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Call it the Fab-yeah!
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The highly anticipated and much delayed Skoda Fabia should be here by next year and has a lot going for it
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If there were ever a `we'll be here next year... wait a bit' contest the Skoda Fabia would win hands-down. Why? Skoda had promised that this would be the next car launched here in India after the Octavia, but came out with the Superb and the Laura instead, delaying the Fabia project by well over two years. The company believed that the Fabia would be seen as an expensive car when compared with the hatchback competition then.
However, the government's recent decision to offer excise cuts on cars which are less than 4,000 mm long and have a petrol motor of under 1200cc (diesel should be under 1500cc), has ensured that the Fabia will be here soon. The car will debut as a hatch rather than the sedan - the latter is what the company had originally planned for India.
The latest generation Fabia was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1999, but it had been on Skoda's drawing board since the early '90s. Alongside the Octavia, it was heralded as a key element in Skoda's future under VW. The Fabia was a replacement for the similarly sized Skoda Felicia.
On the face of it
The Fabia's front end is dominated by the Skoda family grille and rectangular headlamps. Styling-wise, the Fabia looks modern and has inherited the Skoda family looks. While the simple lines might not be awe inspiring to look at, the uncluttered design will age gracefully. It shares its underpinnings and structure with the highly acclaimed and dynamically brilliant VW Polo.
Interiors are quite similar to bigger sister, Octavia in terms of design and feel. No funky theme here, only grey and black. The interior of the Fabia might come as a shock for a car in its class, as it's made of high quality stuff, not just in terms of the quality of components, but also the attention to detail and ergonomics.
Like the Octavia, the new car will have a vast expanse of space inside, especially the front seats. And its boot could easily be the biggest in its class. Like the Octavia, the Fabia's build should be great, and should offer a big car feel.
It might not be as cheerful looking as the Aveo or the Fiesta, but dynamically it should be as adept as the latter.
Around corners
Handling should be tidy, so expect it to be as sharp as the Octavia around corners. The ride is again expected to be well damped and like the Octavia, its solid suspension will filter the potholes well enough. ABS and airbags should be offered as choices to ensure safety is high. We expect the Fabia to impress on the open road where its solid built and robust suspension will come to the fore with a drive that is both confidence-inspiring and safe.
Under the hood
In order to get the requisite excise cuts Skoda will have on offer a 1.2 litre engine - this will churn out 64 bhp. The 12-valve, double overhead camshaft engine will only have three cylinders though. Also on offer will be a 1.4 litre diesel engine that will give 74 bhp and an impressive 19.8kgm of torque. This diesel is also a three-pot unit and is actually the Laura's unit, sans the fourth cylinder.
The Fabia diesel will be as fuel efficient as the Octavia is; in fact it might have a slight edge. One can expect this engine to deliver 12-13kpl in city conditions. Internationally the Fabia range even comes in RS form. The RS Fabia is a diesel, but don't let that put you off - with 130bhp on tap in such a small car, that's not bad at all. However this model is highly unlikely to make it here.
We expect that it will be priced around the Rs 6 lakh mark, which means that the Fabia won't be a bargain. But the car presents a strong case for itself, especially the diesel, which should be a great option that offers a fine combination of performance and frugality. Look from it any, which way the Fabia is an all-rounder.
We don't expect everyone to like its squared-off looks, or the fact that it might seem overpriced for a hatch. But there are people around who'll appreciate it for what it is worth - and this is exactly what Skoda is looking for.
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