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Next Fabia has snowhere to hide

It looks dark and menacing, but fear not... it's the new Fabia. Our spy could barely believe his eyes when he came across this virtually undisguised model cold-weather testing. He moved in to get the best shots yet of Skoda's new star.

Virtually undisguised Fabia estate was caught while cold-weather testing

By Chris Thorp

04th April 2006

You can see that the car's front end is lifted straight from the Roomster supermini-MPV, unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The model snapped here is the estate variant, which will go on sale alongside a conventional five-door hatchback. A saloon version will also be available, but it is thought the Fabia line-up will continue without a three-door.

As our images show, the dimensions of Skoda's smallest model will increase. As with the Roomster, it is based on the flexible architecture underpinning the next-generation Polo platform. The estate seen testing has a sleeker appearance than the current load-lugger, but promises to offer versatility to challenge the most practical models from the class above.

Along with its fresh face, key to the Fabia's stylish new shape is its pronounced shoulder line. This adds definition to the profile and gives a more substantial appearance. Inside, the cabin will get a more sumptuous feel. The hard plastics of the existing model are to be replaced with soft-touch materials similar to those used in the latest Octavia. While the current Fabia is already one of the best-equipped superminis around, its successor will also focus on safety. Designers are hoping for a five-star Euro NCAP crash test score, and in addition will be putting plenty of effort into achieving a first-class pedestrian-impact rating.

The Fabia will benefit from the VW Group's latest crop of engines. Ultra-efficient Fuel Stratified Injection (FSI) technology will feature on the majority of petrol units, while the latest TDI oil-burners are sure to be popular, too. It's also possible that the Fabia could benefit from the innovative turbocharged and supercharged TSI units.

One of the biggest success stories of the current Fabia range has been the popularity of the diesel-powered vRS hot hatchback. An all-new high-performance version is expected with the latest 2.0-litre oil-burner. The next-generation Skoda supermini isn't far away, and sales are expected to begin in the first half of 2007.

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