Skoda Fabia

The Czech car manufacturer, Skoda Auto of the Volkswagen Group, develops and manufactures premium automobiles for the world market. The year 2001 witnessed the advent of Skoda Auto's Indian operations, beginning with a plant at Shendra on the Auranagabad border in Maharashtra (the company's single manufacturing unit outside of Europe).

Skoda has introduced its second generation Skoda Fabia in India as a 2008 model. The Skoda Fabia is a 5-door large hatchback which was introduced to the world at the March 2007 Geneva Auto Show. The first generation of Skoda Fabia has sold since 1999 and has been a very successful model with over 15 Lakh of them being sold in Europe and other countries.

Based on the PQ25, which is a large new platform, the Fabia has a chassis with a sophisticated front MacPherson strut suspension along with a strong lower A-arm and non-independent rear suspension. The Czech manufacturer has kept Indian concerns in mind before release of the new model by introducing a raised suspension and returned springs and dampers – all together called the 'rough road' package.

The Fabia's anti-lock braking system (ABS) ensures maximum control of the vehicle in emergency braking situations. Its Motor Speed Regulator (MSR) and dual brake assist system ensure utmost safety while driving. The model also features dual front air bags that provide cushioning and reduce the impact in case of collisions. Fabia resembles the Maruti Swift in looks, but it is longer than the Ford Fusion.

The Fabia in India comes in diesel and petrol variants that are borrowed from the Skoda Roomster, which is another successful model from Skoda. The 1.4 PD TDI diesel variant comes with an Inline-3 engine that generates 70 bhp. The 86 bhp 1.4 MPI and the 70 bhp 1.2 MPT petrol variants have an Inline-4 engine. Both engines are coupled to a 5-speed manual transmission.

The diesel Fabia gives amazing fuel efficiency, which is close to 14.1 km/litre in the city and 18.5 km/litre on the highway. The Petrol variant is expected to deliver approximately 14.7 km/litre on the highway.

The Skoda Fabia has an instant appeal with its cheeky cuteness. This large hatchback has a sharp design that makes it stand out in its class. The Fabia successfully gives a compact appearance with a tight-fitting roof, projector headlamps that are a blend of aesthetics and functionality, and a big chrome bar with a classy look. The exterior appeal is further complemented by alloy wheels with wide tyres for better road grip.

Stepping into the hatch will give an altogether new experience of comfort, innovative technology, and safety features. The interiors have an impressive dual tone design for a lavish feel. Fabia's multi-textured seat fabrics give a touch of class to the interiors. The interior of the hatch is packed with technology that includes a multi-function information display of the current time, outdoor temperature, instantaneous fuel consumption, average fuel consumption, distance traveled, time driven, and average speed range. Convenience features include a remote keyless entry for one-touch lock and unlock, electronically adjustable and heated outside rear view mirrors, and front and rear power windows.

To keep occupants entertained, Fabia adds a CD/MP3 player with large graphic display and auxiliary audio input to use portable audio players.