One of the suprises Skoda prepared for the Paris Motor Show was a facelift of their popular Skoda Octavia. The front part received a major redesign, inspired by the new Superb, with a redesigned front bumper, newly designed chrome frame for the front grille, restyled front bumpers, new headlamps, restyled bonnet and new folding door mirrors. The car also received a couple of interior upgrades, like new materials for the redesigned seats, new audio navigation systems, redesigned instruments and new armrest with storage compartment.

The new Skoda Octavia will get five petrol and three diesel engines, including a brand new 1.4 TSI engine that delivers 122 hp (90 kW) and 200 Nm of torque from 1500 to 4000 rpm. Powered by this engine, the Octavia goes from 0 to 100 km/h (62mph) in 9.7 seconds and up to a top speed of 203 km/h (126 mph), while fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are at 6.6 litres per 100 km (42 mpg) and 154 g/km.

We’re not sure we like the new design approach from Skoda, like the Superb or this Octavia facelift, but, overall, a pretty interesting change for the Czech sedan. You can read about all the new features in the official press release.

Photo Gallery: Skoda Octavia Facelift at the Paris Motor Show

Read More: "2008 Paris Special: Skoda Octavia Facelift"

Autocar reports that the Skoda Yeti SUV will enter production, most likely in 2009, as a part of Skoda’s plan to release six new models by the end of 2010. These cars will be both new generations of current models and new models through which Skoda will enter new markets. Some of these models, besides the Yeti, will be the new Fabia estate, the new Superb and, in 2010, a facelift for the Fabia plus a whole new Octavia replacement, which will be based on VW Golf’s PQ35 platform.

Now, about the Yeti, we have no official clues so far, but what we do have is a lot of rumors. Though everyone would expect for Skoda to use the Tiguan platform on the Yeti, it seems that the Czech producer is planning on borrowing only the four-wheel drive system and mix it with other VAG Group hardware, so practically, the Skoda Yeti will be a new car, smaller than the Tiguan, which will compete cars like the Suzuki Jimny or the Nissan Qashqai.

Martin Hrdlicka, Skoda’s head of chassis development said that “Skoda will develop its own vehicle and its own concept. We need to find niches where we don’t compete with other group products from VW and Seat,” adding that they don’t know for sure if the “Yeti” name tag will be kept.

Read More: "Skoda Yeti SUV to enter production"

Yesterday was a great day for Skoda, as the two millionth Skoda Octavia was produced at the Vrchlabí plant in the Czech Republic. The anniversary car was a silver Octavia Scout 2.0 TDI.

The production of the Skoda Octavia started in 1996 and the second generation was introduced in 2004. What’s interesting is that the first generation is still produced and is selling pretty good, as it offers great features for a very good price. So far, 1,315,000 first-generation Octavias and 685,000 second-generation Octavias were produced and last year Skoda delivered 72,529 Octavia Tour vehicles and 237,422 Škoda Octavias.

Read the full press release after the jump.

Read More: "Skoda produces its 2 millionth Octavia"

Among the world premieres presented at this year’s Geneva Motor Show was also the new Skoda Superb. The Czech producer’s flagship will have a roomy interior and also a notable luggage space of 565 litres. Among others, the new Superb will feature 9 airbags, bi-xenon headlamps with AFS, touch-screen navigation system and parking assistant.

The new Skoda Superb will be available with the following engines:

Petrol:
- 1.4 liter TSI - 126 hp/92 kW
- 1.8 TSI - 161 hp/118 kW, also 4×4 and AT
- 3.6 FSI V6 - 261 hp/191 kW 4×4 AT

Diesel:
- 1.9 TDI PD DPF - 105 hp/77 kW, also without DPF
- 2.0 TDI PD DPF - 141 hp/103 kW, also AT
- 2.0 TDI CR DPF - 171 hp/125 kW, also 4×4 and AT

Check out more photos of the new Skoda Superb at the Geneva show after the jump.

Read More: "Geneva 2008: The all new Skoda Superb"

Not one of our favourite cars out there, it looks like the Skoda Fabia is going to get a new, more aggressive, brother. We’re talking about the Skoda Fabia S2000, which currently is in prototype stage and is being tested before starting competing in the Super 2000 competition. The car, based on the current generation Skoda Fabia, complies with FIA regulations and is powered by a 2.0 liter 4-cylinder petrol engine mated to a six-speed sequential transmission and it also features four-wheel drive system with three mechanical differentials.

Dr. Eckhard Scholz, Skoda Auto BOD Member responsible for technological development, said: “We are glad to have started testing the Fabia Super 2000. This year we are planning to optimise and certify the vehicle so that we can use it on both national and international levels. When exactly will the vehicle be released for competition use will depend on the achieved progress, relevant test results and the final certification. Then we are also planning to offer the vehicle to private teams. Based on a customer service arrangement, further development work on the vehicle will be done in close cooperation with our importers worldwide“.

Check out more photos after the jump.

Read More: "Skoda Fabia S2000 almost ready"

One of the premieres at the Geneva Motor Show, will be the new Skoda Superb. We’ve already written about this car (check out the previous post here) and now Skoda released two more photos of the Passat-looking Superb, which will be the Czech’s producer’s flagship.

You can see one more photo after the jump.

Read More: "New photos of the Skoda Superb"

Last month we’ve presented some spy photos of the new Skoda Superb, which will be the Czech producer’s next flagship. Scheduled to debut at next year’s Geneva Motor Show, here’s the first official photo of the 2009 Skoda Superb and our first impression is that it’s…ugly. And I think Skoda should change something in it’s design department, because this is another ugly car, after the hideous Fabia.

No official info available so far, but we know the Superb will be based on the VW Passat platform and it will probably be powered by a wide range of engines, including the 140 HP 1.4 TSI, 160 HP 1.8 TSI and 200 HP 2.0 TSI petrol units and the 1.9 TDI and 2.0 TDI diesel units.

Read More: "The first official photo of the 2009 Skoda Superb"

After today we wrote about the Brabus SLR Roadster or the Abt Audi AS5, we present you another supercar package, the Skoda Fabia Sport. Just kidding, of course. Today, Skoda announced the UK launch of the Skoda Fabia Sport, a new addition to the Czech carmaker’s small car range, which got a new front spoiler, chrome exhaust pipe, rear diffuse and 16-inch alloy wheels.

I was never very fond of the latest Fabia generation, however, it’s pricing is very reasonable. The 70 hp 1.2 liter 12v version starts at £10,660, while the 105 hp 1.6 liter 16v version has a starting price tag of £11,735. The two diesel versions available start at £12,115 for the 80 hp 1.4 TDI and £12,795 for the 105 hp 1.9TDI version. The first UK customers will get their cars at the end of January.

Read More: "The new Skoda Fabia Sport announced in the UK"

Even though the word on the street was that it will make its debut at Frankfurt, the next generation Skoda Superb will debut at next year’s Geneva Motor Show. And here are some spy shots taken in Death Valey, where Skoda called a few journalists to test the prototype. Just like the current generation at its time, the Superb will be based on the VW Passat’s platform and, powered by a wide range of petrol and diesel engines, it will try to fight the Renault Laguna, Opel Vectra and the recent Ford Mondeo.

UPDATE: You can see our latest posts on the new Skoda Superb here and here

View more spy photos after the jump.
Read More: "The new Skoda Superb spy shots"

In my opinion, I’d ban the new Skoda Fabia, because it’s one the ugliest cars out there. And Skoda’s attempt to do better, by presenting the Fabia Scout at Frankfurt is a failure. It’s still ugly. Even if, with VW’s help, the Czechs gave it an off-road trim, with large cladding sections in the bodywork and slightly raised ground clearance, it still doesn’t work for me.
Read More: "Frankfurt Special: Skoda Fabia Scout"