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Works team consists of three drivers at start of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC 2): Andreas Mikkelsen, Pontus Tidemand and Jan Kopecký. ŠKODA Fabia R5 will commemorate the victory of Skoda 130 RS 40 years ago.

When ŠKODA Motorsport lines up at this season’s Rally Monte Carlo, it will remember the brand’s legendary triumph at the same race 40 years ago. The works team’s ŠKODA FABIA R5s will feature the same blue and red stripes as sported by the winning car from 1977 when it launches its title campaign at the opening round of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC 2). Four decades ago, Václav Blahna (CZ) and his co-driver Lubislav Hlávka (CZ) won the class for cars with up to 1,300 cc with their ŠKODA 130 RS. This shock success is one of the milestones in ŠKODA’s 116-year motorsport history, the crowning moment of which came in the form of the world championship title in 2016.

“ŠKODA is proud of its magnificent tradition in motorsport, and of such iconic racing cars as the ŠKODA 130 RS,” said ŠKODA Motorsport Director Michal Hrabánek. “For this reason, we are remembering the success of 40 years ago at the Rally Monte Carlo with a special livery for our ŠKODA FABIA R5. The awareness of the brand’s outstanding motor racing history is the driving force behind our current motorsport activities. As well as our works drivers Pontus Tidemand and Jan Kopecký, Andreas Mikkelsen will also drive the ŠKODA FABIA R5 at the Rally Monte Carlo,” Hrabánek continued.

Experienced WRC driver Mikkelsen (N) will make a guest appearance for the ŠKODA works team. In doing so, he returns to his roots. The 27-year-old Norwegian began his rise to the top with titles in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge in 2011 and 2012. Back then, he was victorious in a ŠKODA FABIA SUPER 2000. Mikkelsen and co-driver Anders Jæger (N) familiarised themselves with the ŠKODA FABIA R5 at the first tests on snow last December.

ŠKODA Motorsport will once again put its faith in its two works drivers, Kopecký (CZ) and Tidemand (S), in 2017. As well as at the Rally Monte Carlo, the rapid Swede and his co-driver Jonas Andersson (S) will also go in pursuit of points at the second round of the world championship, which takes place in his native Sweden (9 to 12 February). Tidemand/Andersson have their sights set on succeeding Esapekka Lappi/Janne Ferm (FIN/FIN), who, at the wheel of the ŠKODA FABIA R5, won the Drivers’ and Co-Drivers’ title in the WRC 2 class of the world championship for the manufacturer from Mladá Boleslav for the first time in 2016.

As well as a number of starts in WRC 2, Jan Kopecký and Pavel Dresler will primarily be competing in the Czech Rally Championship (MČR) in 2017. They remain unbeaten in the ŠKODA FABIA R5 in the Czech Republic, having won ten out of ten races in the last two years, and are out to complete a hat-trick of titles in 2017.

With the world championship title, three continental titles, and ten national titles in the FABIA R5, ŠKODA enjoyed one of its best years on the rally routes of this world in 2016. Hopes are high that the Rally Monte Carlo will mark the start of an equally successful 2017.

The 2017 calendar for the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC 2):
Rally Monte Carlo   19.01.–22.01.2017
Rally Sweden    09.02.–12.02.2017
Rally Mexico    09.03.–12.03.2017
Rally France    06.04.–09.04.2017
Rally Argentina    27.04.–30.04.2017
Rally Portugal    18.05.–21.05.2017
Rally Italy    08.06.–11.06.2017
Rally Poland    29.06.–02.07.2017
Rally Finland    27.07.–30.07.2017
Rally Germany    17.08.–20.08.2017
Rally Spain    05.10.–08.10.2017
Rally Great Britain   26.10.–29.10.2017
Rally Australia    16.11.–19.11.2017

Article source: www.skoda-auto.com

ŠKODA OCTAVIA SCOUT features a more prominent bonnet, the new front end with wide radiator grille and additional headlights with a crystalline look, full-LED headlights with adaptive front headlights (AFS). Also the modified fog lights and tail lights are equipped with LED technology.

Its independent character is recognisable by silver-coloured underbody protection at the front and the rear. Furthermore, the Rough-Road package is also part of standard equipment and features plastic covering for the undercarriage as well as the brake and fuel lines.

The ŠKODA OCTAVIA SCOUT impresses with its interior space, which for the compact car segment is particularly generous, good body layout, distinct versatility, high level of functionality and great driving characteristics.

Besides the increased ground clearance, the all-wheel drive with electronically controlled, hydraulic multi-plate clutch, which comes as standard, also ensures even greater driving pleasure off the road. A total of three engines are available from 110 kW (150 PS) to 135 kW (184 PS); 2.0 TDI (110 kW) with all-wheel drive and 7-speed DSG transmission.

Both the front and rear axle of the ŠKODA OCTAVIA SCOUT are fitted with an electronic differential lock (EDL) as standard. EDL allows the car to pull away smoothly on difficult surfaces, transmitting drive to both the front and rear axles.

For safer and easier descents on rough terrain the Off-Road function is available for the ŠKODA OCTAVIA SCOUT. When in use the speed of the vehicle is consistently maintained without the driver needing to do anything. Modern engine management, which increases safety during descents using braking, makes the driver’s life easier.

Article source: www.skoda-auto.com

Vrchlabí plant was founded in 1864, ŠKODA location is since 1946.

The ŠKODA Vrchlabí plant has been part of ŠKODA’s production network for 70 years. The rapid and successful 2012 transformation of the site for the pioneering production of automated dual-clutch transmissions (DQ 200) is an intrinsic part of ŠKODA’s long-term investment programme. The gearboxes produced there are used in ŠKODA automobiles and other Volkswagen Group vehicles.

“Operating the ŠKODA site in Vrchlabí for 70 years underscores the great tradition of the Czech automotive industry,” says Michael Oeljeklaus, ŠKODA AUTO Board Member for production and logistics. “The modern dual-clutch transmission DQ 200, produced by the local ŠKODA team, is of great strategic importance to the entire Volkswagen Group.”

The ŠKODA plant in Vrchlabí builds on the success of the company Petera & Sons. It was originally a saddlery, later vehicles, including luxury carriages and sleighs were produced there. Founded in 1864 by Ignatz Theodor Petera, the company produced the first automobile bodies in 1908. Three years later the factory received a prestigious commission from Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz Josef I.

ŠKODA cars have been rolling off the production lines at Vrchlabí since 1946. In the same year, the Czechoslovak car-body factory was nationalized and integrated into the company AZNP. The employees played a decisive role in developing the special commercial-vehicle versions of the successful ŠKODA 1101 ‘Tudor’ series. The then modern production line also produced the open-top models and the so-called STWs - the predecessor of today's estate body version. Until 1981, special car bodies based on the ŠKODA 1200, 1201, 1202 and 1203 series were manufactured at Vrchlabí. These vehicles were superseded by the ŠKODA OCTAVIA (ŠKODA 105/120, FAVORIT, FORMAN, FELICIA, FELICIA COMBI, FELICIA FUN) and ŠKODA OCTAVIA (SKD) for export to Poland.

The Vrchlabí site was transformed from an automotive factory to a highly advanced component-production plant in 2012. Within 18 months, a new factory building had been erected and the existing production halls modernized. For the rapid preparation of the DQ 200 production and the dynamic development of the site, the Vrchlabí plant was awarded ‘Factory of the Year’ last year. In corporation with the Volkswagen Group, ŠKODA has so far invested around 250 million euros for DQ 200 production in the reconstruction of the production halls, technical equipment, the gear-production training centre, and logistics. The Vrchlabí plant has evolved into a high-tech location in recent years.

ŠKODA’s Vrchlabí plant is one of the most important employers in the Hradec Králové region with its 1,000 employees. The daily production capacity was expanded to 2,000 direct-shift transmissions this year. To date, around 1.4 million DQ 200 transmissions have been manufactured at this location. These are used in ŠKODA cars and other Volkswagen Group vehicles.

Article source: www.skoda-auto.com

The milestone vehicle, a ŠKODA KODIAQ in the colour Moon White, rolled off the production line at the traditional Czech company’s site.

To launch the production of the brand’s first large SUV, ŠKODA’s East Bohemian factory had taken on 2,600 new employees by the end of last year. The production plant will be further modernized and expanded in the coming years.

“Kvasiny is a state-of-the-art production facility with a great tradition and an outstanding team. As an important cornerstone of ŠKODA’s production network, the Kvasiny plant will be making a key contribution to ŠKODA Strategy 2025,” says ŠKODA Board Member for Production and Logistics Michael Oeljeklaus. “The site’s annual production volume will continue to increase over the coming years. To this end, we will be investing heavily into the location, expanding Kvasiny into a competence centre for the production of SUV vehicles among other things. We have recently reached an important milestone in this regard by launching production of the ŠKODA KODIAQ.

The Kvasiny plant has a tradition spanning the last 80 years, and is one of the most important employers in the Hradec Králové region. Cars such as the JAWA 700 were produced here as early as the 1930s. The first ŠKODA to be manufactured at Kvasiny was the ŠKODA SUPERB in 1947. In subsequent years, the models FELICIA (1958 to 1964), 110 R Coupé (1970 to 1980), ŠKODA pickup / VW Caddy pickup (1995 to 2001), SUPERB, ROOMSTER and YETI ran off the production Line.

The ŠKODA plant in East Bohemia is currently undergoing the most significant modernization and expansion in its history. As part of the comprehensive SUV campaign, which was launched with the ŠKODA KODIAQ, the manufacturer has invested approximately seven billion crowns into the location. Over the next few years, the production capacity of the plant will steadily increase to 280,000 vehicles annually. An additional 2600 employees had been added to the workforce by the end of 2016, and ŠKODA will be creating new jobs this year, as well. The company is one of the largest industrial employers in the region.

Automobile production at Kvasiny – important milestones:

1934 - The body shop Jawa Kvasiny is founded.

1947 - Production launch of the ŠKODA SUPERB.

1959 - Kvasiny launches the production of the convertible ŠKODA FELICIA.

1970 - Production launch of the sporty coupé ŠKODA 110 R.

1981 - Production launch of the ŠKODA GARDE / RAPID.

1991 - ŠKODA joins the Volkswagen Group.

2001 - ŠKODA’s new flagship, the SUPERB rolls off the production lines at Kvasiny.

2006 - Launch of the ŠKODA ROOMSTER model produced at Kvasiny.

2009 - The new ŠKODA YETI compact SUV is produced at Kvasiny.

2013 - January: The assembly of the ŠKODA ROOMSTER returns to Kvasiny.
           July: The new combined heat and power plant (CHP) becomes operational.
           Around 3 million euros go into creating an environmental project, later awarded
           ‘eco-project of the year’ in the Czech Republic.
           November: 1.5 million vehicles have been produced at Kvasiny.
           December: 500,000 second-generation ŠKODA SUPERBs have been produced
           at Kvasiny.

2014 - September: The Kvasiny plant celebrates 80 years of operation.

2015 - March: The third generation ŠKODA SUPERB rolls off the line. ŠKODA invests
          heavily in new production technologies, assembly and logistics areas for the start
          of production of the brand’s flagship made in Kvasiny. Around 62.3 million euros
          were invested in the new body construction alone.
           October: The 500,000th ŠKODA YETI is manufactured at Kvasiny.

2016 - October: The brand’s first large SUV – the ŠKODA KODIAQ – is manufactured
at Kvasiny.

Article source: www.skoda-auto.com

Just weeks after introducing the extensively modernized ŠKODA OCTAVIA, the Czech automobile manufacturer presents the top model in the series – the ŠKODA OCTAVIA RS.

The new front section, modified rear and sporty interior Ambient highlight its dynamic character. The upgraded ŠKODA OCTAVIA RS is available as a saloon and estate. Both body styles have two four-cylinder engines to choose from. While the 2.0 TDI diesel engine has the same 135 kW (184 hp) output as previously, the performance of the 2.0 TSI petrol engine has increased by 7 kW (10 hp) to 169 kW (230 hp), making it the strongest and fastest series-production model in the history of the ŠKODA OCTAVIA. New premium technologies supporting infotainment, connectivity and driver assistance systems emphasise the exceptional position of the compact sports car in its segment.

Dynamic design
The appearance of the new ŠKODA OCTAVIA RS accentuates the extensively redeveloped design of the series in a particularly sporty and emotional way: The new front section with a wider radiator grille, which has been extended with additional headlamps featuring a crystalline look, and the even wider air intakes with honeycomb structure in the redesigned bumpers are masculine and dynamic. The four full-LED headlights with Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS), as well as the LED side-mounted headlights integrated into the bumper shape the new front end. At the rear, the saloon’s spoiler and the estate’s roof spoiler set independent accents.

The rear is dominated by a powerful black diffuser element and broad red reflector lamp above. These elements are unmistakable characteristics of the upgraded ŠKODA OCTAVIA RS. In addition, the model now features LED-technology license plate illumination and taillights in the classic C-design as standard.

The interior of the new ŠKODA OCTAVIA RS is characterized by the sporty black interior. The RS-Sport seats provide plenty of lateral support thanks to high sides and integrated headrests. In addition to the leather/fabric combination, the sports seats are now also available in an Alcantara version. The multi-function sports steering wheel (for DSG gearbox with shift paddles) has a perforated leather crown. Ambient lighting comes as standard. The recesses of the door handles are illuminated, the pedals shine in an aluminium finish, and the entry panels bear the RS logo. ŠKODA-typical ‘Simply-Clever’ solutions include an umbrella under the passenger seat and a removable LED lamp in the boot of the estate.

Chassis, technology, engines
The 15 mm lower sports suspension and the rear track, 30 mm wider than the predecessor, as well as the red brake callipers underline the dynamic character of the new ŠKODA OCTAVIA RS. 17-inch wheels are available as standard, while 18- or 19-inch wheels are available as an option. On request, 19-inch light-alloy wheels are available in silver. Progressive steering, Performance Mode Select with Performance Sound Generator (option), the stability program ESC with electronic cross barrier XDS+ and Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) add to the intensive driving pleasure of the new ŠKODA OCTAVIA RS. DCC allows the driver to choose between Comfort, Normal or Sport modes.

The new engine of the ŠKODA OCTAVIA RS 2.0 TSI provides 169 kW (230 hp) and has a maximum torque of 350 Nm at 1,500 to 4,600 rpm. The front-wheel drive sports model sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds. The model’s top speed is 250 km/h. The combined fuel consumption is 6.5 litres per 100 km (149 g CO2/km; all values: saloon with manual transmission). As standard, the ŠKODA OCTAVIA RS 2.0 TSI is equipped with a manual 6-speed manual gearbox, optionally with a 6-speed DSG.

In the ŠKODA OCTAVIA RS 2.0 TDI, a diesel engine with an output of 135 kW (184 hp) and a maximum torque of 380 Nm from 1,750 rpm ensures acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds and a top speed of 232 km/h. The combined fuel consumption is 4.5 l/100 km (119 g CO2/km, all values: saloon with manual transmission). The ŠKODA OCTAVIA RS 2.0 TDI is available either with front-wheel drive (manual or 6-speed DSG) or 4×4-wheel drive and 6-speed DSG.

Infotainment and ŠKODA Connect
As all versions in the series, the current ŠKODA OCTAVIA RS features the latest generation of infotainment systems. The capacitive touch displays are designed in glass (except for the series music system Swing). The top version is the navigation system Columbus with a 9.2-inch monitor, WLAN hotspot and optional LTE module.

Driver assistance systems
The wide range of driver assistance systems in ŠKODA OCTAVIA RS sets new standards in the compact class. New features include Trailer Assist, Blind Spot Detect, which warns the driver of vehicles in the blind spot, and Rear Traffic Alert, which monitors side and rear traffic when leaving a parking space. The Crew Protect Assist closes windows and sunroofs in the event of an imminent accident, tightens driver and passenger seatbelts and works in conjunction with the improved Front Assist including city emergency braking and predictive pedestrian protection.

History
The abbreviation RS was first used for racing cars in 1974, and has been used for the top sporty versions in the ŠKODA model range since the year 2000. To date, more than 200,000 ŠKODA OCTAVIA RS models have been sold worldwide, of which 100,000 units of the third generation that was launched in 2013.

Article source: www.skoda-auto.com

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