Skoda, a Czech automaker, has unveiled the fourth-generation Fabia hatchback. The new Skoda Fabia is said to be the most luxurious car in its class, with enhanced luxury features and integrated protection and assistance systems.
MQB AO IN PLATFORM
The Volkswagen Group’s MQB AO platform underpins the upcoming Skoda Fabia, as well as the Volkswagen Polo, VW Virtus, Nivus Coupe SUV, T-Cross, and Skoda Kamiq. In reality, the upcoming VW Taigun and SKoda Kushaq are based on the MQB AO platform’s localised version. This forum is known as the MQB AO IN in India (IN refers to INDIA).
DIMENSIONS
The updated Skoda Fabia has a length of 4,108mm, a width of 1,780mm, and a height of 1,459mm, making it considerably larger than the previous one. The hatchback has 380 litres of boot space, which is 50 litres more than the previous edition. By folding the second row of seats, the boot room can be increased to 1,190 litres. The new model is 111mm longer and 48mm shorter than the old one. The wheelbase has been lengthened by 94 millimetres to 2,564 millimetres.
EXTERIOR
Skoda will offer the Fabia in a variety of body shapes, including Combi, Monte Carlo, Combi Monte Carlo, Black Edition Combi Scoutline, Clever, and Combi Clever. The hatchback will be available in three trim levels: Active, Ambition, and Style.
The new Skoda Fabia features sculptural lines on the bonnet and sharp creases all over the body in an all-new and more contemporary style. The hatchback gets a bigger version of the trademark butterfly grille with a chrome outline. It also comes with a complete LED lighting kit that includes full LED headlamps with integrated L-shaped LED DRLs and LED taillamps with Skoda’s signature crystalline components.
NEW SKODA FABIA INTERIOR
The new Skoda Fabia’s 2,564mm wheelbase is now much longer than the 2,512mm wheelbase of the first generation Skoda Octavia (launched in 1996). This results in a more compact cabin and a larger boot. In six separate models, the hatchback gets a symmetrical dashboard with a free-standing centre display and horizontal decorative stripes. The dashboard is upholstered in cloth with contrasting stitching starting with the Ambition variant. Around the air vents and on the door frames, there is a chrome treatment.
Copper and grey matching stitching, as well as decorative trims, are used on the hatchback. The updated LED ambient lighting helps the driver to choose between white and red for the decorative trim on the dashboard. LED reading lamps are located in the front and rear of the vehicle. For the DSG, it gets a new multi-functional steering wheel with paddle shifters. The heated steering wheel and windscreen come standard on the hatchback.
A 10.25-inch optical instrument console is standard on the new Fabia. The drivers will choose from a variety of formats, including the Classic layout, which features analogue round instruments, as well as the Modern, Reduced, and Extended layouts. Optionally, the Sport layout with the rev counter in the centre will be accessible. The new Fabia can be equipped with a dual-zone climatronic system as well as rear-seat air vents.
INFOTAINMENT & CONNECTIVITY
Three separate infotainment systems will be available for the upcoming Skoda Fabia. The Swing system comes with a 6.5-inch colour display, a radio, and four front speakers. A radio, an 8-inch screen, a Bluetooth hands-free system, and two external surround-sound speakers are available in the Bolero’s rear doors. The top-of-the-line model comes with a customisable 9.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are also supported by this device. It also comes with motion control as standard, and voice control is available as an add-on. Skoda Connect – connected car technology – is also available on the hatchback.
SAFETY FEATURES
The new Skoda Fabia has a Travel Assist feature that can be enabled at the touch of a screen. Adaptive cruise control, lane assist, hands-on detect (Travel Assist tests if the driver hits the steering wheel), blind spot detect, park assist, traffic sign detection, and front assist with predictive pedestrian and bicycle safety are among the driver assistance features available. Multiple airbags are standard on the hatchback (knee airbag for the driver & rear side airbags as optional).
ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS
There are five engine options for the new Skoda Fabia. It comes with a 1.0-liter, 3-cylinder MPI EVO engine with two tuning options: 64bhp and 79bhp. There are two power tunes for the 1.0-liter 3-cylinder turbocharged engine: 94bhp and 109bhp. A 1.5-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with 148bhp and 250Nm of torque powers the top-spec model. Active cylinder technology (ACT) is also used in this engine, which lowers both fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.