Essen Motor Show: Skoda Octavia ‘RS+’ concept debuts

October’s Paris Motor Show saw Skoda unveil the facelifted version of its Octavia midsize sedan, and now less than two months later the carmaker has revealed a new concept version at the Essen Motor Show. The concept is the Octavia RS+, and most of its modifications are purely stylistic as the standard Octavia’s powertrain has been left unchanged.
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2008 Skoda Superb for Geneva

2008 Skoda Superb for Geneva

Skoda has introduced a new version of their mid-size Superb at the Geneva Auto Show. The new model features a Twindoor system which allows the vehicle to provide the look of a sedan with functionality of a hatchback. Owners will be able to open just the boot or both the hatch and the boot, allowing easy access to the rear. Interior room for the boot is 565 liters, with the rear seats down volume increases to 1670 liters.

In advance of its public unveiling at the Geneva show in March, and after releasing a teaser photo, Volkswagen's Czech subsidiary Skoda has additional photos and details on its upcoming new flagship.

The aptly-named Superb is based on the Volkswagen Passat platform, though stretched out to offer more space. Its range of features includes direction-changing headlights, a new electronic climate control system, and automatic parking assist. Compared with the model it replaces, the new Superb grows another 35mm longer and 18mm wider, but hunkers down 8mm lower and shrinks in wheelbase by 42mm, actually increasing the overhangs contrary to industry trends.

The Superb also wears its own unique bodywork and badging, but like all top-of-the-line Czech models, the best view is around back where the Skoda features a useful hatchback setup. Motivation comes from a range of six engine options – three gasoline and three diesels – topping out with a 260-hp 3.2-liter V6. A five- or six-speed manual will come standard depending on which engine is chosen, but the Superb will also have an available DSG twin-clutch transmission option.

Although the new Superb doesn't come across as the most exciting thing goin' down in Switzerland this coming March, it appears Skoda put together a surprisingly good package.

Topping the Superb range is a 3.6L FSI V6 AWD model which produces 191kW, while a new Superb GreenLine with a 1.9L TDI engine rated at 77 kW will also be available.
[Source: Skoda]



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20 New Models From VW As Porsche Closes In

Europe's largest automaker, Volkswagen, intends on introducing 20 new models by 2011. The rollout is part of a company-wide plan to increase sales by 29%, and deliver 8 million vehicles per year by 2011. These new models are expected to come from all of the automakers brands, but no specifics were mentioned.

According to a company release following a press conference in Germany, 2007 sales revenue across the entire Volkswagen Group increased by 3.8% to €108.9 billion, and earning a pre-tax profit of €6.5 billion - €1.4 billion more than expected. Although many of these gains came from laying off 20% of their Western Germany workers, the continued success of the Volkswagen Golf and the Audi A4 contributed heavily. New introductions, like the Skoda Fabia and the Audi A5 also helped things along as well. Meanwhile, the introduction of the Scirocco at Geneva earlier this month looks very promising for the company. VW hopes to maintain their growth with the new models.

"The [Volkswagen] Group will significantly expand its model portfolio with this product rollout, and will occupy segments such as SUVs, vans and pickups more actively than before," VW said in the release. VW also plans to increase productivity at the company, and reduce labor costs on their top-selling Golf.

Despite profits at VW, Audi, Skoda, and -surprisingly- Seat, the Group is still losing money in North America. Due in part to a record-low Dollar-to-Euro exchange rate, VW is in a weaker position to defend against a Porsche takeover. Porsche has denied rumors of a complete takeover of the Wolfsburg-based Volkswagen Group, but they have confirmed their plans to become the majority owner of VW.

Porsche currently holds 31% of Volkswagen.

VW Chairman Professor Dr. Martin Winterkorn said, “We look forward to even closer cooperation [with Porsche] soon.” Nonetheless, Porsche is currently at odds with Volkswagen's labor unions over the structure of the company's board, and they are fighting with the state government of Lower Saxony. Legislators there are trying to grant the unions power to put a stop to any factory closures there, according to Bloomberg News.

In response to this, Winterkorn was quoted by Bloomberg as saying, "We hope very much that the current dispute between the Volkswagen works council and Porsche will soon be resolved amicably." He continued by stating, "We need clarity. We must deploy our teams and finally start controlling the game together."

Source: Volkswagen

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More Skoda Superb Photos Released

3 quarter front and rear

Skoda is building some hype for the unveiling of their new flagship model, the Skoda Superb. The unveiling is scheduled for the 2008 Geneva Motor Show in early March and we will be there to bring you all the news from the show floor.

One of the available engines will be the 1.8 liter TSI engine producing 160 bhp (118 kW). Rumours are that this engine could propel the Superb from 0 to 100 km/h in under 9 seconds, but what the Skoda enthusiasts are waiting for is the 3.6 liter FSI (280 bhp). Whether they get it? We will know by March 4 and 5.

[Update]: The new Skoda Superb measures in at 4,838 mm in length, 1,783 in width, 1,461 in height and has 2,761 mm long wheelbase. The Superb will have a choice of three petrol and three diesel engines ranging from 77 kW to 191 kW in both manual and automatic transmissions.

Press Release

Škoda Auto is presenting the first official photographs of the new Superb. Offering really generous space, the new Škoda Superb is a leader in its class (medium/upper medium class cars).

With 4,838 mm in length, 1,783 mm in width, 1,461 mm in height and a 2,761mm-long wheel base, the new Škoda Superb offers a number of smart technological solutions, including adaptive “look-round-corner” headlamps, a new electronic air conditioning system, an automatic parking assistant system, and more. As safety was one of the top priorities in developing the new vehicle, the new Superb has altogether nine airbags.

The new Škoda Superb will be available with three petrol and three diesel engines (77 - 191 kW) and with both manual and automatic transmission systems.

The new Škoda Superb will receive a world premiere at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show and will be manufactured in Škoda Auto's plant in Kvasiny.

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