Car Moon

Skoda revealed today that it delivered 454,700 vehicles in the first half of 2011, which represents an increase of 20.1% compared to the same period in 2010. The Volkswagen Group brand also achieved its best ever June sales, with 81,300 deliveries, compared to 71,300 units in 2010, scoring a new sales record for the fourth month in a row. Read more »

With the help of the Volkswagen Group, Skoda has turned out to be quite an important player in the automotive industry. The Czech automaker delivered more than 760,000 cars last year and aims to double its annual sales to 1.5 million by 2018. But it’s not only about sales as Skoda’s German parent company is also planning to further boost the Czech brand’s image.

In celebration of the 10 year anniversary of the vRS (in the UK, simply RS for the rest of Europe) performance badge, Skoda will compete in the famous Bonneville Speed Week in August (13-20) with a specially modified Octavia vRS saloon. Skoda’s goal is to break the magic 200mph (320+ km/h) barrier for the first time in the company’s history.

Roman Jagatić is the latest addition to our ever-growing list of readers-turned-into spy photographers. Roman stumbled upon this strange looking Volkswagen-Skoda hybrid prototype parked at a gas station in Munich, Germany. The test car appears to combine a modified body of a Skoda Octavia with a Volkswagen front end.

While we do not have a definite answer to what it may be, possible scenarios include a test car for a new Skoda Octavia and a prototype for a Volkswagen-badged model for select markets outside Europe.

Bad news for Lexus IS owners across the pond: if you happen to own one of the Japanese brand’s entry-level sedans, you’re in possession of the most vandalised car in the UK. Runners up are BMW’s Z4 sports coupe and MINI’s entry-level One model. It’s all been revealed as part of SwiftCover.com’s Vehicle Vandalism Index (VVI), whereby the UK-based insurer analysed some 2,000 motor insurance claims. SwiftCover claims director Robin Reames explains:

“Our analysis shows that luxury cars are more likely to be targeted by vandals, however, it's interesting to see the MINI One in the top three. The majority of vehicles in the top ten are what we call 'executive cars', likely to be driven by high earners who see their car as a status symbol, with just one 4x4 making up the top ten.”

The once ailing Skoda brand is turning out to be a solid investment for the Volkswagen Group as the Czech automaker is breaking one sales record after the other. In the year that just passed on, Skoda Auto recorded is best-ever sales results delivering 762,000 vehicles, which represents an increase of 11.5% over 2009 when it sold 684,200 units. Furthermore, the company broke the threshold of three quarters of a million vehicles sold in a single year for the first time in its history.

Just today, we learned that Skoda delivered a record number of vehicles in the first nine months of 2010, increasing its operating profit by a whopping 64%. This is what most people know about the Czech automaker; that it has been a wild success since Volkswagen took over the reins of the company. But there are others -myself included- who think the real glory of Skoda lies in its past.

[Updated] This year's edition of the Paris show will see the VW Group's successful Skoda brand unveiling its first-ever electric-powered vehicle called the Octavia Green E Line. Skoda says it is planning to create a special test fleet of Octavias Green E Line in 2011 with the goal of obtaining additional information relevant to the further development of the electric drive.

Skoda used the GTI event at the Austrian lake Wörthersee over 12 – 15 May to display customized versions of its Fabia RS and Octavia RS models along with two Fabia Super 2000 race cars.

The fans' attention was of course focused on the tuned Fabia RS+ & Octavia RS+ vehicles that were used to present special optical packets and color adaptations based on self-adhesive foils.

Inspired by the Fabia S2000 rally car, the Fabia RS+ features a two-tone gray and lime paint theme with matching alloy wheels and a spoiler kit that includes front spoiler, side skirts and a rear diffuser.

European market Skoda models Yeti, Octavia and Superb will be getting powertrain updates for the 2011 model year starting from the end of this month. In detail:

The engine portfolio for the Yeti crossover has been extended with the VW Group's 122HP 1.4-liter TSI petrol unit combined with manual transmission and front-wheel drive (FWD), as well as a 140HP 2.0 TDI CR DPF turbo diesel with automatic DSG transmission and FWD, and the more potent 170HP 2.0 TDI CR DPF turbo diesel with manual transmission and 4WD.

The VW Group will be going full force at next week's GTI tuning event at the Austrian lake Wörthersee. Aside from the two special VW Golf GTIs and seven Audi A1s, the German group will also showcase conceptual versions of the new Fabia RS and the Octavia RS.

Inspired by the S2000 rally model, the Fabia RS+ design study will be wrapped in a two-tone vinyl with matching green alloy wheels. The hot hatch will also feature an aero kit that includes a new bonnet with air vents, front spoiler, side skirts and a rear diffuser, as well as an updated interior boasting bucket seats and a sportier trim.

The refreshed Octavia, which is essentially Skoda's (better) take on the VW Jetta, has received new engine and transmission options for 2010. In particular, both the liftback and estate versions are now offered with a new, downsized 1.2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder TSI gasoline engine with direct-injection while the 1.6 TDI CR 105HP diesel models can now be equipped with the VW Group's DSG dual-clutch transmission.

Sometimes we begin to wonder if there's any logic at what makes internet users 'click'. Take this photo for example. You'd think that it wouldn't be worth a second look, but believe it or not, this cropped picture of a red-colored Skoda Octavia RS Mk1 has received more than 3,400 votes on Digg (so far, that is) in less than 48 hours! And like most of you that are reading this post now, we too were curious to find out what makes this photo so special to draw the attention of so many internet users.

You've read the details, seen the photos, time to watch Skoda's facelifted hot Octavia RS in a bit of video action. Like its forerunner, the sportiest model of the Octavia range offers buyers the choice of two turbocharged four-cylinder engines, a 2.0-liter TSI gasoline unit with 200HP that averages 7.5lt/100km (31.4mpg US or 37.7mpg UK) and a 2.0-liter TDI diesel with a combined consumption of 5.7lt/100km (41.3mpg US or 49.6mpg UK). Both engines are hooked up to a six-speed twin-clutch DSG transmission. -Thanks for the tip Bert!

After releasing initial details and photos of its facelifted Octavia RS (or vRS for the UK market) in late April, Skoda has now published a full gallery of both the five-door and estate variants of the model. For 2009, the Czech automaker's family-happy GTI gets a restyled front fascia, revamped tail lights, updated interior trim and minor chassis upgrades. Both Octavia RS models are offered with two engine options, a 2.0-liter TSI petrol unit with 200HP and a 2.0-liter TDI diesel producing 170HP. Skip the jump for the picture gallery or click here for more detailed information.