Tuesday 14th June 2022

New rally car the Skoda Fabia you really want

Latest Fabia RS Rally2 likely to continue winning on Sunday. Shame Skoda is still failing to sell on Monday 

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Because Skoda has failed to emulate Toyota and derive a wild homologation special from the Fabia, it is shamefully easy to forget that the firm actually produces a rally car which is very much like its modest road-going supermini. But there’s nothing modest about the Fabia’s success in motorsport. Not just because it has won twelve world titles, but because Skoda Motorsport has built and sold more than 450 examples, which have gone onto claim 1,700 outright victories. 

Those are staggering numbers, and across all variants it places the Fabia among the most successful rally cars ever to turn a wheel. So the introduction of a new version is no small thing for Skoda, even if we can’t rush down to a dealership and buy something that closely resembles it. Regardless, the new car is based on the fourth-gen Fabia, albeit with the sort of arches, wings and aero that instinctively makes the PH office bite the back of its hand. 

Apparently you get double the downforce of its predecessor, which is a good thing when you consider that Skoda has sunk a new engine in the Fabia RS Rally2; namely a 1.6-litre version of the long-running EA888 motor that powers virtually every VW Group hot hatch you can think of. Mated to a five-speed sequential ‘box, Skoda says it produces around 289hp and 317lb ft of torque in the Fabia, which finds its way to the road via mechanical diffs front and back (the regulations prohibit electronic driving aids). And if four-wheel drive weren’t sufficient to make the acceleration brutal, the Fabia is geared short - i.e. it won’t make beyond 124mph, but probably will leave a mark on your neck. 

It definitely leaves a mark on the eyeballs. No arguments here, please: the Fabia RS Rally2 looks the business. Naturally there is much more technical detail to unpack if you’re so inclined - the new roll cage consists of 35.8m of steel tubing; there is a different brake cooling system for gravel or tarmac events; the model’s longer wheelbase has prompted an overhaul of the chassis; yes, that is the same Hyper Green paintwork you can get on an Octavia vRS - but the only question you should really be asking is “when will Skoda build me a 300hp AWD Fabia I can drive to the shops?” Inexplicably, the answer appears to be ‘never’. Shame. 

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[oilit]

That looks great I would have thought a road version that looks that good would sell like the proverbial hot cakes

[Chubbyross]

It’s funny but I’ve just come from the McLaren Artura thread where that car did nothing for me and I see this car and instantly go “wow!”

[rodericb]

Whoah that looks alright!

Are these quite removed from the production car? As in extensive metalwork is done to fit the drive line in? Who'd be in for one of these if it was, say, Golf R money?

[Demonix]

That is a great looking Skoda and the only reason they're not doing a road going version must be VAG politics - can't have punters tempted from buying something different to a hot Golf or Audi. Fabia RS would be a hoot but it would also likely be too pricey for the "Value" side of the grup to sell when competing against more premium offerings from it's sister brands, much like Cupra builds a decent hot hatch and yet the majority of punters will go for a VW Golf GTI instead or an Audi S3 if they can afford the payments. Shame as this little mean green machine would definitely be worth a punt.

[Kipsrs]

I really like it, I’d have one over a Golf R or RS3 - just to be different, which is probably what VW and Audi don’t want. . .

[Evercross]

Kipsrs said:

I really like it, I’d have one over a Golf R or RS3 - just to be different, which is probably what VW and Audi don’t want. . .

I think you have the nail on the head there.This would cannibalise their own sales.

[Jon_S_Rally]

Looks great and will no doubt be a dominant force in its class, as the Skoda has been the benchmark for years.

A shame the vRS range of road cars isn't what it once was. It would be nice to see a Fabia vRS with a bit of attitude.

[RedAndy]

I dont get motor sport in "ordinary" cars if you're not going to sell them. In the 90s the only motor sport fans that didn't drive a blue subaru with gold wheels were people who drove a red Evo with white ones. You supported whichever BTCC team used your dad's car.

Now you're supposed to follow the "brand"... I don't give a toss about Skoda or its position in the hierarchy, but I want one of these things. Can't have one? Yaris it is then please.

[PPEhero]

Out of interest...

I assume they change gearing and wheel size etc but what is the performance like on WRC cars? Do they match the old group B cars in acceleration?

[anonymous-user]

Wow is not a word i have ever used about a skoda before but that looks awesome !

[spikyone]

PPEhero said:

Out of interest...

I assume they change gearing and wheel size etc but what is the performance like on WRC cars? Do they match the old group B cars in acceleration?

Group B probably a bit faster in acceleration. But there isn't a car from that era that would see which way a modern WRC car went on a full stage. Tyres, suspension, brakes, diffs, aerodynamics, any number of things are wildly more advanced on a modern car.

[Kawasicki]

needs higher profile tyres to ride and grip properly

[coded2112]

Skoda have definitely missed a trick!! They should look at the Mojo the GR range has created for Toyota!

Everyone is talking about them, Skoda could easily emulate them with something like this...

I have a GR Yaris and would sell it to buy one of these!!

Edited by coded2112 on Wednesday 15th June 10:10

[GroundEffect]

PPEhero said:

Out of interest...

I assume they change gearing and wheel size etc but what is the performance like on WRC cars? Do they match the old group B cars in acceleration?

This isn't a WRC car (now called Rally1 cars). This is Rally2. Formerly R5 and then was S2000 before that.

The current WRC/Rally1 cars are Hybrid with ~500PS. They will beat an old Group B in a straight line but they will absolutely slaughter one over a stage due to suspension, aero and tyre development since the 1980s.

[blearyeyedboy]

RedAndy said:

I dont get motor sport in "ordinary" cars if you're not going to sell them. In the 90s the only motor sport fans that didn't drive a blue subaru with gold wheels were people who drove a red Evo with white ones. You supported whichever BTCC team used your dad's car.

Now you're supposed to follow the "brand"... I don't give a toss about Skoda or its position in the hierarchy, but I want one of these things. Can't have one? Yaris it is then please.

Bloody hell yes. :nods:

I feel privileged to grow up when Nissan Primeras were trading paint with Toyota Carinas.

[lb3nson]

I think the Rally2 cars look fantastic, actually better than the OTT Rally1 cars. Pity they don’t get nearly as much coverage.

[wpa1975]

Love it, sadly they will never build or offer road cars as it will take sales from other cars in the group.

[Matt_T]

My understanding is that all european stage rally cars are road legal and meet road regulations in most countries as they have to drive on public roads at the end or start of a stage.

So I don't see why you can't just head over to one of the numerous websites selling retired rally cars, buy one, get it MOT'd and drive it on the road.

I see several R5 an S2000 Fiestas, Polos, Fabias, DS3s, i20s etc for sale at about £100,000.

[anonymous-user]

That is the dog's b@llocks !

[lb3nson]

Matt_T said:

My understanding is that all european stage rally cars are road legal and meet road regulations in most countries as they have to drive on public roads at the end or start of a stage.

So I don't see why you can't just head over to one of the numerous websites selling retired rally cars, buy one, get it MOT'd and drive it on the road.

I see several R5 an S2000 Fiestas, Polos, Fabias, DS3s, i20s etc for sale at about £100,000.

Indeed, I bet you’ve have a st load more fun with one of those than any £100k supercar