Skoda cars

2013 Skoda Rapid Sport Concept

It looks like Volkswagen Group has prepared quite a lineup for this year’s Wörthersee show. Earlier today, we brought you the first details on the Seat Leon Cup Racer, now is time to talk about another concept, this time around it’s from Škoda.

Škoda’s concept is based on the most recent addition to its lineup: the Rapid. Called Rapid Sport, this new concept sets out to prove the tuning capabilities of the new sedan. The concept is painted in a combination of "Corrida Red" and ’Steel Gray" exterior colors and sits on 19-inch alloy wheels.

Because it’s a "sport" concept, it also receives an aerodynamic kit that adds spoilers and a sporty-looking air intake in the front skirt up, large fenders and massive rocker panels. On the backside, the Škoda gets a large bumper and two integrated tailpipes.

For the interior, Škoda added a sport-type steering wheel, Recaro seats and illuminated door sills.

Click past the jump to read more about the standard Škoda Rapid.

Spy Shots: Skoda Octavia vRS Caught Testing for the First Time

Earlier this month, Skoda dropped the first teaser video for the new Octavia vRS that set to be unveiled at the 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed on July 11th through 14th 2013. Today, our spy photographers managed to catch the car testing for the first time, and, as you can see, the prototype caught testing features light camouflage that reveals few details on the model to be unveiled in July.

The car is camouflaged only on major parts and hides the air intakes on the left and right side of the front bumper, as well as the LED fog lights.

The new vRS version will be distinguished by a meaner look, thanks to its tinted headlights, rear spoiler and two bigger exhaust exits.

Rumors suggest that the model will be powered by a 2.0-liter TFSI delivering about 220 horsepower that hooks up to a six-speed manual or a DSG gearbox.

Hit the jump to read more on the new Skoda Octavia vRS.

2013 Skoda Octavia vRS

When Skoda says that the new Octavia RS is the "fastest road-going skoda Octavia yet", we have to stand up and pay attention.

That’s why it’s important for us to pay heed to the upcoming Goodwood Festival of Speed this coming July because that’s the event where the all-new Octavia RS is scheduled to make its world premier.

The car will be based on the new generation Octavia, a car that Skoda had just unveiled earlier this year. Keeping in line with the automaker’s renewed attempt to gain some traction in the industry, the Octavia RS is being pegged to be longer, wider, and lighter than its predecessor, all important qualities that will make for a pretty interesting vehicle.

There’s not much in the way of details regarding the Octavia RS, but that "RS" badge certainly makes for a pretty enticing and appealing car that should turn some heads at Goodwood.

If for nothing else, 240 horsepower seems to be a conservative estimate on this bad boy since previous Octavia RS models already crossed the 200-horsepower threshold.

We’ll be sure to update this with all the pertinent information surrounding the Skoda Octavia RS when it makes its world premier at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in three months time.

Click past the jump to read more

2013 Skoda Superb Combi

At the beginning of this week, we brought you the first spy shots of the revised Skoda Superb. Today it’s time for another set of shots, but this times they are of the Superb Combi version - yes, also known as Superb Station Wagon.

As you can see from these images, the prototype is wearing some camouflage on the parts that will receive most of the updates. However, as with the previously launched Rapid and Octavia, the new Superb version will receive design elements initially unveiled in the MissionL concept.

This means there will be a new front grille, new headlights and front bumper. At the rear, we will see redesigned lights and a new rear bumper. The interior will also be slightly revised with higher-quality materials and maybe some new tech pieces.

Under the hood, we will most likely see the same engine lineup seen in the recently announced Octavia, meaning there will be a choice of newly developed petrol and diesel engines.

2013 Skoda Superb

Just like with the rest of the Skoda lineup, the Superb is also about to receive a mid-life update. Our spy photographers have caught the car testing today for the first time and, even though the prototype is wearing camouflage, you can clearly see that the updates will be similar to those initially unveiled in the MissionL concept.

This means that the front end will be pretty similar to the one revealed in models like Rapid and Octavia. So, you should expect a new front grille, new headlights and front bumper. For the rear, the model will get redesigned lights, meaning they will change from the slotted lights with the inner part on the trunk lid into a one-piece version. Together with a new rear bumper, this will give the back a cleaner look. The interior will also be slightly revised.

There are no details on the engine lineup just yet, but you should see expect the new engines from the Octavia lineup.

2014 Skoda Octavia Combi RS

Last week, we brought you the first spy shots of the upcoming Skoda Octavia Combi. Now it’s time for something a little bit more powerful: the Octavia Combi RS.

When compared to the standard Combi, the RS version will feature a sportier and more aggressive front bumper, and an exhaust system with trapezoidal tailpipes. The production version will also get some bigger wheels to help it ride and handle a little better.

The Octavia RS will be powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that will deliver a total of 220 horsepower. The engine will be mated to either a six-speed manual or a DSG transmission and there are rumors suggesting the engine will be couple to a four-wheel-drive system.

The standard Octavia Combi will make its world debut at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, but those of you who want a more powerful wagon will need to wait for the 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show, as this is where the RS version is set to be unveiled.

2013 Skoda Octavia Combi

The next-generation Skoda Octavia made its world debut in December 2012 and the station wagon was the next logical step after the sedan. The wagon, known in Europe as Skoda Octavia Combi, has been caught testing for the first time and, as you can, see it looks pretty similar to the sedan.

What differentiates it from the sedan is its increased sized, which will provide more space for passengers and their cargo. The rest, of course, will remain unchanged and we will see the same design language initially unveiled in the new Rapid.

Under the hood, the engine lineup will remain unchanged and will include newly developed petrol and diesel engines, including the new 1.6-liter TDI engine that delivers a total of 69 mpg.

The new Octavia Combi will make its world debut at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show with sales to begin in the summer. We’ll keep you updated on all of the latest info.

2013 Skoda Octavia

Skoda has begun testing the next generation Octavia months ago, and today the company finally decided to release the official information of its best sold model ever. The model arrives just two months after the official unveiling of the new Rapid and will be put on sale early in 2013.

The new Skoda Octavia will replace the second generation unveiled back in 2004 and will move from the current A5 (PQ35) platform to the new MQB platform. This is also the platform used for the seventh generation Golf, which means that the next Skoda will share most of its technical parts with the Golf.

The new generation Octavia will be offering a new exterior design language - also seen on the Rapid sedan - and will deliver "lots of room, quality, precise workmanship, modern, mature technology, timeless design, high functionality and the best price-value ratio."

Update 12/11/2012: This review has been updated with the official details, images and specs. Hit the jump to read more about the new generation Octavia.

Skoda Octavia Caught Camo-Free

The next generation Skoda Octavia has been caught testing many times, but each time the car was camouflaged. This time, however, Nicolas Willson managed to shoot a photo of the next Octavia completely uncovered. The image was taken in Santiago, Chile, where Skoda was doing its own photo shoot of the new Octavia. The only thing covered up on the car is the Skoda logo on the front, but that won’t fool anyone.

As previously reported, the next Octavia will feature design elements we have already seen on Skoda’s new Rapid, including a grille that connects to both headlights.

The next Octavia will be built on Volkswagen’s new MQB platform and will come with the choice of two petrol engines — a 85-horsepower, 1.2-liter TSI and a 140-horsepower, 1.4-liter TSI — and two diesel engines — a 105-horsepower, 1.6-liter unit and a 150-horsepower, 2.0-liter unit.

Photo credit Nicolas Willson/Carscoop for CarPix.

2013 Skoda Superb Outdoor

During Volkswagen’s mad grab for power in the European auto industry, it managed to snag up little-known Czech car manufacturer, Skoda. With this acquisition, VW Group decided that revving a legendary name in the automaker’s past was a great way to help increase the brand’s popularity. This brought about the revival of the Skoda Superb – a model that dates back to the 1930s – as a sedan and a station wagon (estate).

The rebadged version of the Passat has since been one of the better-selling Skoda models, as it features VW quality and style with not-so-VW prices. Its price point is made more evident by the fact that the base-level Superb Estate comes in at £1,015 ($1,624 at the current exchange rates) less than the base Passat Estate.

One area that the Skoda seemed to fall short was the fact that it was not available in a more rugged version to satisfy those buyers that like to use its four-wheel-drive system to its fullest extent. That has since changed, as Skoda has just announced that it is releasing an all-new version of the Superb, dubbed he Superb Outdoor, which features a standard four-wheel-drive system and a more rugged exterior appearance.

Click past the jump to read all about the 2013 Skoda Superb Outdoor.