Successful tarmac test of the new Škoda Fabia Super 2000. Besides experienced test drivers Jan Kopecký and Raimund Baumschlager, the team recently testing the competition version of the Fabia Super 2000 in Austria included two times world champion Carlos Sainz. The Volkswagen factory driver won the Central European Rally with a Race Touareg this year in April and contributed to the double success of the new Scirocco in its class at the 24-hour race in Nürnburgring a few days ago.

A number of big names of motor sport attended the test rides of the new Škoda Fabia Super 2000 in order to check the project progress, including Hans-Joachim Stuck of the Volkswagen Motor Sport Department.

The test was not Sainz’s first experience of driving a Škoda – the Spanish driver won the Shalymar Rally (near Madrid) with a Fabia in the autumn of last year, and so he felt like trying out the new version of the Fabia Super 2000. “I have got to know the Škoda Fabia really well, and I can see a huge step forward as far as the development of the competition version is concerned“, said Sainz, authorised to take part in this test by Volkswagen Motor Sport Department Director Kris Nissen.

Commenting on the project, Dr. Eckhard Scholz, Škoda Auto BOD Member responsible for technological development, said: “The involvement of experienced competitors such as Carlos Sainz and Hans-Joachim Stuck highlights the importance the Volkswagen Group attributes to Škoda’s motor sport initiatives and gives valuable stimuli to the development of the new Fabia Super 2000.“

Skoda Fabia S2000 Prototype Testing

Škoda Auto has started testing the first prototype of the Škoda Fabia Super 2000 today. Designed to be used in the Super 2000 category, the vehicle is based on the second-generation Fabia and, in compliance with the FIA regulations, is equipped with a two-litre atmospheric four-cylinder petrol engine, a six-speed sequential transmission and a four-wheel drive system with three mechanical differentials.

Commenting on the occasion, Dr. Eckhard Scholz, Škoda 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“.

Martin Lauer, Head of Corporate Communications, adds: “The history of over hundred years of involvement in motorsport is unique, and we are proud to be able to continue the success story with the Fabia Super 2000. We believe that the vehicle will become a successful part of this tradition, because car racing is popular all over the world and offers great opportunities to promote our products“.

Skoda Auto is going to present the successor to its flagship model at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show – the new Skoda Superb. The second-generation Superb is going to offer a generously-sized interior and a number of smart solutions.

The current, successful generation of Superb has established Skoda in the arena of the large saloon cars and customers are now acquainted with its presence in the medium- and upper-medium segments. The new generation of Skoda Superb, with its exceptional interior space, follows the tradition of the current modern generation.

The development of the latest model has been completely undertaken by the Skoda Auto Technical Development Department which is currently undergoing a marked development itself. It is the third-largest development unit within the Volkswagen Group today. The New Superb brings a number of technical refinements and interesting solutions.