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ŠKODA has once again proved itself to be the brand to beat by dominating the 2018 DieselCar and EcoCar Top 50. The Czech brand was named as class winner in no fewer than four key categories and topped more sectors than any other manufacturer in the influential annual chart.

Milton Keynes, 9 May 2018: Now in its third year, the DieselCar and EcoCar Top 50 is widely regarded as a definitive guide to the best cars on the market. The chart is compiled from data and feedback from a team of writers who have tested more than 175 cars during the past year. All have been road tested in the UK, and judged against the expectations and demands of their target market.

The KODIAQ added to its incredible list of industry titles by topping the Large SUV category - eclipsing some of the biggest names in the sector in the process. Explaining the KODIAQ’s appeal, Ian Robertson, Editor and Publisher DieselCar & EcoCar Magazine said: “Despite undercutting key rivals, the big ŠKODA offers more performance and practicality at a lower price and with smaller running costs. This five and seven-seater drives brilliantly, comes with the option of advanced four-wheel drive to keep you going and is filled to the roof rails with clever features like pop-out door protectors.”

Not to be outdone, the SUPERB grabbed two awards; Best Large Car and Best Large Estate. As with the KODIAQ, the judging panel loved the SUPERB’s value and practicality. “The pricing of this limousine-like model defies belief, with so much room in the back you might feel tempted to change your wardrobe and don a smart black suit.” said Ian Robertson. “Its size, torquey engines and smooth manual or automatic gearboxes make the SUPERB a superlative tow car, and it’s in its element on the motorway. If you aren’t an SUV enthusiast, the SUPERB is a great antidote and yet still hugely spacious.”

Completing a remarkable haul for ŠKODA, the OCTAVIA was named Best Medium Estate, marking a lock-out of the large Estate market for the brand. Substantially updated last year, the OCTAVIA wowed the judges with its strength in depth. Explaining why it took top honours Ian Robertson said: “Making up around a third of ŠKODA sales, the OCTAVIA is a critical model for the Czech brand, so it’s a good job the latest update has been such a success. The estate has a class-leading boot and the vRS performance version is powerful and grippy without attracting any unwanted attention. No wonder OCTAVIA owners are so happy.”

Thanks to the new Karoq’s 17th place finish, no fewer than five ŠKODA models featured in the Top 50 - a remarkable achievement and testament to the value for money delivered by the brand’s efficient diesel models.

These latest Diesel Car and EcoCar awards add to a vast collection of silverware already accumulated by the KODIAQ, SUPERB and OCTAVIA. The former has taken more than 10 top industry titles since its launch last March, including TopGear Magazine Family SUV of the Year, Auto Express Best Large SUV and What Car? Best Large SUV. The SUPERB, meanwhile, has racked up more than 20 titles including Best Car awards from What Car?, Auto Express, The Telegraph and The Sunday Times, while the OCTAVIA has now won eight titles in the last 12 months alone.

Further information and media assets are available from the ŠKODA UK media website - www.skodamedia.com.

Article source: www.skoda.co.uk

Motoring review site Honest John has named the ŠKODA KODIAQ its overall 2018 Car of the Year – adding another trophy to the Czech SUV’s remarkable collection. In addition to awarding the KODIAQ its highest honour, Honest John website visitors also named the SUPERB as its Family Car of the Year for the second year in succession.

Milton Keynes, 3 May 2018: Unlike other awards, the Honest John honours are chosen by the 2.3 million annual visitors to the HonestJohn.co.uk website, rather than a panel of journalists and experts. The reviews that generate the most interest – judged by the number of page visits – are the winners. This provides a unique picture of the cars that generate the most interest and excitement among real buyers and enthusiasts.

Having already netted a hat-full of awards in previous years, ŠKODA has gone one better in 2018 by taking the overall Car of the Year title for the KODIAQ. The brand’s first seven-seater SUV went on sale last March and has proved a huge hit with both buyers and the motoring media. The KODIAQ swept to victory in Honest John’s SUV category – and generated more page hits and visits than any other car during the judging period.

Commenting on the KODIAQ’s appeal to readers, Honest John Managing Editor Dan Powell said: “Comfortable, spacious and well-equipped, the KODIAQ is everything an SUV should be. Its popularity has grown steadily with the readers of HonestJohn.co.uk over the past 12 months and it’s easy to see why our audience hold the KODIAQ in such high regard. The ŠKODA KODIAQ is a brilliant family SUV and a worthy winner of the Honest John Car of the Year 2018.”

And it wasn’t just ŠKODA’s large SUV that proved a hit with Honest John readers over the course of the last year. The SUPERB has continued to dominate the family car category – a remarkable achievement for a car that made its debut in the UK in 2015. Such was the level of online interest in the brand’s spacious hatch and estate that it generated more web traffic than any other sector model during the judging period.

“To take the Large Family Car of the Year award for the second time in succession is a fantastic achievement.” Commented Dan Powell. “In our opinion, the SUPERB is one of the most accomplished cars in its class. Remaining true to ŠKODA’s value for money principles, the SUPERB surges ahead of the competition by raising the bar for family car quality and refinement.”

The Honest John Awards are just the latest in a long line of accolades won by the KODIAQ and SUPERB. The former has taken more than 10 top industry titles since its launch last March, including TopGear Magazine Family SUV of the Year, Auto Express Best Large SUV and What Car? Best Large SUV. The SUPERB, meanwhile, has racked up more than 20 titles including Best Car awards from What Car?, Auto Express, The Telegraph and The Sunday Times.

Further information and media assets are available from the ŠKODA UK media website - www.skodamedia.com.

Article source: www.skoda.co.uk

Following on from the ŠKODA KODIAQ and the ŠKODA KAROQ, the new SUV is to become the third member of the ŠKODA SUV family. The KAMIQ is rigorously continuing the powerful ŠKODA SUV design language and impresses with modern technology and an expressive design.

Immediately after the world premiere, ŠKODA will present the KAMIQ to the public at the ‘Auto China 2018’, which will take place from 25 April to 4 May in Beijing. The urban SUV will be launched onto the market only a couple of months after the motor show.

The new ŠKODA KAMIQ combines compact dimensions and a surprisingly spacious interior. The body is 4,390 mm long, 1,781 mm wide and 1,593 mm high. The wheelbase is 2,610 mm. The car is equipped with an all-new 1.5-litre petrol engine that produces a power output of 81 kW and torque of up to 150 Nm. The engine’s power is transmitted via an automatic gearbox.

The KAMIQ’s design comes with all the features of ŠKODA’s powerful SUV design language. The typical radiator grille with its vertical double slats is an unmistakeable expression of ŠKODA’s DNA. Lines in the crystalline headlights flow into the lines of the grille, lending the KAMIQ a bold appearance. The precise, sharply cut tornado line gives a three-dimensional look and, together with the 17-inch double five-spoke alloy wheels, creates a sporty side view. The crystalline tail lights are positioned horizontally. This and the outward position of the reflectors make the SUV appear wider.

The robust design also continues in the interior. Thanks to the raised infotainment display in the centre of the dashboard, the driver can operate many vehicle functions with great ease and comfort. A chrome trim running across the entire width of the dashboard stylishly connects its components. One effective detail is the innovative, angled installation of the speakers. Due to their ergonomic design, the driver and front passenger seat offer excellent comfort and lateral support. The seat covers come in a plaid pattern with 3D effect, which further enhances the modern feel of the interior.

The KAMIQ is aimed at young, urban customers who wish to maintain their digital lifestyle even whilst on the go in their car and who desire modern connectivity solutions. Therefore, the new SUV is equipped with an intelligent connectivity system that has been newly developed by ŠKODA. The technological highlight of the system is the voice control from iFLYTEK, one of Asia’s leading providers of voice recognition based on artificial intelligence. The software understands regional Chinese dialects and can even learn individual and local language styles automatically. Smartphones can be connected via Apple CarPlay, Baidu Carlife and MirrorLink™ interfaces; compatible apps are operated on the eight-inch screen with a resolution of 1,280 x 720. In addition, the connectivity system also provides many practical services such as a guide for restrictions based on number plates, real-time traffic information, weather information and POI notifications.

On 25 April, ŠKODA will present the KAMIQ to the public for the first time at the ‘Auto China 2018’. Media representatives and visitors are very welcome to experience the new urban SUV live and up close at the SAIC ŠKODA booth in Hall W4 of the Chinese International Exhibition Centre.

Article source: www.skoda-auto.com

20 students at the ŠKODA Vocational School in Mladá Boleslav are designing and building a new student concept car. Following four studies in recent years, the students have now taken on a convertible version of the ŠKODA KAROQ. The finished study will be introduced to the public in June. The vehicle built by the talented young students underlines once again the high quality of the ŠKODA education programme.

ŠKODA AUTO is again offering talented young students the chance to feel like car designers. The students, aged 17 and 18, are currently being trained at the ŠKODA AUTO Vocational School and have come together to build the fifth study. Under the guidance of their teachers and with the support of the Technology, Design and Production departments at the company’s headquarters in Mladá Boleslav, they are building a convertible study based on the ŠKODA KAROQ. The project highlights both the significance of the latest SUV model range for the brand’s model portfolio, as well as its successes and achievements. In addition, it emphasises the fresh and youthful design of the ŠKODA KAROQ. As part of the practical project, the students learn to train their technical and organisational skills in a team. The finished study, which is yet to be given a name, will be introduced to the public in June.

The student engineers come from seven different professions – among them painters, car mechatronics engineers and toolmakers. “We are really looking forward to the project because we get the chance to build a car using our own ideas,” explained team member Ondřej Bacík.

Students have designed and built a vehicle every single year since 2014: the first study was a two-seater version of the ŠKODA CITIGO; a pick-up based on the ŠKODA FABIA followed in 2015; in 2016 it was a coupé based on the ŠKODA RAPID SPACEBACK; and in 2017 the ŠKODA CITIGO was the inspiration for an electric buggy.

This training project once again underlines the high quality of ŠKODA AUTO’s education programme. At the vocational school, which was founded in 1927, talented young students undergo training in technical subjects for 3-4 years. At present, more than 900 students are completing a total of 13 full-time education programmes (five lasting for 4 years and eight lasting 3 years) and two expansion programmes.In addition, around 60 ŠKODA employees are expanding their qualifications as part of other further training programmes.

The vocational School for Mechanical Engineering is part of the ŠKODA Academy, which was founded in April 2013 to provide comprehensive training for students and employees. Its education and qualification programme is specifically geared towards the needs of the company. Since 2013, the car manufacturer has – with support from the KOVO union – spent approximately 260 million korunas on expanding its offering of education programmes and modernising the equipment at the ŠKODA Academy.

Article source: www.skoda-auto.com

ŠKODA in China has released first sketches of a new model: an SUV, which has been specially designed and developed for the requirements of Chinese urban customers. Following on from the ŠKODA KODIAQ and the ŠKODA KAROQ, the new mainstream city SUV will be the third member of the brand’s SUV family for the Chinese market. The model is celebrating its debut in the run-up to the 2018 Beijing Motor Show.

With the launches of the KODIAQ and the KAROQ, ŠKODA’s SUV campaign is already in full swing. Now ŠKODA has transferred their expressive design into a new mainstream city SUV for the Chinese market, underlining the brand’s emotive strength. The crystalline design details, a common feature of all ŠKODA SUVs, are evidence of the new mainstream urban SUV’s rugged character. They also emphasise its elegant attributes and high level of quality. As is the case with the KODIAQ and the KAROQ, the company’s SUV design language featured on the model enhances ŠKODA’s latest family member.

The exhibition premiere of the new ŠKODA SUV is one of the highlights at this year’s Beijing Motor Show. ŠKODA incorporates specific requirements and preferences of the Chinese customer regarding concept, design and features of newly developed models. The radiator grille and headlights form one unit. The lower side panels flow towards the rear, thereby intensifying the car’s distinctive wheel arches. The rear and tail lights create a crystalline shape.

ŠKODA’s SUV strategy is key to the brand’s growth. With an SUV market share of over 30 per cent in the first quarter, ŠKODA plays an important role in the Chinese market. Now, the third ŠKODA SUV is ready to be launched and will be celebrating its debut at the 2018 Beijing Motor Show.

China is ŠKODA’s strongest single market in the world; one in every four cars is sold here. In 2017 the car manufacturer increased deliveries in China by 2.5 per cent to 325,000 vehicles. This makes last year ŠKODA’s best year to date after having re-entered the Chinese market in 2007.

The foundations for ŠKODA’s future profitable growth in China were laid, when representatives of Volkswagen, SAIC Motor Corporation Limited and ŠKODA AUTO signed a memorandum of understanding on 30 March 2016 during a state visit of the Chinese president Xi Jinping to the Czech Republic, concerning a five-year investment plan worth over two billion euros. The objective is to expand the model range, for example by adding several SUVs and vehicles with alternative drive systems.

Article source: www.skoda-auto.com

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