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Written by Jack Rix
Skoda is a company in the ascent. Global sales of 1.1m in 2016 were backed up by 585,000 cars shifted in the first half of 2017, and that"s even before its two new SUVs the Kodiaq and Karoq have come fully on stream. But wait, there"s more lots more. Despite all its factories running at near to full-capacity, it"s promising at least two new models or mid-cycle updates per year from now on. And what do you know, we happen to have the full product plan until 2020At the Frankfurt Motor Show in mid-September this year we"ll see an updated version of the Vision E concept (pictured) - Skoda"s preview of its first all-electric car. A raised coupe-crossover with over 300bhp and a claimed range of over 300 miles, you"ll be able to buy one in 2020, complete with a wireless, inductive charging solution for your driveway or garage.That"s followed in mid-2018 by Skoda"s first performance SUV the Kodiaq vRS which you can read all about here. Around the same time we"ll see a facelifted version of the Fabia supermini and estate nothing ground-breaking, just a gentle massage to the front and rear styling, including the option of LED lights and more assistance systems trickled down from the higher up in the range.Then, in early 2019, it"s the turn of the Superb range to get some facial surgery and to be fitted with the company"s first electrified powertrain a plug-in hybrid system based around the VW Passat GTE. That means a 154bhp 1.4-litre four-cyl turbo with an electric motor and six-speed automatic gearbox for a total of 215bhp, 166mpg and an EV-only range of 31 miles. Expect the tax-dodging tech to be fitted to the Kodiaq, too, in due course.The first of the brand new model-range starts with a fairly-radical replacement for the Rapid Spaceback in mid-2019. Based on the MQB A0 architecture that underpins the new VW Polo and SEAT Ibiza, it"ll be a wider, fuller, more sculptural car with a much lower grille and more aggressive front end treatment. The extended, blacked-out rear windscreen from the current car lives on, along with bolder, protruding C-shaped rear lights. Inside the changes are even more apparent with a massive 9.2-inch screen plonked in the middle of the dash and optional digital instrument cluster.Around the same time, Skoda"s third and smallest SUV will arrive, based on the same platform as the new Rapid Spaceback (and the VW T-Roc and Seat Arona) and riffing off its styling, with the same chunky taillights and clamshell bonnet. It"s yet-to-be-decided name will align it with the Karoq and Kodiaq, though, rather than the Rapid. Suggestions beginning with a K" and ending in a Q" below, if you please.Which takes us to 2020, the arrival of Skoda"s first full electric car, and an all-new Octavia and Octavia estate a model bosses refer to as the heart of the whole brand. A breathless few years then. But what do you think? Do Skoda jokes still ring in your ears, or are its pre-VW days now a distant memory?Share this page: FacebookTwitterGoogle+WhatsAppMailtoCopy link
Date written: 31 Aug 2017
More of this article on the Top gear website
ID: 9009
Skoda is a company in the ascent. Global sales of 1.1m in 2016 were backed up by 585,000 cars shifted in the first half of 2017, and that"s even before its two new SUVs the Kodiaq and Karoq have come fully on stream. But wait, there"s more lots more. Despite all its factories running at near to full-capacity, it"s promising at least two new models or mid-cycle updates per year from now on. And what do you know, we happen to have the full product plan until 2020At the Frankfurt Motor Show in mid-September this year we"ll see an updated version of the Vision E concept (pictured) - Skoda"s preview of its first all-electric car. A raised coupe-crossover with over 300bhp and a claimed range of over 300 miles, you"ll be able to buy one in 2020, complete with a wireless, inductive charging solution for your driveway or garage.That"s followed in mid-2018 by Skoda"s first performance SUV the Kodiaq vRS which you can read all about here. Around the same time we"ll see a facelifted version of the Fabia supermini and estate nothing ground-breaking, just a gentle massage to the front and rear styling, including the option of LED lights and more assistance systems trickled down from the higher up in the range.Then, in early 2019, it"s the turn of the Superb range to get some facial surgery and to be fitted with the company"s first electrified powertrain a plug-in hybrid system based around the VW Passat GTE. That means a 154bhp 1.4-litre four-cyl turbo with an electric motor and six-speed automatic gearbox for a total of 215bhp, 166mpg and an EV-only range of 31 miles. Expect the tax-dodging tech to be fitted to the Kodiaq, too, in due course.The first of the brand new model-range starts with a fairly-radical replacement for the Rapid Spaceback in mid-2019. Based on the MQB A0 architecture that underpins the new VW Polo and SEAT Ibiza, it"ll be a wider, fuller, more sculptural car with a much lower grille and more aggressive front end treatment. The extended, blacked-out rear windscreen from the current car lives on, along with bolder, protruding C-shaped rear lights. Inside the changes are even more apparent with a massive 9.2-inch screen plonked in the middle of the dash and optional digital instrument cluster.Around the same time, Skoda"s third and smallest SUV will arrive, based on the same platform as the new Rapid Spaceback (and the VW T-Roc and Seat Arona) and riffing off its styling, with the same chunky taillights and clamshell bonnet. It"s yet-to-be-decided name will align it with the Karoq and Kodiaq, though, rather than the Rapid. Suggestions beginning with a K" and ending in a Q" below, if you please.Which takes us to 2020, the arrival of Skoda"s first full electric car, and an all-new Octavia and Octavia estate a model bosses refer to as the heart of the whole brand. A breathless few years then. But what do you think? Do Skoda jokes still ring in your ears, or are its pre-VW days now a distant memory?Share this page: FacebookTwitterGoogle+WhatsAppMailtoCopy link
Date written: 31 Aug 2017
More of this article on the Top gear website
ID: 9009