Skoda Egypt to restructure compact-class after it did luxury-class

Only a few days after shocking the established upper middle class, known here in Egypt as the luxury class or business class and mainly represented by the BMW 5 series and Jaguar XF, with the all-new Skoda Superb, Skoda Egypt / Artoc Auto is now planning to restructure the extremely popular compact-class with the new face-lifted Skoda Fabia and Skoda Roomster.

? koda Auto is presenting today the first photos of its smallest product line that has now been completely facelifted. The changes involve outside design, as well as technology and the portfolio of engines.

The vehicle's height has remained unchanged, but its new design “language� that stresses the vehicle's width and the brand new front make both the Fabia and the Roomster look more dynamic and self confident on the road than their predecessors. The facelift includes a Scout model line which will also be presented in Geneva.

The facelifted look of the Fabia and the Roomster is underlined by a new radiator grille and 3D-shaped headlamps that have been considerably widened to highlight the horizontal line of the vehicle's front. Despite its more dynamic front part, the Fabia hasn't lost any of its elegance and the Roomster is still an eye-catcher.

Both vehicles look more confident, mature and emotionally expressive. Some of the popular features, such as the shape of the glazed surfaces around the vehicle's cabin that resemble a helmet visor and are an important part of both the Roomster's and the Fabia's identity, have remained unchanged. Moreover, both of the modernised model lines feature new aluminium wheels, decorative hubcaps and paint colours.

Years ago, the Fabia line became the base for ? koda's portfolio of compact vehicles that is now made up of altogether five models. Just like the Fabia, the Fabia Combi and the Roomster (MPV) will get a number of technological improvements along with the new face, including state-of-the-art, mostly supercharged engines. The engine portfolio for the Fabia and the Roomster is actually the core of all the changes.

The Czech manufacturer offers altogether seven petrol engines and three diesel units whose power ranges from 44 kW to 77 kW in the Fabia and from 51 kW to 77 kW in the Roomster. All of the engines exported to EU countries comply with the EU 5 standard and have low fuel consumption and CO2 emission levels.

The objective of ? koda's development efforts was to improve the power of the engines and make them more environmentally friendly at the same time. Combined with an optimised two-clutch seven-speed DSG transmission, the new 1.2 TSI petrol engine (77 kW) has a consumption of 5.3 litres/100 km. The four-cylinder TSI engine is available in two power levels – 63 kW and 77 kW. Both of these versions will also be available in combination with a five-speed manual transmission.

The power of the 1.2- and 1.6-litre diesel engines ranges from 55 kW to 77 kW. All of the diesel units are fitted with a particulate filter. One of the main changes is high-pressure Common Rail injection - the injection pressure is as much as 1,600 bar and the fast-responding piezoelectric injectors are able to perform as many as five injections within one beat. As a result, all engines run is considerably smoother and the volume of emissions is under 110g/km of CO2 thorough the whole diesel range. The combustion gases in all of the diesel versions of the Fabia and the Roomster are cleaned in an oxidation catalyst and by means of exhaust gas recirculation.

The new engine portfolio of the Skoda and Roomster will include the following versions:
• 1.2 HTP/44 kW (60 PS)
• 1.2 12V HTP/51 kW (70 PS)
• 1.4 16V/63 kW (86 PS)
• 1.2 TSI/63 kW (86 PS)
• 1.2 TSI/77 kW (105 PS)
• 1.6 16V/77 kW (105 PS)
• 1.6 16V/77 kW (105 PS) (A)
• 1.2 TDI CR DPF/55 kW (75 PS)
• 1.6 TDI CR DPF/66 kW (90 PS)
• 1.6 TDI CR DPF/77 kW (105 PS)

With its model range including now the luxurious Superb, the reliable Octavia A5, the well-priced Octavia A4, the sporty Fabia and the family-friendly Roomster, Skoda Egypt could easily become, not only the most successful brand of the Volkswagen Group here in Egypt outperforming its sister-companies (Volkswagen, Audi and Seat), but could also easily outperform other established brands such as BMW, Jaguar, Toyota and Renault.

MS