A load of Skoda looms

SKODA is set to embark on phase two of its Australian market assault, with a raft of new models to bookend the current two-pronged range.

This will include sub-$30,000 petrol-powered versions of the facelifted Octavia as well the arrival of the Superb flagship.

The expected introduction of the Fabia light car within the next 12 months will round out a busy year of activity for the Volkswagen-owned Czech brand, which has been relatively quiet since launching in October 2007 with the Roomster light car and the Octavia small car line-up.

In September, Skoda broadened the latter’s range with the Scout crossover 4x4, while last week it added a much-needed ‘automatic’ version to the performance-orientated RS range, in the guise of the DSG dual-clutch transmission.

This gearbox arrives with another Octavia-first, as well as with only Australia’s third diesel-powered ‘hot-hatch’ after the VW Golf GT Sport TD and Renault Megane RS dCi 165.

The RS TDI delivers an all-new 125kW 2.0-litre four-cylinder common-rail turbo-diesel engine fitted with a diesel particulate filter.

Skoda is counting on the combination of the DSG gearbox and sporty diesel engine to double the existing, petrol and manual-only RS’ share of Octavia sales from today’s 20 per cent slice.

After that, phase two goes into top gear next March with the release of the facelifted Octavia range.

Previewed at the Paris motor show last month, it brings a new nose, redesigned tail-lights, a revised interior, additional safety items and fresh engine choices.

Left: Skoda Fabia, Octavia RS TDI and Octavia 4x4 Scout.

We believe that Skoda will also introduce a number of sub-$30,000 Octavia variants to take on the mid-range versions of the popular Mazda3 and Mitsubishi Lancer.

This should include a 77kW 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine option, mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox.

Further down the track, a variation of the 125kW 1.4-litre TSI turbocharged and supercharged four-cylinder petrol unit might also be slotted into the Octavia range, as well as a DSG-equipped 118kW 1.8-litre TFSI turbocharged petrol powerplant.

We understand that Skoda will rely heavily on these more ‘entry-level’ Octavia models next year, as it needs to attract more buyers at the bottom end of the market.

“We are really looking for growth in the sub-$30,000 area,” confirmed one Skoda insider.

Rounding out the facelifted Octavia range in the third quarter of 2009 will be the introduction of the revised top-end models – namely the refreshed RS and Scout crossover.

Meanwhile, the Superb sedan is poised to appear early in the second quarter of next year, powered by either the 1.8-litre TFSI petrol or 2.0-litre TDI turbo-diesel four-cylinder engines as seen in other Skoda models.

This will be followed by the Superb wagon, which is said to be exceptionally commodious as well as quite attractive. It is due to arrive in Australia at the end of next year, or some time in the first half of 2010.

Skoda is still keeping quiet on Superb details, but we understand that it will be priced from the mid-$30,000 mark.

Finally, the long-awaited arrival of the Fabia light car in about 12 months should at last give Skoda the sort of sales sustainability it needs to grow in Australia.

While no official word has yet been given, we believe that an announcement will be made in the not-too-distant future, as the brand seeks to lure younger buyers into its fold.

Like the Octavia, the Fabia is slightly larger than the class norm it operates within, measuring in at a tad below four metres long.

The models in question might include diesel as well as petrol-powered versions, in five-door hatch as well as wagon body shapes, also mirroring the Octavia.

Now in its second-generation guise, the Fabia is already available in Europe with a 51kW three-cylinder petrol engine, a 63kW 1.4 and 77kW 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol, plus 51kW 1.4-litre and 77kW 1.9-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesels. Based on the current-generation Volkswagen Polo platform, the Fabia will probably kick off at around $18,000, extending to the high $20,000 mark should an RS performance model also make it to Australia.

According to Skoda Australia head, Matthew Wiesner, the end of phase one – which saw the company introduce the brand to Australians – has been a success.

This is in spite the fact that the only around 850 vehicles are earmarked to find homes this year.

“We’re now far more product based, after the first phase of ‘Hey, here we are with these cars,’” he stated.

Mr Wiesner explained how this year has been all about raising brand awareness, which, according to company research, has risen from nowhere over the 12 months since launch.

“The brand has been received far better than we had expected,” Mr Wiesner said.

“Brand awareness is now up to about 60 per cent.

“The job now is for us to translate that into sales opportunities, and to do that, we have to broaden our range.

“And we start doing that from now.”

what's coming from Skoda:
Octavia Series II	February 2009
Superb sedan	April 2009
Octavia RS, Scout II	Q3 2009
Fabia	Q4 2009
Superb Estate	Q1 2010
Yeti compact SUV	2010/2011

Read more:

First look: Skoda puts a new angle on Octavia

First drive: Skoda crosses over with Octavia Scout

Sydney show: Czech charger

First look: Second coming for Skoda's Superb