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’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

Skoda Fabia GreenLine 2,006 km / 1,246 Miles on a Single Tank of Fuel

We're not sure if you know this, but there's a world champion in economy driving out there and his name is Gerhard Plattner. He's the kind of guy you'd want as a driver on your gas-guzzling car now that oil prices have hit the roof.

However, the Austrian champ has better things to do, like driving a Skoda Fabia GreenLine from Austria to Denmark and back on a single 45-liter (11.9 gallons US or 9.9 gallons UK) tank of diesel fuel. He covered a distance of 2,006 kilometers in a Skoda Fabia GreenLine without ever having to refuel the eco-friendly diesel car.

Plattner started his journey on May 10 in Reutte, Austria, reached Bov in Denmark and drove all the way back, travelling most of the distance on motorways. The 1.2-liter diesel engined Skoda averaged just 2.2 liters/100 km, which is equal to 106.4 mpg US and 127.8 mpg UK, on the 2,006-kilometer long journey. For the record, the official average fuel consumption of the Fabia GreenLine is 3.4 liters/100 km (69.2 mpg US or 83.1 mpg UK).

The refueling of the car, as well as Plattner's entire trip, were supervised by International Police Motor Corporation (IPMC) that also sealed the tank before the start of the challenge.

So how did he do it? We don't know, otherwise we would have been world champions in economy driving. And Plattner for sure is not willing to disclose his secrets. Here's all he had to say about this:

“With a fuel consumption well below the specified norm, I want to show that besides the car manufacturers, every driver can contribute to further reduce this environmental pollution. It already starts with small details such as the proper tire pressure." If only that was enough...

PHOTO GALLERY

Robert Kubica Discharged from Hospital, Still a Long Way Before F1 Return

Formula 1 driver Robert Kubica has left the Santa Corona hospital in Italy where he had spent the last 11 weeks after a scary rally accident. According to a hospital statement, the Polish driver is in good condition and will soon begin rehab. “He will carry on being monitored by the Santa Corona doctors who had him in their care through scheduled appointments," the hospital said in a press statement.

Kubica suffered multiple fractures and had his right hand partially severed when the Skoda Fabia rally car he was driving was pierced by an armco barrier during an Italian rally in the beginning of February. Last week, the Renault F1 driver stated on his website that once out of hospital he would rest before starting rehabilitation.

“As soon as I leave hospital, I'll head to my home in Monaco for a short period of rest. Then I'll move to Dr. Ceccarelli's facilities in Italy where I will start a deep rehabilitation programme and a preliminary soft training programme," said Kubica. “The two programmes will gradually cross over based on the speed of my recovery,” the Pole added.

While he still can't make full use of his right hand, the Pole is optimistic about how things will evolve. “The mobility of my hand is limited but this is pretty normal in this kind of situation, because the connected arm muscles are still very weak due to the long period of immobility. Things are definitely improving day by day,” Kubica said.

As for the question on everyone's lips, his physician said that by August it will be clear if and when Kubica will be ready to return to Formula 1 with the Lotus Renault Grand Prix team. The driver's contract with Renault expires at the end of 2012.

Via Autosport

PHOTO GALLERY

VW Group subsidiary Skoda is celebrating the 100 years of the Monte Carlo Rally as well as its own 110 year-long involvement in motorsports

Skoda's Fabia Monte Carlo Anniversary Model Packs Style but Lacks Punch

Thursday, January 13, 2011 | Categories | Geneva Motor Show, New Cars, Skoda, Skoda Fabia, VW |

4 Comments

VW Group subsidiary Skoda is celebrating the 100 years of the Monte Carlo Rally as well as its own 110 year-long involvement in motorsports with the presentation of the Fabia Monte Carlo, a special edition version of the five-door hatchback model with bespoke exterior and interior styling cues.

On the outside, the Czech special gets extensive piano-black trim covering the front grille and spoiler lip, wheel arch add-ons, side skirts and mirror housings. Furthermore, the Fabia Monte Carlo boasts a black roof, tinted windows and headlights, complemented by 17-inch Trinity alloys for the UK or 16-inch Comet rims for the rest of Europe.

Inside, customers can choose between all black or red and black sport seats which provide additional side support. In tone with the exterior’s color scheme, designers opted for black roof lining and leather steering wheel with red stitching, accompanied by leather handbrake and shifter knob. Silver footrests and steel pedals round off the interior upgrades.

Based on the Ambiente (SE in the UK) trim level, the special edition model will be available with an extensive, market-differentiated engine line-up, including the 86/105 hp 1.2-liter TSI petrol and 75/105 hp 1.6-liter TDI diesel engines, all coupled to a 5-speed manual transmission.

The Fabia Monte Carlo will make its first public appearance at this year’s Monte Carlo Rally (January 19-22), while its show premiere is planned for the Geneva Salon in March. Depending on the market, orders will be taken from January 24 (UK) or beginning from February.

By Csaba Daradics

_______________________________GALLERY_______________________________

VW Group's Skoda Division Sets New Record in 2010 with 762,600 Sales

The once ailing Skoda brand is turning out to be a solid investment for the Volkswagen Group as the Czech automaker is breaking one sales record after the other. In the year that just passed on, Skoda Auto recorded is best-ever sales results delivering 762,000 vehicles, which represents an increase of 11.5% over 2009 when it sold 684,200 units. Furthermore, the company broke the threshold of three quarters of a million vehicles sold in a single year for the first time in its history.

Commenting on the results, Prof. Dr. h.c. Winfried Vahland, Chairman of the Board of Skoda Auto said:

“In 2010, Škoda achieved an outstanding performance. In almost all markets, we have had significant growth and increased our market share. Once again, our sales have risen at a double-digit pace. In the most significant developing markets, our growth rates are above 40%. Within the framework of the Škoda growth strategy, we will shift up a gear in the coming years. By 2018, we want to at least double our worldwide sales. In order to do so, we will clearly expand the Škoda model range and strengthen the activities in international markets."

_______________________________GALLERY_______________________________