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

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

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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, ?koda 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 ?koda 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 ?koda model range and strengthen the activities in international markets."

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VIDEO: Meet the Bad Boy Builders of Skoda’s Mean Green Fabia vRS

After focusing on the "Mean Green" machine first, Skoda has now released a follow-up video clip documenting the fictional bad boy crew that builds the Fabia vRS hot-hatch in the firm"s latest commercial on the car for the United Kingdom. The new campaign takes a darker but equally humorous twist on the Fabia’s ‘Made of Lovely Stuff’ proposition which was made famous by the 2007 Fabia ‘Cake’ commercial. You can watch the new ad in the video after the jump.

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Skoda Celebrates IRC Title with Fabia RS Edition S2000

In celebration of the International Rally Championship (IRC) title won by its Fabia S2000, Skoda has rolled out a limited-run edition version of its road-going Fabia RS hot hatch dressed in the firm"s racing colors. All 200 examples of the car will be painted in a Rally Green finish with a white roof, white alloy wheels and stickers from the rally-spec S2000 model.

There are no other changes over the stock model, which was presented for the first time at this year"s Geneva International Motor Show. As a result, the limited edition Fabia RS gets the same 1.4-liter twin-charged petrol engine with 180-horsepower and a seven-speed dual-clutch DSG transmission with paddle-shifters transferring power to the front wheels.

Since changing colors has no affect on performance, the Edition S2000 is as fast as the normal Fabia RS reaching the 100km/h mark in 7.3 seconds while topping out at 225km/h or 140mph.

The VW Group owned maker has not yet released pricing for the Fabia RS Edition S2000.

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