Skoda line up

Škoda Auto is a Czech automobile manufacturer. In 1991, it became a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group (VAG).

The origins of Škoda go back to the early 1890s where, like many long-established car manufacturers, the company started out with the manufacture of bicycles. It was 1894, and 26-year old Václav Klement, who was a bookseller by trade in Mladá Boleslav, in today's Czech Republic (which was then part of Austria-Hungary) was unable to obtain the right spare parts to repair his German bicycle. Klement returned his bicycle to the manufacturers, Seidel and Naumann, with a letter, in Czech, asking for them to carry out repairs, only to receive a reply, in German, stating: "If you would like an answer to your inquiry, you should try writing in a language we can understand." A disgusted Klement, despite not having any previous technical experience, then decided to start his own bicycle repair shop, which he and Václav Laurin opened in 1895 in Mladá Boleslav. Before going into business partnership with Klement, Laurin was an already established bicycle manufacturer from the nearby town of Turnov. In 1898, after moving to their newly-built factory, the pair bought a Werner "motorcyclette", which was produced by French manufacturer Werner Brothers. Laurin & Klement's first motorcyclette (which was powered by an engine mounted on the handlebars driving the front wheels) proved dangerous and unreliable - an early incident on it cost Laurin a front tooth. To design a safer machine with its structure around the engine, the pair wrote to German ignition specialist Robert Bosch for advice on a different electromagnetic system. The pair's new Slavia motorcycle made its debut in 1899. In 1900, when the company had a workforce of 32, Slavia exports began, with 150 machines shipped to London for the Hewtson firm. Shortly afterwards, the press credited them as makers of the first motorcycle.

The first model, Voiturette A, was a success and the company was established both within Austria-Hungary and internationally. By 1905 cars were being produced by the firm. During the First World War Škoda was engaged in war production.

After WWI it began producing trucks, but in 1924, after running into problems and being hit by a fire, the company sought a partner. As a result it merged with Škoda Works, the biggest industrial enterprise in Czechoslovakia. Most later production was under the Škoda name. After a decline during the economic depression, Škoda was again successful with models such as the Popular in the late 1930s.

During the World War II Occupation of Czechoslovakia, the Škoda works was turned into part of Hermann Göring Werke serving the German World War II effort.


Fabia

The Škoda Fabia is a supermini produced by Czech manufacturer Škoda Auto since 1999. It is the first model to use the Volkswagen Group's A04 platform, which it shares with the Volkswagen Polo Mk IV and SEAT Ibiza. It was the successor to the Škoda Felicia, which was discontinued in 2001. The Fabia is available in hatchback, estate (named Fabia Combi) and saloon (named Fabia Sedan) body styles while from 2007 merging in the second generation - starting with hatchback and awaiting the new estate version. The saloon variant is not planned for the second generation.

The second generation Fabia was officially presented at the Geneva Auto Show in March 2007 and is being sold from April 2007. It is slightly larger than its predecessor and takes styling cues from the new Roomster leisure activity vehicle.

Škoda UK has created a television advertisement featuring the making of a Škoda Fabia car out of cake while swapped rivets for raisins, metl for marzipan and spark plugs for sugar.

The estate variant was officially announced in August 2007 and was introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2007. Compared with the first generation the new Combi is 7 mm longer, 46 mm higher higher and the boot has grown by 54 litres (to 480 litres total). The engine portfolio is the same as the hatchback version, without the 1.2 44 kW one.

Octavia

The Škoda Octavia is a small family car produced by Czech automaker Škoda Auto since 1996, its name revived from a model originally produced between 1959 and 1971. The current Octavia is available in five-door liftback and estate body styles. A common misconception is that the Octavia is a saloon due to its long boot.

The second generation was introduced in 2004 based on the A platform also used by other Volkswagen Group cars, including the Audi A3 II, VW Golf V, SEAT León II, SEAT Altea, VW Golf Plus and VW Touran. Along with a new engine range, also shared with other models of the Volkswagen Group, body changes included more legroom for rear seat passengers (a weak point in the original model) and increased ground clearance at front and rear to reduce the risk of grounding on steep ramps or facing kerbs.

In India, the second-generation Octavia is marketed as the Laura to distinguish it from the first generation.

An off-road version of the Octavia was announced in the third quarter of 2006 under the name Octavia Scout. Only available with the estate body style, the Octavia Scout features a Haldex four-wheel drive, which is based on a computer-controlled clutch-based center-differential. The Octavia 4x4 offers 24 mm higher ground clearance than standard versions. The Scout model offers an additional 16 mm for a total 40 mm higher ground clearance than the standard versions.

Superb

The Škoda Superb is an executive car built by the Czech car manufacturer Škoda Auto. It is based on the platform of the Volkswagen Passat (but was elongated by 10 centimetres (3.9 in)) and shares its mechanicals with that model. It is currently the largest and most luxurious model in Škoda's lineup. The Superb name is a resurrection, originally used by Skoda for a similarly large 1936 model.


Roomster

The Škoda Roomster is a leisure activity vehicle produced by the Czech automaker Škoda Auto. It was a revealed as a production model in March 2006 at the Geneva Auto Show, with sales starting in June. It is built at the Škoda factory in Kvasiny. A panel van version is sold as the Praktik.

The Roomster is Škoda's first car since the Volkswagen Group's take over of the brand that is not based on an existing Volkswagen platform. Instead, it shares components with the previous Škoda Octavia and the current Škoda Fabia. The name is reportedly a concious combination of the words 'Room' and 'Roadster', and the split personality theme is played out in the design with a carefully honed 'driving room' ahead of the b-pillars and a generous 'living room' the the rear. The Roomster therefore competes both in the mini MPV and leisure activity vehicle markets, which it will be sharing with the Fiat Idea, Nissan Note, Opel Meriva and Renault Modus.

 The Roomster is based on the concept car of the same name originally revealed in September 2003 at the Frankfurt Auto Show. The concept was slightly shorter (4055 mm against 4205 mm) than the production model but has a longer wheelbase (2710 mm against 2617 mm), and featured a single rear sliding door on the passenger side, which was replaced by two swinging rear doors.

The Škoda Roomster takes its engines from its Volkswagen Group sisters. Petrol engines include the multivalve three cylinder 1.2 L, with power now at 51 kW (69 PS), followed by the 1.4 L and 1.6 L four cylinder EA111 engines, with power of 63 kW (86 PS) and 77 kW (105 PS) respectively. The 1.6 L is also available with a Tiptronic automatic transmission, and is available on the most luxurious models.

Diesel powers comes from the three cylinder 1.4 TDI, with two power levels, base at 51 kW (69 PS) and "sport" at 59 kW (80 PS). The most luxurious models get a four-cylinder 1.9 TDI, with 77 kW (105 PS).