- VW's New Small Family platform also will underpin companion models from Audi and Seat.
- The baby Skoda goes into production this fall in Bratislava.
- The new car is a five-passenger three-door hatchback.
MLADA BOLESLAV, Czech Republic — Skoda, the Czech subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group, plans to start production this fall of a new small car based on the VW Up. Built on VW's New Small Family platform, the baby Skoda will be assembled this fall at VW's Bratislava plant in neighboring Slovakia.
The as-yet-unnamed Skoda model will share its underpinnings not only with the Up, but with a companion model from VW's Spanish affiliate Seat.
The Skoda variant will be a five-passenger three-door hatchback. Among its key features are its small size, large interior package and low fuel consumption. The new model will be aimed at young families with children.
Initially, the new Skoda will come with two engines: the 65-horsepower 1.0-liter gasoline engine and 75-hp 1.2-liter diesel engine. An electric version is in the pipeline.
Sales of the new Skoda in Europe are expected to begin in January 2012. The new car will be priced from around $9,300, and its main competitors in Europe will be the Toyota IQ and Peugeot 107.
Inside Line says: There is a possibility that the production of the Skoda might be also launched in Volkswagen's Russian plant in Kaluga, as well as in India. — Evgeniy Vorotnikov, Correspondent
Add A Comment »
danielfuchs says:
06:20 PM, 01/31/2011
As a Slovakian native living in the States, aka mk2mark :), I love reading about brands not sold here, especially Skoda! I really wish that I was able to buy one of these here, like Octavia - which is basically VW Passat here. Maybe one day... My dad bought his Skoda Octavia back in 1998 and still drives it today. I just keeps on going!
tdiluv says:
09:09 PM, 01/29/2011
If this smacks into a Smart for 2 you'll probably be ok !
hotrodw says:
08:49 AM, 01/29/2011
65 HP? Can you imagine trying to sell a car here in the U.S. with just 65 HP? Amazing. And $9,300? I'd love to know how much profit they expect to make at that price point.
mk2mark says:
12:51 PM, 01/28/2011
As an Irish native living in the States I'd like thank you for running less mainstream (but interesting) stories like these. The reason I come back to insideline is because of how well you strike the balance between US stuff and what's going on elsewhere.