special version will be sold in India.

Dr. Vahland also revealed that Skoda “will present a new model every six months over the next two or three years.” The company’s plan is to expand its operation, in a move it calls “model offensive”, and reach 1.5 million worldwide sales by 2018.

In 2013, the Yeti compact SUV will be launched in China, where it will also be produced. In addition, Skoda, in cooperation with Shanghai VW, will manufacture a new compact model for the local market, increasing the brand’s Chinese range to five models.

But Skoda’s expansion doesn’t stop here: in order to achieve its ambitious 2018 goal, it will increase production in Russia by manufacturing the Yeti locally with the help of VW Group's joint venture with GAZ.

Finally, the company is also increasing production capacity at its home factory in Mlada Boleslav, where it will add a third model line while, from late 2012, it will begin production of the twin-clutch DQ200 gearbox at its Vrchlabi plant.

PHOTO GALLERY

Skoda’s Hot Fabia RS 2000 Photo And Images Wörthersee

Not that the Skoda Fabia RS 2000 Concept needed any help to draw the attention of automotive fans at the Wörthersee show, but the Volkswagen Group was t enough to bring some very pretty faces (and bodies…) to the Czech firm’s stand. You can get a better look at the car and the girls in whichever order you prefer in our high resolution photo gallery right after the jump.

For those of you still with us, we’ll remind you that the Fabia RS 2000 Concept is an open-air version of the widened-up Fabia S2000 rally car sporting the same heavily modified 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine driving all four wheels.

If you managed to keep your eyes of the girls, you may have noticed some of the changes Skoda made to the exterior including the side windows, the bespoke cover behind the rear headrests and the black boot lid spoiler.

The concept’s interior was crafted after the normal Fabia RS (vRS in the UK) and features a set of bucket sports seats up front and more carbon fiber accents than a NASA parts cupboard.

PHOTO GALLERY