Czech automaker, Skoda has officially revealed the fourth generation Fabia hatchback. The new Skoda Fabia is claimed to be most spacious car within its segment, and offers improved comfort features along with advanced safety and assistance systems.
MQB AO IN platform
The new Skoda Fabia is based on the Volkswagen Groups MQB AO platform, which also underpins the Volkswagen Polo, VW Virtus, Nivus Coupe SUV, T-Cross and the Skoda Kamiq. In fact, the upcoming VW Taigun and the SKoda Kushaq are based on the localised version of the MQB AO platform. In India, this platform is called the MQB AO IN (IN refers to INDIA).
Dimensions
In terms of proportions, the new Skoda Fabia is 4,108mm long, 1,780mm wide and 1,459mm ttaller, which makes it significantly bigger than the previous model. The hatchback offers a boot space of 380-litres, which is now 50-litres higher than the previous model. The boot space can be further extended to 1,190-litres by folding the second row of seats. It is around 111mm longer and 48mm wider than the previous model. The wheelbase has been increased by 94mm to 2,564mm.
Exterior
Not just the regular model, Skoda will introduce Fabia in Combi, Monte Carlo, Combi Monte Carlo, Black Edition Combi Scoutline, Clever, and Combi Clever bodystyles. The hatchback will be offered in 3 variants – Active, Ambition and Style.
The new Skoda Fabia comes with all-new and more modern design, featuring sculptural lines on the bonnet and sharp creases all around the body. The hatchback gets the larger signature butterfly grille with chrome outline. It also gets full LED lighting system with sharp-looking full LED headlamps with integrated L-shaped LED DRLs and LED tail-lamps with Skoda’s familiar crystalline elements.
New Skoda Fabia Interior
The new Skoda Fabia’s 2,564mm wheelbase is now even greater than that of the first generation Skoda Octavia (launched in 1996) which measured 2,512mm. This converts into spacious cabin and higher boot space. The hatchback gets symmetrical dashboard with a free-standing central display and horizontal decorative strips in six different versions. From Ambition variant upwards, the dashboard is upholstered in fabric with contrasting stitching. Chrome treatment can be seen around the air vents and on the door panels.
The hatchback gets Copper-coloured and grey contrasting stitching along with decorative trims. The new LED ambient lighting allows the driver to illuminate the decorative trim on the dashboard in white or red. The ambient lighting includes LED reading lights in the front and rear. It gets new multi-functional steering wheel with paddle shifters for the DSG. The hatch also has heated steering wheel and heated windscreen.
The new Fabia gets a 10.25-inch digital instrument console. The drivers can choose fromt different layouts including the Classic layout offering style of analogue round instruments, Modern, Reduced and Extended. The Sport layout with rev counter in the centre will be offered as optional. The new Fabia can be ordered with a dual-zone climatronic, as well as air vents for the rear occupants.
Infotainment & Connectivity
The new Skoda Fabia will be offered in three different infotainment systems. Swing, the entry-level system, has a 6.5-inch colour touchscreen, a radio and four front speakers. Bolero offers a radio, an 8-inch screen, a Bluetooth hands-free system and two additional surround-sound speakers in the rear doors. The top-spec variant gets a customisable 9.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with a navigation function. This system is compatible with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. It also features gesture control as standard, and voice control as optional. The hatchback also gets Skoda Connect – connected car technology.
Safety Features
The new Skoda Fabia comes equipped with a Travel Assist, which can be activated at the touch of the button. It offers several driver assistance features including adaptive cruise control, lane assist, hands-on detect (Travel Assist checks whether the driver touches the steering wheel), blind spot detect, park assist, traffic sign recognition and front assist with predictive pedestrian and cyclist protection. The hatchback comes equipped with multiple airbags (knee airbag for the driver & rear side airbags as optional).
Engine Specifications
The new Skoda Fabia is available in 5 engine options. It gets a 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder MPI EVO engine that offers two states of tunes – 64bhp and 79bhp. There is a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged engine in two power tunes – 94bhp and 109bhp. The top-spec variant gets a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that produces 148bhp and 250Nm of torque. This engine also gets active cylinder technology (ACT), which reduces fuel consumption as well as CO2 emissions.
