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Weekend roadtest : Skoda Fabia vRS
publication date: Jul 10, 2010
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author/source: Robin Roberts
The fast and frugal new Skoda Fabia vRS leaves
showrooms on 29 July.
It brings the Czech maker’s range to five models and opens up their
attack on younger buyers with its blend of sportiness, equipment and
pound-for-pound better value against rivals.
At this week’s launch of the new model, Skoda UK product manager Chris
Horrell was bullish about the range and the new car’s ability to pull in
younger family buyers to the brand.“Today, Skoda is a young brand,” he said.
“The oldest
model we have in
the line up is the Superb Hatch, which was introduced towards the end of
2008, and this year we have introduced the Superb Estate, facelifted
the Fabia and now added the latest Fabia vRS.” |  | He said that the previous Fabia vRS had been expected to sell 1,000
models annually in 2003 but it went on to triple that figure. With the
new model arriving half-way through this year, Skoda anticipate selling
570 units and in 2011 predict over 1,000, with 850 being the Hatch and
remainder the new Fabia vRS Estate, which has been added for the first
time this year.
Horrell said he believed the new Fabia vRS would take over 12pc of sales
in its sector, where its equipment weighted price was between 12 and
20pc better than rivals.
One of the vRS unique selling points is the fact it’s available only
with the VW Group DSG automatic seven-speed transmission allied with the
180bhp 1.4 petrol engine and there is no diesel option.
It also gets a clever electronic differential system which automatically
compensates for understeer, stability control and hill hold control.
With a 0-62mph of 7.3 secs and maximum 139mph for the hatch and 140mph
for the estate, the Fabia vRS is the fastest ever Skoda.
| It comes with a choice of 17-inch ‘Gigaro’ alloy wheels,
LED daylight
running lights, sunset glass and vRS body kit and customers can choose
an optional white or black roof with a range of body colours, including
the new Rallye Green, inspired by the Škoda Fabia S2000 rally car.
Inside, there’re figure-hugging vRS sports seats, a three-spoke
multi-function steering wheel with radio controls and paddles for
changing gear andMulti-Device Interface)for use with iPods and other mp3
players.
The prices are £15,700 for the hatch and £16,495 for the estate version.
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First impressions | |
First impressions of the new Fabia vRS were underlined by
its smooth and
strong power delivery, the slickness of its DSG box, powerful brakes
and feel through the steering.
The ride is firmer with new springs and revised shock absorbers front
and rear, stiffer anti-roll bar and 40-series Continental tyres but it
coped well with a mixture of road surfaces and only the worst sections
could be felt inside the car through the slim figure hugging sports
seats.
| Room is good in the back and the boot space is easy to
load and
of reasonable size.
I would have preferred a bit more colour or lightness for
the
oppressively dark interior to match the brightness of the exterior which
is available with a coloured roof and choice of coloured alloys.
Over a brief test of B and A class roads as well as motorway I managed
42.2mpg despite some spirited acceleration. It was very composed and
comparatively quiet at 70mph. |  | | | |
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