Was ist das? Strange Volkswagen-Skoda Hybrid Spied in Munich

Roman Jagatić is the latest addition to our ever-growing list of readers-turned-into spy photographers. Roman stumbled upon this strange looking Volkswagen-Skoda hybrid prototype parked at a gas station in Munich, Germany. The test car appears to combine a modified body of a Skoda Octavia with a Volkswagen front end.

While we do not have a definite answer to what it may be, possible scenarios include a test car for a new Skoda Octavia and a prototype for a Volkswagen-badged model for select markets outside Europe.

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Study finds the Most Vandalised Car in Britain is the Lexus IS

Bad news for Lexus IS owners across the pond: if you happen to own one of the Japanese brand’s entry-level sedans, you’re in possession of the most vandalised car in the UK. Runners up are BMW’s Z4 sports coupe and MINI’s entry-level One model. It’s all been revealed as part of SwiftCover.com’s Vehicle Vandalism Index (VVI), whereby the UK-based insurer analysed some 2,000 motor insurance claims. SwiftCover claims director Robin Reames explains:

“Our analysis shows that luxury cars are more likely to be targeted by vandals, however, it's interesting to see the MINI One in the top three. The majority of vehicles in the top ten are what we call 'executive cars', likely to be driven by high earners who see their car as a status symbol, with just one 4x4 making up the top ten.”

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Skoda Reportedly Readying Up-based City Car for 2011 and Low-Cost Sedan for 2012

Volkswagen Group's new strategy for Skoda is beginning to show its first results. In order to avoid competition between VW and Skoda products and to get a piece of the low-cost market, the German company’s plans for the Czech automaker include a new affordable model.

According to reports from the UK, Skoda has confirmed that the new addition will be a small sedan positioned between the Fabia supermini and the Octavia and will target developing markets. The sedan, which could be a competitor to Renault’s Dacia Logan, is scheduled for launch in 2012, but first Skoda will introduce a city car based on Volkswagen’s forthcoming Up series.

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VW Group's Skoda Division Sets New Record in 2010 with 762,600 Sales

The once ailing Skoda brand is turning out to be a solid investment for the Volkswagen Group as the Czech automaker is breaking one sales record after the other. In the year that just passed on, Skoda Auto recorded is best-ever sales results delivering 762,000 vehicles, which represents an increase of 11.5% over 2009 when it sold 684,200 units. Furthermore, the company broke the threshold of three quarters of a million vehicles sold in a single year for the first time in its history.

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A Painted History of Skoda

Just today, we learned that Skoda delivered a record number of vehicles in the first nine months of 2010, increasing its operating profit by a whopping 64%. This is what most people know about the Czech automaker; that it has been a wild success since Volkswagen took over the reins of the company. But there are others -myself included- who think the real glory of Skoda lies in its past.

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Paris Preshow: Skoda's All-Electric Octavia Green E Line

[Updated] This year's edition of the Paris show will see the VW Group's successful Skoda brand unveiling its first-ever electric-powered vehicle called the Octavia Green E Line. Skoda says it is planning to create a special test fleet of Octavias Green E Line in 2011 with the goal of obtaining additional information relevant to the further development of the electric drive.

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Wörthersee 2010: Skoda Fabia RS+ and Octavia RS+ in the Flesh

Skoda used the GTI event at the Austrian lake Wörthersee over 12 – 15 May to display customized versions of its Fabia RS and Octavia RS models along with two Fabia Super 2000 race cars.

The fans' attention was of course focused on the tuned Fabia RS+ & Octavia RS+ vehicles that were used to present special optical packets and color adaptations based on self-adhesive foils.

Inspired by the Fabia S2000 rally car, the Fabia RS+ features a two-tone gray and lime paint theme with matching alloy wheels and a spoiler kit that includes front spoiler, side skirts and a rear diffuser.

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Skoda: Powertrain Updates for 2011MY Octavia, Yeti and Superb

European market Skoda models Yeti, Octavia and Superb will be getting powertrain updates for the 2011 model year starting from the end of this month. In detail:

The engine portfolio for the Yeti crossover has been extended with the VW Group's 122HP 1.4-liter TSI petrol unit combined with manual transmission and front-wheel drive (FWD), as well as a 140HP 2.0 TDI CR DPF turbo diesel with automatic DSG transmission and FWD, and the more potent 170HP 2.0 TDI CR DPF turbo diesel with manual transmission and 4WD.

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Skoda to Bring Special Fabia RS+ and Octavia RS+ at Wörthersee Meeting

The VW Group will be going full force at next week's GTI tuning event at the Austrian lake Wörthersee. Aside from the two special VW Golf GTIs and seven Audi A1s, the German group will also showcase conceptual versions of the new Fabia RS and the Octavia RS.

Inspired by the S2000 rally model, the Fabia RS+ design study will be wrapped in a two-tone vinyl with matching green alloy wheels. The hot hatch will also feature an aero kit that includes a new bonnet with air vents, front spoiler, side skirts and a rear diffuser, as well as an updated interior boasting bucket seats and a sportier trim.

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Skoda Expands Octavia Range with New 1.2-Liter Turbo Petrol, Adds DSG Option to 1.6 TDI

The refreshed Octavia, which is essentially Skoda's (better) take on the VW Jetta, has received new engine and transmission options for 2010. In particular, both the liftback and estate versions are now offered with a new, downsized 1.2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder TSI gasoline engine with direct-injection while the 1.6 TDI CR 105HP diesel models can now be equipped with the VW Group's DSG dual-clutch transmission.

The 1.2-liter TSI produces 105 horsepower and can be matted to either a six-speed manual gearbox or a 7-speed DSG dual clutch transmission.

It propels the hatch from zero to 62mph (100km/h) in 10.8 seconds (Estate: 10.9 seconds) while returning a combined fuel economy of 49.6mpg UK, which is equal to 41.3mpg US and 5.7 lt/100km (Estate: 48.6mpg UK).

In the UK, prices for the Octavia 1.2 TSI start from £12,935 for the liftback and from £13,835 for the Estate.

At the same time, Skoda added the option of a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox to the latest generation 1.6-liter turbo diesel with 105HP. The DSG is available with the same bodystyle and trim combinations as the 1.2 TSI (S and SE) as well as in Elegance guise. Prices for the 1.6 TDI DSG models start from £16,495 for the hatch and from £17,395 for the Estate.

Would You Believe that this Skoda Octavia RS Photo has More than 3,400 Diggs in Less than 48 hours?

Sometimes we begin to wonder if there's any logic at what makes internet users 'click'. Take this photo for example. You'd think that it wouldn't be worth a second look, but believe it or not, this cropped picture of a red-colored Skoda Octavia RS Mk1 has received more than 3,400 votes on Digg (so far, that is) in less than 48 hours! And like most of you that are reading this post now, we too were curious to find out what makes this photo so special to draw the attention of so many internet users.

Well, to answer that question we headed over to the comment section of the specific Digg post. While some commentators "saw" a snake and others a... toilet seat at the rear bench, what really made internet users 'tick' in this case was the bear sticker on the window as it was linked to the so-called "Pedobear" which in turn is associated with pedophiles - swear to God, first time we ever heard about this.

Not surprisingly, to most folks that explanation sounds a lot better than let's say, the owner's kid simply put the sticker on the window...

But as one user on Digg wisely put it, "It's amazing how easily people are amused these days...". Nuff said.

Via: Digg , Photo: Imageshack

2009 Skoda Octavia Scout Crossover: First Photos of Facelift Version

Along with the updated 2009 Octavia RS saloon and estate models, Skoda also released the first official photos of its facelifted Octavia Scout. The new crossover-ish version of the Octavia features a redesigned front grille and headlamps, plus body-colored side mouldings, and restyled bumpers and tail lights. Unlike the rest of the models in Skoda's Scout range, the Octavia is equipped with VW Group's all-wheel drive system that features a fourth-generation Haldex clutch, which can transfer as much as 86 percent of the torque to a single wheel.

Furthermore, the Octavia Scout has a higher ground clearance (179mm) than the standard Estate versions upon which it is based. The Scout is available with two engines options, the 160HP 1.8 TSI petrol and the 140HP 2.0 TDI diesel, both of which are combined with a six-speed manual transmission.

Facelifted Skoda Octavia RS - First Official Photos of Golf GTI Based Sport Models

After launching the facelifted Octavia sedan and estate at the Paris Auo Show late last year, Skoda has now updated its range topping Octavia RS (or vRS for the UK market) that's available in both five-door liftback and station wagon variants. Changes on the vehicle that could be described as a more practical and spacious version of the previous generation Golf GTI as the two models share the same platform and 200HP 2.0 TSI gasoline (there's also a 170HP 2.0 TDI diesel engine), concern the sheetmetal as well as the chassis..

On the outside, the 2009 Octavia RS models feature a redesigned front mask with an RS logo and reshaped headlamps that, for the first time in the RS version, can be fitted with xenon units combined with an adaptive front lighting module. The RS also gets restyled bumpers and tail lamps while Skoda also offers a new metallic paint (Anthracite) and 18-inch Neptune alloy wheels. In the interior, Skoda has revised the Octavia RS's trim while the Climatronic air conditioning system gets new controls.

Under the sheetmetal, the Czech automaker has lowered the Octavia RS's chassis road height to 127 mm while the car's weight has been reduced by a significant 20kg or 44lbs in the petrol version and 15kg or 33lbs in the diesel one.

Skoda hasn't announced performance figures but it did claim that the maximum speed is higher, and the car's responsiveness and acceleration have also been improved due to these changes.

As with the Golf GTI and GTD, European buyers can opt between a 200HP 2.0-liter gasoline engine that goes by on an average of 7.5lt/100km (31.4mpg US or 37.7mpg UK) and a 170HP 2.0 TDI diesel with a combined consumption of 5.7lt/100km (41.3mpg US or 49.6mpg UK). Both engines are exclusively equipped with a six-speed twin-clutch DSG transmission.

Skoda Launches Limited-Run Edition Octavia vRS

As we await for the presentation of the 2010 Octavia vRS based on the faclifted Octavia that was revealed at the Paris Show last October, Skoda UK has launched a limited-run edition of the current-generation model that promises to bring more bang for your pound. Only 500 cars will be produced with buyers having the choice of two engine options, a 200HP 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline unit or a 170HP 2.0-liter turbo diesel.

The Octavia vRS Limited Edition, has a unique production number stitched onto the seat and offers over £1,900 worth of added equipment for an added cost of only £750. The upgrades over the standard vRS include bespoke design Italian leather seats, 18-inch alloy wheels, new touch screen Bolero radio, three-spoke leather steering wheel, new interior dash trim and, red and black limited edition badging.

Prices for the limited-run model start from £16,294.56 (with VAT paid) on the road.

Video: 2009 Skoda Octavia Facelift

Unveiled for the first time at the Paris auto show last October, the mildly facelifted Octavia Sedan and Estate models boast a new nose and tail that brings them in line with Czech firm's latest vehicles like the Fabia and Superb. Likewise, the 2009 Octavia's cabin inherits several styling elements from the larger Superb such as the four-spoke steering wheel, the climate controls and the revised trim. Under the sheetmetal, changes include the addition of the new 122HP 1.4 TSI gasoline engine in and the availability of the VW Group's new seven-speed DSG double-clutch gearbox.

Skoda Octavia RS+ Study Premieres at Essen Motorshow

At the Essen Motor Show in Germany, Skoda presented a study version of its flagship Octavia model, the RS, which unlike the rest of the car's range, has yet to be revealed in facelift form - see details and images here. The Essen motorshow Octavia RS+ Study sports a black colored bodykit with a front lip spoiler and a rear diffuser that incorporates the twin tailpipes, black mirror caps and black alloy wheels. Inside, the Czech automaker accessorized the RS+ with contrasting red leather seats (Recaro bucket seats up front), door panels and steering wheel as well as with faux carbon fiber trim.

The Octavia RS+ Study does not feature any mechanical upgrades. In Europe, the Octavia RS is offered in both sedan and estate variants with two powertrain options, a 200HP 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine and a 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel unit that delivers 170 HP. The facelifted RS is expected to be introduced in early 2009.

Photo Copyright: UP

Skoda Octavia Facelift: U.K. Pricing Announced

The freshly revised Skoda Octavia that was unveiled for the first time at the Paris Motorshow will be arriving at the Czech firm's U.K. showrooms this January with prices representing an average increase of £473 for the Octavia Hatch and £478 for the Octavia Estate over the outgoing model. The new Octavia has undergone a series of design changes which include a new front fascia with sweeping headlights, new foldable door mirrors, an updated interior and a brand new 1.4 TSI 122bhp engine that replaces the current 1.6 FSI 115HP engine. Prices for the Octavia range from £11,580 for the 80HP 1.4 16v sedan to £21,200 for the 170HP 2.0 TDI vRS Estate with the dual-clutch DSG transmission (click here for our high-res image gallery).

Skoda Octavia Facelift: 57 High-Res Photos and Official Info

As a world premiere, Skoda is going to present the subtly facelifted Octavia at the Paris Motor Show that runs from 2-19 October, 2008. Key exterior enhancements include the newly shaped headlamps, a more robust radiator grille, restyled bumpers and tail lamp covers. Inside, Skoda redesigned the steering wheel, the dashboard (white-backlit), the air conditioning controls and the decorative strips on the doors and the central console. Furthermore, new upholstery fabrics are available across all equipment levels. -Continued

Other improvements include the new adaptive xenon headlamps and the installation of front ‘WOKS’ headrests that promise to offer more effective rear impact protection. Under the bonnet, the only change concerns the addition of the VW Group’s new 1.4-liter TSI turbocharged gasoline engine that generates an output of 122 HP. The new TSI unit can be combined with a seven-speed twin-clutch automatic DSG transmission.