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Guy finishes in points as Škoda wins IRC title
Friday 3rd September 2010
Škoda has won the 2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) manufacturers' title after a tremendous one-two-three finish on its home event, the Barum Czech Rally Zlín.
The rally also featured a solid performance by Škoda UK Motorsport driver Guy Wilks, who achieved his aim of finishing in the points on his comeback rally. Guy had to work hard to keep his Fabia S2000 Facelift in check over the slippery Moravian-region asphalt stages, eventually bringing it home in seventh place.
It was by no means an easy return to the IRC for Guy after his injury-enforced three-month absence. A wild deer ran into his car on SS3, causing considerable side panel damage, a flash fire at a refuel engulfed the back of the car in flames and heavy rain showers made driving on slick tyres even more hazardous.
Wilks's wait ends as Barum Czech Rally signals IRC return
Thursday 26th August 2010
Škoda UK Motorsport has polished its Fabia S2000 Facelift rally car, driver Guy Wilks has a new crash helmet and co-driver Phil Pugh has dry-cleaned his overalls. It can only mean one thing. Yes, the team is returning to Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) competition this weekend on Škoda's home round of the series, the Barum Czech Rally Zlín (27-29 August).
Guy tested the car earlier this week in the Czech Republic and reports that all is back to normal inside the cockpit. He might not be as match fit as his rivals, but having been sitting on the sidelines for 12 weeks there will be no-one keener to get going when the flag drops on Friday night and 40,000 spectators line the streets of Zlín to watch the opening super-special stage.
Guy Wilks to drive at Castle Combe Rallyday
Wednesday 25th August 2010
Guy Wilks promises to entertain the expected 10,000-strong crowd with a spectacular driving display in the Škoda UK Motorsport Fabia S2000 Facelift at the Castle Combe Rallyday on Saturday 18 September.
Regular co-driver Phil Pugh will surrender the hot seat for the day, because Škoda UK Motorsport will be donating passenger rides with Guy to three extremely good causes – the Richard Burns Foundation, Colin McRae Vision and Save The Children.
Škoda scores 1-2-3 hat-trick in Madeira
Monday 9th August 2010
Škoda Motorsport scored its third 1-2-3 finish of the 2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) on the Rali Vinho Madeira over the weekend. Freddy Loix, Jan Kopecký and Juho Hänninen locked out the podium in their Fabia S2000 cars. The maximum points haul means Škoda extends its lead to 37 points in the manufacturers' table.
Following an early battle with Luca Rossetti, Loix moved into a lead on stage seven that he would never relinquish. To underline his dominance he was fastest on 14 of the rally's 21 all-asphalt stages, despite nursing an injured left shoulder, which he sustained falling off his motorbike two weeks before.
Škoda cleans up at Auto Express New Car Awards
Wednesday 4th August 2010
Škoda enjoyed a fantastic night at the Auto Express New Car Awards, with the brand picking up an unprecedented five awards.
Škoda won Best Crossover Car for Yeti, Best Family Car for Superb and Best Estate Car for Superb Estate. Most impressively, the Yeti drove off with the overall title of Car of the Year 2010. The brand also picked up the Driver Power Award for reliability and outstanding customer service.
The Auto Express judges loved the blend of outstanding engine line-ups, high spec levels, reliability and value for money offered by all our winners. They were particularly impressed with the Yeti, saying: "In a year that has seen the arrival of some truly special cars, the Škoda is a worthy winner of our overall crown."
Škoda UK Director Robert Hazelwood said: "This is a fantastic honour! We're delighted that Auto Express thinks as highly of the Yeti as we do. It's a fantastic car and is selling well, ahead of even our optimistic forecasts. It provides, as Auto Express said, stylish looks and great value with a huge helping of fun.
"The awards for Škoda Superb Hatch and Estate, and the Driver Power award are also fantastic. Driver Power is especially rewarding, as it recognises the work that our retailers do to provide outstanding customer service to Škoda owners across the UK.
"Škoda is having a great year, with record sales and the largest order bank in our history. We believe the reasons for that are simple and are reflected in what Auto Express recognised with these awards – great products built with excellent engineering and a retailer network that takes outstanding care of our customers."
Full details of the awards are in this week's copy of Auto Express – why not pick up a few for your showroom?
The Auto Express verdict
Best Estate Car – Superb Estate
"The Superb saloon is a firm Auto Express favourite, and the arrival of the Estate has broadened the model's appeal even further. The four-door's high-quality cabin, sharp dynamics and imposing looks have been given an added dose of practicality – and the load-carrier's 633-litre boot leads the class.
"A revised rear end also improves the styling, so the Superb is a rare thing – a car that looks even better as an estate than it does as a hatchback or saloon. A brilliant engine line-up, the option of the Volkswagen Group's DSG gearbox and the availability of a 4x4 transmission also mean the range enjoys the kind of strength in depth required to win this prize.
"The fact that the model comes with hugely competitive price tags, generous equipment levels and the promise of Škoda reliability and aftersales service makes it a deserving winner of our Estate Car award."
Best Crossover Car – Yeti
"If Tonka made real cars, the Škoda Yeti is how they would look – but the crossover is more than just a chunky shape. It's designed to attract buyers of traditional compact SUVs, as well as motorists who currently drive a regular family hatch, and it's easy to see the appeal.
"It comes with a choice of two- or four-wheel drive, a roomy interior full of high quality trim and the best engine technology that the Volkswagen Group has to offer. So the Yeti provides the styling of a tough off-roader with the running costs of a conventional family model. Picking a favourite isn't easy, as the line-up is really strong, but the 1.2-litre TSI is a brilliant choice. Generous equipment and Škoda's famed reliability and customer service take care of the rest."
Best Family Car – Superb Hatch
"The Škoda Superb must like a scrap – not content with seeing off traditional class rivals from mainstream brands, the Czech machine is also good enough to rival cars from the class above, too.
"The huge cabin and boot ensure it competes on size, but there's more to the Superb than its dimensions. Interior quality is excellent, and the brilliance of the engine line-up is evident even on the entry car in the range, which features the Volkswagen Group's smooth 1.4-litre TSI unit.
"Inside, equipment levels are generous. Go for Elegance spec and you'll find that everything from leather upholstery to sat-nav is fitted as standard. What's more, the Škoda badge guarantees tremendous build quality, plus aftersales service that is among the best on the market."
Driver Power
"Some brands are expected to perform on reliability and service… as they crow about it at every opportunity. Škoda isn't one of them. Instead, it goes about its business quietly and efficiently – and this approach has won it a legion of admirers.
"Most people think the brand stands for great-value cars that provide Volkswagen quality at lower prices. Well, this is only partly true – because buyers get better than that, for less. No-nonsense Škoda trumped its Volkswagen Group stablemates with another strong showing in our Driver Power 2010 satisfaction survey. In fact, it beat all-comers to take the top prize.
"In 2009, Škoda became the first firm to knock Lexus off the top of our chart, based on the responses of thousands of car owners, and it triumphed again this year.
"No model won an individual category (rating everything from build to running costs), but strong performances across the board show exactly how much you, our readers, think of Škoda's products."
Car of the Year – Yeti
"The winner of our Car of the Year prize has to be the unanimous choice of our judging panel, and is picked from our line-up of class champions. This year, the award goes to a car that blends the looks of an off-roader with the versatility of a compact MPV, but doesn't demand the dynamic or financial compromises usually associated with either.
"The Škoda Yeti mixes tough Tonka toy looks, sharp handling and a high-quality and spacious cabin with the brand's famed value-for-money pricing and customer service. Its brilliant engine line-up ranges from the entry-level 1.2 TSI (arguably the sweetest of the lot) to a 168bhp 2.0-litre diesel, and buyers can also choose between two-wheel-drive or 4x4 models. In addition, the Volkswagen Group's excellent twin-clutch DSG transmission is available as an option.
"Best of all is the price, as the Yeti range kicks off at less than £14,000. In a year that has seen the arrival of some truly special cars, the Škoda is a worthy winner of our overall crown."
vRS gets Fabia-lous review in Auto Express
Tuesday 27th July 2010
The Fabia vRS and Super 2000 went head-to-head in a series of scorching track laps in a six-page spread for last week's Auto Express. The pumped-up vRS gave as good as it got with a "punchy performance" and earned itself a Fabia-lous review.
Auto Express hailed the vRS for its "rock-solid build quality" and "efficient engine and twin-clutch box which provide an attractive balance between fun and everyday usability."
On the test track, the vRS completed the sprint from 0-60mph in 6.9 seconds which means "real-world overtaking ability is excellent" and "the slick transmission adds to its grown-up persona."
Auto Express described the vRS as "great value" and gave it four stars in the 'costs' category as well as the 'green' category. They said: "with its efficient small-capacity engine and DSG gearbox, the vRS returns strong 32.6mpg economy and puts out 148g/km of CO2. That's impressive for a 178bhp hot hatch."
"It rides well and the engine is smooth and punchy. Slick-shifting DSG box adds to the appeal."
Auto Express also took the chance to review the new Fabia Super 2000 Facelift and our high performance mean-machine lived up to its Super name round the track. Auto Express described the ride as "breathtaking" and said that, through corners, the S2000 "really blows your mind."
The Super 2000 was commended for both looking and acting the part, earning a full five stars for 'styling' and 'driving'. Auto Express were impressed with its "bulging bodywork and long-travel gravel suspension" and how it delivers "incredible agility, grip, steering responses and power."
The Super 2000 will be back in action for Škoda Motorsport UK at the Barum Rally in the Czech Republic on 27 August with Guy Wilks behind the wheel.
The Sun hails new Fabia vRS
Friday 16th July 2010
The Sun's Motoring Editor Ken Gibson joined us for the UK press launch of the Fabia vRS last week, and was blown away by our fantastic new hot hatch.
Today's Sun Motors dedicated almost an entire page to the vRS, with a glowing review of the car, plus a more general piece on the Škoda success story. Gibson says: "[Škoda] have one of the most impressive model line-ups in mainstream motoring."
Gibson took the opportunity to try out the Fabia vRS at full tilt on the circuit, in the company of Škoda Motorsport's Juho Hänninen, and he was mightily impressed. "But if you really want to experience its capabilities flat out, I suggest a few laps around an extreme handling course driven at the limit by a Finnish rally driver," he writes. "That leaves you in no doubt this is a genuine hot hatch."
Gibson is impressed by the Fabia vRS's cool looks, too: "The new Fabia has a bold, confident look accentuated by a bright metallic green paint job, complete with contrasting black roof and black 17in alloys." He also praises the car's fuel economy, practicality and specification, concluding: "The Fabia is keenly priced from £15,700. The Škoda is no longer the cheapest on the market but it remains one of the best all-round packages."
Wilks to make IRC return on Barum Czech Rally Zlín
Friday 9th July 2010
Guy Wilks will return to the Intercontinental Rally Challenge in his Škoda UK Motorsport Fabia S2000 on the Barum Czech Rally Zlín, which takes place in the Czech Republic on 27-29 August.
The 29-year old Darlington driver has been out of competition since he and co-driver Phil Pugh crashed out of the Rally d'Italia-Sardegna at the beginning of June. Guy is recovering well from the two fractured vertebrae he sustained in that accident, and is focused on getting himself fully fit for Škoda Motorsport’s home round of the series.
Loix ready for Goodwood after Ypres Rally victory
Thursday 1st July 2010
Freddy Loix prepared for this weekend’s Goodwood Festival of Speed in the best possible way by winning the Geko Ypres Rally (24-26 June), in the Škoda Fabia S2000 Facelift – giving the car its first win on his competition debut.
Jan Kopecký made it a great weekend for Škoda Motorsport by finishing second in his Fabia S2000 Facelift. What’s more, Desktop went along to sample the rally atmosphere – click the video right to find out more.
It’s the third time in six rallies that Škoda has finished first and second in an Intercontinental Rally Challenge event this year to score maximum manufacturers’ championship points. In doing so, it increased its lead in the manufacturers’ standings to 43 points.
Superb Estate a hit with Fifth Gear
Friday 25th June 2010If you didn’t catch the fantastic video review on the Superb Estate last night (Thursday 24 June) on Fifth Gear television, you can now watch the five-minute clip online.
The Fifth Gear crew tested a Superb Estate 3.6 V6 Elegance against two competitors, with the test focusing on what the programme’s producers called the four ‘S’s - speed, style, sophistication and space.
Graham Smiles, producer of Fifth Gear, told us: “Our filming with the lovely Superb Estate V6 went very well - we had great fun with it at Millbrook."
Click here to watch the clip.
Loix joins Wilks at Škoda UK for Goodwood Festival
Monday 21th June 2010
Freddy Loix will make his Goodwood Festival of Speed debut next month (2-4 July), driving the Škoda UK Motorsport Fabia S2000 on the Forest Rally Stage. Guy Wilks will also be at the event, making his first public appearance since his accident on the Rally d'Italia-Sardegna.
Freddy is one of Belgium’s top professional rally drivers, with a career spanning 25 years and a long and distinguished history of competing in the FIA World Rally Championship. It will be an all-too-rare chance for British rally fans to see the 39-year-old driver in action.
Two titles for Škoda in Towcar Awards 2010
Tuesday 16th June 2010
The motoring press continues to shower awards on Škoda. This week, the brand picked up two titles in the prestigious Practical Caravan Towcar Awards 2010. The Superb Estate 2.0 TDI CR 170 SE was named best car in the 1575-1724kg class, and the Octavia Estate 1.6 TDI CR GreenLine won the Green Award.
These are the latest in a string of awards for Škoda, closely following the brand’s success in the Which? awards and the Auto Express Driver Power survey. The brand has also picked up a number of towcar titles in the past couple of years, including the Superb Hatch winning its class in last year's Towcar Awards.
Practical Caravan claims its awards, backed by What Car? and The Camping and Caravanning Club, are “the UK's most vigorous and thorough towcar assessment programme”. Each car is tested by a panel of six judges for its towing ability, buying and owning costs, drive quality when not towing and practicality.
Of the Superb, Practical Caravan said: “The estate is simply huge. There are 633 litres with the seats upright and a huge 1865 litres if they are folded forward. Rear-seat space is exceptional for a family estate, with enough head- and legroom to rival some luxury cars. Size isn’t everything, however, and fortunately the Superb tows, well, superbly… The Škoda’s stability was even more impressive than its acceleration.” The judges were also impressed by the Superb Estate’s value for money and fuel economy.
The Octavia Estate GreenLine was, according to Practical Caravan: “One of the best [‘green’ cars] we’ve tested.” The judges praised the GreenLine’s towing ability, price tag and fuel economy: “Official economy figures are exceptionally good for a car as large and roomy as this one. The Octavia’s 64.2mpg makes it one of the most fuel-efficient cars on test, and carbon dioxide emissions of 114g/km will keep road tax bills low, too.”
You can read the full articles from Practical Caravan below.
Škoda confirmed as Official Vehicle Supplier to RACMSA Rally of Scotland for second year running
Tuesday 15th June 2010
Škoda will again be Official Vehicle Supplier to the RACMSA Rally of Scotland, which runs this year from 15 to 17 October. Škoda UK Motorsport will also be defending its title at the event, the penultimate round of the 2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge, having won last year’s rally with driver Guy Wilks and co-driver Phil Pugh in the Fabia Super 2000.
A fleet of four-wheel drive Škoda Yetis and Octavia Scouts will transport VIPs and rally officials from stage to stage, and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is supplying vans to carry all the essential rally equipment around the route, such as the timing systems and control points.
A Yeti, supplied by local Škoda retailer Newmarket Garage of Bannockburn, was displayed outside the Touch Estate near Stirling during last week’s official Rally of Scotland launch, and Škoda and Volkswagen vehicles will continued to be used in the build up to the event.
Robert Hazelwood, Director of Škoda UK, said: “Our involvement with the RACMSA Rally of Scotland last year proved an extremely successful one, so we are delighted to support the event organisers by continuing as the Official Vehicle Supplier in 2010. This association will give rally fans an opportunity to see our four-wheel drive road vehicles, as well as our rally car, operating in the rugged environment they were designed for.”
Andrew Coe, Chief Executive of event organiser International Motor Sports, said: "On behalf of the RACMSA Rally of Scotland, I am delighted to once again welcome Škoda UK to the Rally of Scotland family as Official Vehicle Supplier. Last year, Škoda UK provided us with the opportunity to use the newly launched Škoda Yeti, which proved to be perfectly suited to our requirements. It is reassuring that Škoda has recognised the value of its relationship with Rally of Scotland and is working with us again in 2010, bringing Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles along as well.
“Ours is a special event for Škoda UK as it was here that it enjoyed its very first victory on the Intercontinental Rally Challenge. We look forward to seeing the Škoda UK Fabia S2000 of Guy Wilks take on the challenge of the 2010 route in an attempt to defend his Scottish crown.”
Wilks heads to oxygen chamber to speed up recovery
Tuesday 15th June 2010
Škoda UK Motorsport driver Guy Wilks is spending time in an oxygen chamber to help speed up his recovery, after suffering two fractured vertebrae in an accident on Rally d'Italia-Sardegna.
Early medical assessments indicate that the fractures will heal quickly and that Guy will be able to start a special training programme very soon. Having arrived back in the UK on Monday night (7 June), Guy spoke to an Ipswich-based bone specialist, who gave a positive estimate of recovery time.
Wilks third in IRC despite crashing out
Monday 7th June 2010
Guy Wilks is flying home from Sardinia today in third place in the IRC, despite spending most of the Rally d’Italia-Sardegna in hospital after fracturing two vertebrae in an accident on the opening stage.
Guy’s misfortune aside, it was a good rally for Škoda Motorsport, with Juho Hänninen and Jan Kopecký finishing first and third in Sardinia. The three Fabia S2000 drivers continue to hold the top three positions in the drivers’ standings, and Škoda maintains its lead in the manufacturers’ championship.
Škoda placed sixth in JD Power 2010
Friday 4th June 2010
Škoda has enjoyed another strong performance in the annual JD Power survey, beating premium brands to finish sixth out of 27 manufacturers.
The survey covers four main areas – service satisfaction, vehicle quality and reliability, vehicle appeal and ownership costs – and getting a high placing is recognised as a real achievement throughout the industry.
Vehicle appeal is the most important, accounting for 37 per cent of a car’s overall result. Next is quality and reliability (24 per cent), ownership costs (22 per cent) and service satisfaction (17 per cent).
John Bower, Head of Aftersales at Škoda UK, said: “We are pleased to have finished sixth out of a field of 27 manufacturers. We are also delighted to have retained our position in the top 10 for the 17th consecutive year.
“Škoda owners are happy with the quality of service delivered by our retailers and enjoy our vehicles’ low running costs – two qualities that are at the heart of the Škoda brand.”
JD Power is a well-respected, independent and globally recognised customer satisfaction survey that allows us to compare ourselves with other manufacturers. It is also one of the few surveys that is published to customers.
All cars included in this year’s survey were registered between January 2007 and December 2008.
A copy of this year’s JD Power report is featured in the July edition of What Car? magazine.
Superb Estate in Auto Express
Friday 4th June 2010
The Superb Estate swept the board in an Auto Express road test that featured estates from Ford, Subaru, Honda and Volvo.
The Superb 2.0 TDI CR Elegance impressed the testers so much they said: “As an estate car, the Superb is without equal here. Not only does it fit the bill as a practical holdall, it’s also great to drive, economical and well equipped. The classy cabin and Škoda’s brilliant reputation for aftersales service are the icing on the cake,” said the 2 June issue of the magazine.
The Superb Estate scored a perfect five stars for interior quality, practicality and costs, losing just one star for styling and driving. The tester said the car had “limousine legroom” for rear-seat passengers, 200 litres more loadspace than the Honda Accord Tourer ES GT, and described it as a “a genuinely talented” long-distance cruiser.
Read an online version of the Auto Express estates review here
Wilks targets more IRC points for koda UK in Sardinia
Friday 28th May 2010
Having finished the last three rounds of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge on the podium, Guy Wilks is hoping to continue his excellent run of success when he contests round five of the series, Rally d'Italia-Sardegna (4-6 June), in his Škoda UK Motorsport Fabia S2000.
Škoda tops the manufacturers’ table
Thanks to great performances in Brazil (second), Argentina (second) and Gran Canarias (third), and a 100 per cent finishing record in his Fabia S2000, Guy is tied for second with Jan Kopecký in the drivers’ table, and has helped Škoda establish a healthy 31 point lead in the manufacturers’ standings.
Rally d'Italia-Sardegna is a notoriously fast and difficult event, yet Guy is confident he can produce another good result on what is expected to be the most competitive IRC rally of the year so far.
Four stars for Fabia vRS
Wednesday 26th May 2010Autocar magazine has given the Fabia vRS an impressive four stars in its first review of our new hot hatch, saying: “Hot Fabia is an absolute hoot to drive and a bargain next to the similar Polo GTI.”
The magazine loved the combination of thrilling performance, excellent equipment and, above all, driving pleasure the vRS offers. Reviewer Tim Dickson wrote: “But most of all, the Fabia is great fun to drive when you’re in the mood and an entirely agreeable – not to mention practical – mode of transport when you’re not.”
You can read the full article below and don’t forget to check the rest of the motoring press for more reviews.
>> read more at Autocar online
Škoda wins top honour at Which? awards
Thursday 20th May 2010
koda has won the prestigious Best Car Manufacturer title in the annual Which? Awards, presented at the British Museum yesterday (19 May). koda trumped the competition including premium brands thanks to its outstanding customer service and products.
koda UK Director, Robert Hazelwood, said:"We're really pleased to win this award. It shows just how highly Which? rates our products and service. We're very proud of the excellent engineering and great value in every one of our cars, and pleased that Which? has recognised the outstanding personal service our retailers give their customers."
The Which? car test team and Which? members were impressed with koda's reliability, customer care and the quality of its retailers. koda achieved above-average marks for its retailers (79 per cent) and its service (81 per cent), and the brand had a reliability score of 79 per cent. Four koda models were judged to be Best Buys' or Worth Considering'.
Which? Chief Executive, Peter Vicary-Smith, said: "koda is a car company ideally suited to the times, as people demand more but want to pay less. It offers a great range of reasonably-priced, well-built cars."
Announcing the awards, he added: "The winner of this award is a car brand much praised by its customers, with high scores on dealer satisfaction for both sales and servicing. Owner satisfaction is also high, with most Which? members rating it as very good. The company also achieved a number of best buys for the various models we tested, making koda an obvious choice for Best Car Manufacturer 2010."
Editor of Which? Car, Richard Headland added: "'People might know koda as a purveyor of value, but what they might not know is that this brand should be equally recognised for its quality of product, itsreliabilityand its excellent retailer network."
Introducing the Fabia vRS - Made of meaner stuff
Tuesday 18th May 2010Take the multi-award-winning Škoda Fabia. Add a heap of darkness. What you’ve got is the new Fabia vRS. We’ve packed a vRS supercharger and turbo into the 1.4 TSI 180bhp engine. Giving you a hot hatch that generates a mean 180 bhp and goes from 0-62mph in just 7.3 seconds, making it the fastest and most powerful Fabia ever.
The mood continues behind the wheel with vRS sports seats and a leather 3-spoke sports steering wheel with paddles to control the 7-speed DSG gearbox. The mean look is completed with LED lights, rear diffuser and chrome exhaust. You can customise your vRS with 15 colour combinations, then choose the meanest alloys from four. We recommend the black.
A great week for Yeti
Friday 14th May 2010
It's been a good week in the press for the Yeti. First of all, this month's Evo magazine pitched the Yeti against the mag's current car of the year – the Lotus Evora – then Autocar ran a very impressive report on its Yeti long-termer.
Evo freely admits that the Yeti doesn't seem like its kind of car, but the team was so impressed after driving a recent loan Yeti, that they decided to give the car a real test in the French Alps alongside the Evora.. As Evo said: "Our logic is simple: if the Yeti shines in such dazzling company, even for a moment, our collective excitement (not to mention professional reputations) will be vindicated."
And shine the Yeti did. "I reckon it looks cool," wrote Richard Meaden. "The styling is sharp, neat and confident with some really high-quality detailing… What's more, it makes its obvious rival, the Nissan Qashqai, look even more pig-like.
"On our charge through the mountains, the Yeti's Haldex four-wheel-drive underpinnings make it predictable and trustworthy in the manner of a front-drive car, but you can also play some games, especially on corner entry, which helps neutralise the balance and even get the tail gently coming into play. It's subtle, satisfying stuff.
Meaden concludes: "What our 1700-mile Alpine odyssey has also proved is that the Yeti is truly multi-talented, an all-rounder of rare breadth and cohesion. It does the juinior SUV thing without the obnoxious image. It does the family MPV thing without being mumsy. It's a convincing all-wheel-drive soft-roader that can tow up to 2000kg, which, if you want a more useful unit of measurement, is a decent-sized trailer and a trackday sports car of your choice.
"Most impressively, it bubbles with enthusiasm, chuckability and the infectious spirit of a well-executed hot hatch, yet deftly avoids the pitfall of trying too hard to be overtly sporty. It's this amazing versatility and bold execution that ensures it manages to feel ‘right' so much of the time, and is why we're such big fans."
Autocar was more conventional, but no less complimentary. This was a 2000-mile report on the mag's long-term loan Yeti 1.2TSI DSG SE. Reviewer Stuart Price loved the practicality of the Yeti, praising the load-lugging capacity, innovative storage touches and ride position. You can read the full article here.
Guy Wilks set for Italian job
Monday 7th May 2010
Guy Wilks will be aiming for his fourth straight Intercontinental Rally Challenge podium finish next month, when he drives his Škoda UK Motorsport Fabia S2000 in the next round of the series, Rally d'Italia-Sardegna.
Two out of the four rallies contested so far this season – Rally Brazil and Rally Islas Canarias – have been new adventures for Guy, yet he has finished on the podium in both, as well as in Argentina. He lies second in the drivers’ standings, tied on points with Jan Kopecký. Series leader Juho Hänninen makes it a Škoda 1-2-3 at the top of the drivers’ table.Škoda also leads the IRC manufacturers’ standings.
Podium hat-trick for Wilks as Škoda repeats 1-2-3
Saturday 1st May 2010
Guy Wilks and co-driver Phil Pugh scored a sensational third consecutive podium finish in the 2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge after coming home third on the Rally Islas Canarias 'Trofeo El Corte Ingles', which finished in Las Palmas today.
Guy was driving the same Škoda UK Motorsport Fabia S2000 in which he’d finished second on Rally Brazil nd Rally Argentina. Having been shipped to Gran Canarias directly from South America, only a limited amount of time was available to change the car from gravel to asphalt specification – performed by the team’s skilled mechanics in the service bays of a Škoda retailer in Las Palmas.
Guy Wilks at Rally Monte Carlo
Monday 26th April 2010In the first of our exclusive videos, Škoda UK Motorsport driver Guy Wilks takes you through footage from Rally Monte Carlo.
It was Guy's and co-driver Phil Pugh's first rally for Škoda since victory in last year's Rally Scotland, and the duo were keen to get off to a solid start for the team in its first full season of competition in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.
Cue Wilks - rally driver turns commentator
Friday 23rd April 2010
Guy Wilks showed that he’s just as competent behind the microphone as he is behind a steering wheel, when he swapped his Škoda UK Motorsport Fabia S2000 for a recording studio.
Guy travelled to Teddington Studios in south-west London – made famous for producing programmes like Men Behaving Badly, Pop Idol, Trisha and Harry Hill’s TV Burp – to relive some recent happy rally memories.
Wilks wins race against volcanic ash
Wednesday 21st April 2010
Guy Wilks’s lightning-fast, rally driver’s decision-making kept him one step ahead of his fellow travellers last week. The Škoda UK Motorsport star mastered the chaos on his journey back from Italy while the Icelandic volcano ash cloud rapidly engulfed European air space.
Having successfully completed a day and a half’s asphalt testing near San Donato, in the mountains above Sanremo, Guy made the journey by car to Nice airport at lunchtime on Thursday (15 April).
Faced with 500 people clearly going nowhere at the easyJet check-in, the quick-thinking Fabia S2000 driver joined a queue of eight people wanting to fly internally to Paris. Upon arrival at Orly airport, Guy took a train to Gare du Nord, where he bought one of the last remaining Eurostar tickets.
But that’s not the end of the story. Having arrived at St Pancras later than scheduled, Guy had just 18 minutes to battle his way through the crowds, get to King’s Cross train station, buy a ticket and get on the last loco to Durham that night. Luckily, Guy lived up to his reputation as one of Britain’s fastest rally drivers and made the train.
Škoda wins Driver Power manufacturer award - again
Wednesday 14th April 2010
For the second year in a row, Škoda has been named best overall manufacturer in the Auto Express Driver Power awards. The Octavia also picked up the prize for Best Family Car and finished third overall.
Completed by more than 23,000 drivers, these awards are widely regarded as the definitive poll on car reliability and customer satisfaction. Those questioned praised Škoda and singled out the Octavia for its combination of quality, fine driving dynamics, value and reliability.
Škoda UK Brand Director, Robert Hazelwood, said: “Being awarded the Best Manufacturer in the Auto Express Driver Power Survey again is great news for Škoda and its dedicated UK retailers. We are delighted to accept the award, as it’s important that customers tell us they are pleased with the Škoda driving experience.”
Full results can be seen in the Auto Express Driver Power special issue that’s on sale now – why not buy a few copies today for your showroom?
Škoda UK Motorsport to contest Rally Islas Canarias
Tuesday 30th March 2010
Guy Wilks and Phil Pugh will contest the Rally Islas Canarias 'Trofeo El Corte Ingles' (28 April-1 May) in their Škoda UK Motorsport Fabia S2000.
The Spanish rally has been added to Škoda UK Motorsport’s programme after the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) promoter, Eurosport Events, announced that Rally Islas Canarias will replace Rally Principe de Asturias (which was scheduled to take place between 9-11 September) in the calendar.
Wilks second in Rally Argentina
Monday 22nd March 2010
Guy Wilks achieved an excellent second place in Rally Argentina over the weekend, behind fellow Škoda driver Juho Hänninen. It was a great weekend for Škoda, with Jan Kopecký finishing third to give the Czech manufacturer three drivers on the podium for the first time ever in an international rally.
The result extends Škoda’s lead at the top of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge manufacturers’ points table to 22 points. Guy stays second in the drivers’ series, just five points behind Hänninen.
Škoda UK Motorsport team head to Argentina
Tuesday 16th March 2010
The Škoda UK Motorsport team has arrived in Villa Carlos Paz, host town for this weekend’s Rally Argentina – round three of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.
While the team’s Fabia S2000 made the 1,200-mile journey overland from Curitiba to Villa Carlos Paz, Škoda UK Motorsport personnel did the same journey by air, via Rio de Janeiro, Iguacu and Buenos Aires.
The 12-strong rally squad made the passage from Brazil to Argentina at the spectacular Iguacu Falls, during a team-building week between the South American IRC rounds.
The Iguacu system consists of 275 falls along 1.6 miles of the Iguacu River. Some of the falls are up to 269 ft high, including the aptly-named Devil's Throat, which marks the border between Brazil and Argentina.
Guy and Phil train in Rio
Friday 12th March 2010
Other IRC teams may have gone in separate directions in the week between rallies, but the Škoda UK Motorsport team has stayed together for a week of training and team-building.
Guy Wilks and Phil Pugh, along with the rest of team, are in South America between Rally Brazil and the forthcoming Rally Argentina (March 19-21) to train for the next round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.
As well as allowing them to spend time building team spirit, this has saved the squad two unnecessary 12-hour trans-Atlantic flights, and some money.
Fabia and Roomster facelift changes
Thursday 11th March 2010The facelifted versions of the Fabia and Roomster have now been launched. The new models feature a number of changes from the old models, both inside and out. The information below outlines the main changes and will help you with ordering.
Summary of new features:
- Remodelled front section – new headlamps, bumper, radiator grille, bonnet, fog lamps
- New body colours
- New turbocharged petrol engines
- New common-rail diesel engines
- New seven-speed DSG automatic transmission for the 1.2 TSI 105 bhp
- New range of steel and alloy wheels
- Revamped interior parts – instrument panel, heating and air-conditioning control panel, multifunction steering wheels
- New upholstery fabrics
- New stereo and MDI availability
- New GSM II telephone with Bluetooth (SE and above)
- Improved electronic stability control systems (ESP plus)
Wilks makes a splash on Rally Brazil debut
Monday 8th March 2010Guy Wilks finished a fantastic second in Brazil’s Rally International de Curitiba in his Škoda UK Motorsport Fabia S2000, taking him to second in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) standings after two rounds.
On his first rally in Brazil, Guy drove brilliantly to hold second place throughout the challenging two-day event. Having only seen the stages during a mandatory 60 km/h recce, Guy’s first attempt at the fast and flowing stages saw average speeds of over 130 km/h. Guy and co-driver Phil Pugh went on to better their times when the stages were repeated.
Hot new Fabia vRS makes debut at Geneva
Friday 5th March 2010
The newly facelifted Fabia and Roomster ranges took centre stage on the Škoda stand at the Geneva Motor Show this week, and the star among them was the new Fabia vRS.
The vRS uses a fizzing 1.4-litre Twincharger engine pumping out 180bhp, and an aggressive bodykit that borrows its look from the Fabia WRC car.
The links to the rally car were especially evident in the show vRS, which was painted the same rally green, albeit with a smart contrasting black roof. You can also specify different colour alloys if you'd like, although even in standard form the five-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels lend the vRS a muscular look.
The engine is mated to a standard seven-speed DSG gearbox, complete with paddle shifts behind the wheel. The gearbox not only makes for seamless switching between cogs, making for a low 7.3 second 0-60mph time, but also a fantastic combined fuel economy of 44.1mpg.
This time round, the vRS will also be available as an estate, too. The estate gets the same roof-mounted spoiler, rear diffuser and twin tailpipes as the hatch, but with a lot more practicality too.
Guy leads the Škoda charge in Brazil
Friday 5th March 2010
Guy Wilks is the leading Škoda Fabia S2000 driver after the opening four stages of the Rally International de Curitiba - his first rally in Brazil.
This leaves the Škoda UK Motorsport driver in second place overall, just 23.1 seconds behind last year’s rally winner Kris Meeke.
Jan Kopecký is 19.2 seconds behind Guy, and his Škoda Motorsport team-mate Juho Hänninen is fifth, after losing time on the opening stage with a puncture.
Skoda Superb estate LAUNCH
The line-up will get three petrols and three diesels from the current Superb range, including a 125HP 1.4-litre TSI, a 260HP 3.6-liter V6 FSI plus the company’s first common rail diesel, the 2.0 TDI CR with 175 horsepower. The engines will be coupled to manual gearboxes and optionally, to the VW Group’s DSG twin-clutch transmission.
Read a review at Which? and The Sun
Skoda Superb 2010 Towcar of the Year award
The Škoda Superb 3.6 V6 260bhp 4x4 DSG won a category in the 2010 Towcar of the Year awards for the "All-Wheel-Drive Vehicles Under 1800kg category". This is the second year running that the Superb has been honoured, with the 2.0 TDI proving itself a capable towcar by taking top prize in the 2009 contest.
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