Skoda to Conquer Australian Car Market

In the news: Skoda, Volkswagen subsidiary andThe Octavia is powered by a range of petrol and
recipient of VW exhaust part will once again try itsturbo-diesel engines ranging from 110kW, 2 liter FSI up
luck in the Australian market after 25 years.to a 125kW, 2liter TDI and 147kW, 2 litre FSI four
Volkswagen plans to introduce its Skoda brand incylinder in the RS. Likewise, a 1.4 liter model will also be
Australia this coming October. Matthew Weisner,made available for Australia along with the five and
Volkswagen Group of Australia general manager,six-speed manual transmissions with the addition of a
press and public relations have been appointed assix-speed VW-sourced DSG manual. The price of the
head of Skoda Australia and his duty includes theOctavia is about $30,000.o Superb - this is an
re-launch of the Skoda brand. Although a bit reluctantessentially long-wheelbase version of the Octavia
Weisner said that he will do his best to promote Skodadesigned for the higher end of the market. The Superb
to the Australian market.is spacious offering extra legroom in the back and
Skoda's lineup for Australia includes the following:oplenty of leather and luxury. The Superb is equipped
Fabia - this Volkswagen Polo-sized light car derived itswith the Passat's older 142kW, 2.8 liter V6 petrol and
styling cues from the Mini Cooper and Suzuki Swift.120 kW, 2.5 liter six cylinder TDI engines which are both
The Fabia was launched last year at the Paris Motoravailable with a tiptronic five-speed automatic.
Show. It offers economical, three-cylinder, HTP shortThis long-wheelbase sedan is available in Europe with
for High Tech Performance petrol and TDI engines. Ita 110kW, turbocharged 1.8 liter and naturally aspirated
also offers 16-valve, 63kW, 1.4 liter and 77kW, 1.6 liter85 kW, 2 liter four cylinder engine. The price for the
petrol models. The 1.6 liter petrol engine is offered withSuperb is about $45,000.o Roomster - this vehicle
a six-speed tiptronic automatic. Both the 1.4 and 1.6started as a funky concept car at the 2003 Frankfurt
petrol units are to be brought to Australia.Motor Show while a production version was unveiled
The Fabia has a length measuring at 3992 mm longlast year. The Roomster is distinguished by its high-set,
and with a wheelbase of 2462 mm. Comparing it tovan like styling. Its versatile, five-door concept is similar
the Polo, the Fabia is approximately 76 mm longerto the VW Caddy that is quickly converted from a
overall and 3mm longer on the wheelbase. It alsofive-seater into a load-lugging two-seater vehicle.
possesses 300 liters of luggage space. The Fabia thatThe Roomster Scout adds plastic-cladding around the
will be sold in Australia will also feature six airbags,body which provides it with an off-road look despite
climate control airconditioning and active headlights. Thethe fact that it is a front-wheel drive vehicle. The price
Fabia will be priced at $16,000.o Octavia - the Octaviaof the Roomster is about $27,000.
bears similar features with the VW Passat and justIn addition, Volkswagen also plans to introduce in
like the latter, the Octaivia is a mid-size offered eitherAustralia next year the VW Polo-sized Fabia. This
as a front-wheel-drive sedan and wagon. It will also beFabia was previously presented at the Geneva Motor
made to compete with the premium priced JapaneseShow. Likewise, by 2009 Volkswagen will launch a
models with the likes of Honda Accord Euro, Mazda6,new generation version of its long-wheelbase Surperb
Subaru Liberty, and soon-to-be Ford Mondeo.sedan.