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ŠKODA SUV wins with the highest score out of 500 import vehicles tested. ŠKODA SUPERB COMBI completes double success taking second place.

The ŠKODA KODIAQ is ‘AUTO TEST Winner 2017’. With 676 points, the brand’s large SUV achieved the best result out of all the import vehicles tested by the German trade magazine ‘AUTO TEST’ over the past twelve months. ŠKODA has won the award for the fourth time in a row. Overall, this is the 29th award the ŠKODA KODIAQ has won since its market launch at the beginning of this year. The ŠKODA SUPERB COMBI completes the Czech manufacturer’s double success taking second place in the ‘AUTO TEST’ ranking.

“Only rarely does a new model rise to victory after just being released in this highly competitive environment. The ŠKODA KODIAQ is a real winner,” AUTO TEST makes the exceptional position of ŠKODA’s SUV clear. In the trade journal’s comparative tests, the top version of the ŠKODA KODIAQ with 140 kW (190 hp) 2.0 TDI, direct shift transmission and all-wheel drive went up against similarly equipped competitors. With 676 points, the brand’s first large SUV scored the best result out of all the import vehicles tested over the past twelve months. The ŠKODA KODIAQ won over the professionals at AUTO TEST in particular with its spaciousness, “Along with high variability, excellent value for money and exceptional handling,” the testers agreed.

The ŠKODA SUPERB COMBI, last year’s winner in the 'AUTO TEST' ranking, finished second with 646 points, just behind the ŠKODA KODIAQ. The brand’s flagship thus completes this double success for ŠKODA. In addition, ŠKODA is celebrating its fourth consecutive victory; in 2015 and 2014, the ŠKODA OCTAVIA triumphed in the import rankings.

Since 2008, AUTO TEST has awarded prizes to the best vehicles of the past twelve months in several categories. Every year, the experts test around 500 cars from all classes, driving more than one million test kilometres to evaluate the models in the categories of vehicle quality, safety, purchase pricing, premiums, operating costs, performance and consumption.

29th award for the ŠKODA KODIAQ
For the ŠKODA KODIAQ, 'AUTO TEST Winner 2017' is already the 29th award since its market launch at the beginning of the year. Among others, ŠKODA’s SUV has won 'Best Cars 2017' from What Car? in Great Britain; was named 'Car of the Year 2017' in the Czech Republic, Poland and Bulgaria, 'SUV of the Year' in China and France, 'All-wheel drive of the year' in Germany; and received two Red Dot awards for its design.

Article source: www.skoda-auto.com

The ŠKODA Citigo has been named the UK’s Safest Used First Car 2017 by Co-op Insurance, in partnership with UK safety organisation Thatcham Research. Created to highlight the safest and most protective used car options for first time buyers, the award is the first of its kind in the UK.

Milton Keynes, 29 June 2017: ŠKODA’s city car saw off tough competition to finish at the top of the pack, confirming it as the perfect first car for newly qualified drivers. While the Citigo is well known in the new car market for its high levels of safety equipment and strong design, this is the first time its protective qualities have been recognised in the used sector.

To qualify for the 2017 award shortlist, all cars needed by classed as city cars or superminis, have a five-star Euro NCAP rating and CO2 emissions of 120g/km or lower. In addition, examples had be widely available on the used car market for under £5,000 and come with a low insurance group rating. When all these key factors were taken into account, the Citigo emerged as the clear winner.

Announcing the Citigo’s award, James Hillon, Director of Products at Co-op Insurance commented: “The fact that almost a third of young drivers have been involved in a road traffic incident in the first six months of driving highlights just how important it is to have a safe vehicle. You cannot put a price on safety. We want to intercept and engage young drivers on the importance of putting safety over price when purchasing a first car."

Launched in 2012, Citigo has won numerous industry awards – including Auto Express Car of the Year – and offers new and used car buyers a high number of passive and active safety features. In addition to a robust shell, all models feature front, head and side airbags as standard, while SE models and above are equipped with ESC stability control as standard. For even greater levels of protection, ŠKODA also offers a Safety Pack that includes ŠKODA’s City Safe system. This senses vehicles, pedestrians and other hazards in front of the car when travelling at town speeds and automatically applies the brakes if the driver doesn’t.

Used examples of the Citigo are available through ŠKODA’s Approved Used network, where all models come with 12 months roadside assistance, 12 months warranty and a 30 day / 1,000 mile exchange offer.

Article source: www.skoda.co.uk

The Tour de France is ready for the start. On Saturday, the ŠKODA KAROQ will line up at the start as a service vehicle for three teams.

The new compact SUV is supporting three teams during the 14-kilometre time trial in Düsseldorf. The vehicles have a few added extras on board such as radio equipment. Wraps on the exterior give the KAROQ models an individual design.

After an absence of 30 years, the Grand Départ of the Tour de France is once again taking place in Germany. The time trial of the first stage leads from the fair-ground in Düsseldorf exhibition centre, along the Rhine to the famous Königsallee boulevard and back along the Rhine to the exhibition centre. A premiere for both Düsseldorf and the ŠKODA KAROQ, because ŠKODA’s new compact SUV will be presenting itself to the public there for the first time ahead of its market launch at the end of the year. Three ŠKODA KAROQs are accompanying teams from South Africa (Team Dimension Data), the Netherlands (Team Lotto NL - Jumbo), and Belgium (Lotto Soudal) as service vehicles during the 14-kilometre time trial. They will not only act as a spare parts depot on wheels for the racing cyclists, but also have the team escorts on board who will be in communication with their cyclists via radio.

The ŠKODA KAROQ SUV’s are all designed in the teams’ colours: Team Dimension Data will be supported by a black, white and green ŠKODA KAROQ, Team Lotto NL - Jumbo’s compact SUV has a yellow and black design, and the Lotto Soudal team will be supported by a red and white KAROQ. The roofs of all of the compact SUV’s bear the slogan ‘RIDE ON WITH #KAROQ’.

The ŠKODA KAROQ is exceptionally well-suited to use in the third-largest sporting event in the world. The all-rounder is equipped with a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 7-speed DSG transmission and, thanks to the Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC), a choice of three driving modes as well as electromechanical power steering, is as dynamic on the road as the athletes. Five engines with power outputs ranging from 85 kW (115 PS) to 140 kW (190 PS) are available for the new compact SUV.

The generous interior dimensions provide plenty of space for both equipment and the tour escorts. Thanks to the built-in Wi-Fi hotspot, the connectivity offering also leaves nothing to be desired: the passengers have the option of being ‘always online’. The KAROQ is also the first ŠKODA to offer a digital instrument cluster, allowing the displays on the dashboard to be individually programmed and presented. Another special feature is the Virtual Pedal. This ‘Simply Clever’ solution allows the tailgate to be opened with a simple foot movement under the rear bumper.

ŠKODA has been the official partner of the world’s largest cycling race for an impressive 14 years. The more than 250 ŠKODA organisation, escort and service vehicles cover a total of around 2.8 million kilometres during the 23-day tour.

The close relationship between the long-established Czech brand and cycling has historical roots. Before vehicle production began in 1905, company founders Václav Laurin and Václav Klement had already been manufacturing bicycles. Today, cycling is a pillar of ŠKODA’s sponsorship strategy. As well as the Tour de France and the Spanish cycling tour ‘La Vuelta a España’, the Czech car manufacturer supports other international and national cycling races, as well as numerous popular sporting events.

Article source: www.skoda-auto.com

Thousands of viewers witnessed debut of ŠKODA KAROQ at the start of Tour de France in Düsseldorf. New compact SUV starts as service vehicle at the world’s most famous cycling race.

Tens of thousands watched the Grand Départ of the Tour de France on Saturday. The ŠKODA KODIAQ as a service car accompanied three cycling teams: ‘Team Dimension Data’ from South Africa, ‘Team Lotto NL – Jumbo’ from the Netherlands and ‘Lotto Soudal’ from Belgium in the 14-kilometre time trial and for the first time made its public appearance.

The first stage of this year´s Tour - the time trial - took the cyclists from Düsseldorf Messe along the Rhine to the famous Königsallee and back to the Messe. It was a premiere for Düsseldorf – after 30 years the Tour de France started again in Germany – and for the ŠKODA KAROQ, as it is making its first public appearance ahead of the market launch at the end of this year.

Article source: www.skoda-auto.com

Beach buggy with 60 kW (82 PS) in black (Black Magic) with multi-effect and pearlescent yellow (Dragon Skin). The ŠKODA CITIGO provided the platform.

Following on from the ŠKODA CITIJET, ŠKODA FUNSTAR and the ŠKODA ATERO, now comes the ŠKODA ELEMENT – students from the ŠKODA Vocational School have built a student car for the fourth time. The ŠKODA ELEMENT, an electrically powered buggy based on the ŠKODA CITIGO, stands as yet another testament to the skills of the young people at the ŠKODA Academy. The new student car is a roadworthy beach buggy featuring a solar panel, Smart TV, cool box and mobile disco.

The ŠKODA ELEMENT is 3,597 mm long and 1,641 mm wide. With no roof or doors and just two seats, the student car not only has 60 mm more ground clearance, above all it is also visually a totally discrete model – a classic, open buggy.

The silver-coloured underbody protection at the front and rear as well as the black/yellow 16-inch SCORPIUS alloy wheels with all-terrain tyres are particularly striking. The high wheel arches are framed by a black trim which continues along the bottom edge of the sills between the wheels, creating a narrow running board. There are no doors; you just climb over the side sills decorated with aluminium checker-plate strips and slide into the sports bucket seats. The rear lights feature LED technology. The ŠKODA students also considered the smaller details, with the car’s yellow (Dragon Skin) brake callipers, demonstrating their attention to detail.

The black leather/Alcantara bucket seats with yellow edging and decorative stitching originate from the ŠKODA OCTAVIA RS. They are adorned with the embroidered name of the ŠKODA Academy. The two-tone theme also continues in the individually designed interior. The painted front of the instrument panel shines in pearlescent yellow, the steering wheel and gearstick are covered in black leather and bear golden-yellow details. The surface between the instrument panel and the windscreen is lined with black Alcantara.

There is also a Navigon navigation system on board, which – fitted in a separate bracket – seems to float above the air conditioning controls. The car’s most striking feature, however, can be found where the ŠKODA CITIGO has its back seats. The students fitted a solar panel as well as a Smart TV behind the front seats which can be paired with a smartphone via Bluetooth. The Smart TV is located in the aluminium-decorated boot lid to which the solar panel has been mounted, sitting between two rustic, matt-black brackets. One speaker next to each seat and two additional speakers fitted in the boot turn the ŠKODA ELEMENT into a 400-watt beach club on wheels. The students have also integrated a cool box into the boot that is classily lined with blue carpet. The cool box is connected to an additional battery and powered by the solar panel.

A compact 60-kW (82 PS) electric motor with a torque of 210 Nm powers the ŠKODA ELEMENT. The electric design study accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 13 seconds and reaches a top speed of 130 km/h. The lithium-ion battery integrated in the car floor has a capacity of 18.7 kWh. This means that – depending on the route profile, driving style and payload – the ŠKODA ELEMENT has a range of up to 160 km.

Article source: www.skoda-auto.com

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