Tuesday 31st August 2010

Clio Cup-Chasing Hardcore Fabia Planned

Fabia RS+ concept could spawn more focused Skoda vRS

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Skoda looks set to bring a more focused version of its new Fabia vRS hot hatch to the UK - moving the supermini hot hatch much closer in spirit to the likes of cup versions of the Renaultsport Clio and Esseesse-tweaked Abarth Puntos.

Tucked away in the service park of the Czech rally (at which your humble hack was present, but more of that on PH soon) next to the Skoda UK dealer team's service area was this grey-and-painful-yellow Fabia, Skoda's RS+ concept from the recent Worthersee VW show.

All of which was well and good, but not that interesting, until a quiet word with the Skoda UK PR team revealed that the RS+ - or at least parts of it - may be coming to the UK to make a rather more focused Fabia vRS.

It's likely that many of the cosmetic add-ons, including the black grille surround, front bumper extensions and rear diffuser, will make it to the production car, though whether the bonnet vents - which ape the look of the S2000 Fabia rally car - will come is less certain.

Should the tweaks hit Blighty-bound Fabias, the upgraded Recaro-made seats are likely to make it, but the marmite grey-and-yellow colour scheme would probably be toned down.

There's no power upgrade planned - the car will stick with the VW group's 1.4-litre 180bhp turbocharged, supercharged motor - but new wheels (though the concept ones ones are taken directly from the rally car) and, crucially, tweaked suspension would be involved.

As for a name or a price for the model, your guesses are as good as ours as nothing is yet official. It may even be that the cosmetic and dynamic tweaks will merely come as dealer-fit options.

But whatever the result it's certainly going to make the hot Fabia a whole lot more interesting. A Fabia instead of a Renaulstsport Clio? These tweaks might make us think twice...

^{(then probably go for the Clio anyway)}

[P4ROT]

Pretty cool- would probs sell well

[soad]

Interesting but that yellow colour scheme stand out too much. Even if it's meant to be a hotter version...

[Danny S]

the seats look the same as the VXR Corsa, which if so are very cool

[Stevesh]

If there's no more power allowed by VW, then it should loose a few pounds to up the performance. Light wheels and seats are a start but how about less soundproofing, thinner glass and an aluminium bonnet.

A proper LSD might be a good market differentiator as well!

Steve

[bob1179]

I've been punting about in the the lowly 1.2 3 cylinder 6v version for the last twelve months, it has a whole 55bhp. I've got to admit that it is actually plenty of fun. You need to plan ahead, but once you've started to pedal it, the little Skoda is great.

I've grown quite attached to the little beast, I'd love to have a go in one with 180bhp!

[cheadle hulme]

Has anyone remapped these yet - I can't imagine theres much more to come from a 1.4, but still.

[ctallchris]

It's Never going to be a competitor with a turbo engine. One of the best feature of the renault 197's is the engine which is a gem. Although to be honest the entire car is a spectacular package

[polo 51]

cheadle hulme said:

Has anyone remapped these yet - I can't imagine theres much more to come from a 1.4, but still.

A remap from Revo can take the Seat ibiza cupra/ bocanegra to 215 bhp, i believe this has the same engine.

[mxspyder]

When will this obsession with 80's colour schemes end?

Those wheels are the equivalent of fluorescent socks - perhaps they should be Yellow one side and Pink on the other!

[SSCooperS]

What is with this trend for brightly coloured wheels? It makes it look like a pushchair.

[Jez64]

cheadle hulme said:

Has anyone remapped these yet - I can't imagine theres much more to come from a 1.4, but still.

I know somebody running 212hp from his mapped Golf, not gone bang yet.

[Papa Hotel]

I kinda like the slightly garish colour scheme and the concept of it.

But... It's such an ugly car to start with, there's only so much you can do with such an odd looking base. The older vRS models had the advantage of beefing up what was already a handsome model. This doesn't, it looks sort of feminine and vRSing it just makes it look like a fat ugly lass. In my opinion.

[E21_Ross]

that looks absolutely hideous IMHO

[Witchfinder]

I'd love it if they went mental and gave it the Golf R engine, four-wheel-drive system and DSG gearbox. That would be great. They won't, but it'd be great!

[I WISH]

Colour apart (which is vomit vile) .... love the idea.

[sportwagen]

The fact that - according to the internet - the previous Fabia vRS is The Fastest Car In The World (Evah), this new one should be a riot.

[piefacemate]

Looks awful, but with the 1.4TSi engine (do they still make this?) or similar would be an interesting competitor.

Probably worth reading the artical properly before posting tripe. Since it's got the right engine; thumbs up, pending the colour schemes being a little more tasteful than that one!

Edited by piefacemate on Tuesday 31st August 13:22

[Stevesh]

sportwagen said:

The fact that - according to the internet - the previous Fabia vRS is The Fastest Car In The World (Evah), this new one should be a riot.

Source

Not only the fastest, but returning 75mpg as well from just a remap and a filter

Steve

[smiffie]

Strip the car of that extra weight would help, doubt they will give the car more power unless VW are considering a Polo R.

Revo mapped cars are running about 220bhp

[sportwagen]

Stevesh said:

sportwagen said:

The fact that - according to the internet - the previous Fabia vRS is The Fastest Car In The World (Evah), this new one should be a riot.

Source

Not only the fastest, but returning 75mpg as well from just a remap and a filter

Steve

You don't really need a remap though, as they all produce well over 200hp as standard from the factory. VW won't let Skoda tell anyone though, it's a VAG hierarchy thing.