New Skoda Fabia’s move to MQB will bring improvements all round – but no electrification yet.
Skoda will finally bring its ever-popular Fabia supermini back into line with its Volkswagen Group siblings with an all-new version next year, we can confirm.
Plans to bring the fourth-generation Fabia to market in 2022 have been revised to reduce the complexity of having older and newer platforms produced at the same time within the group. As such, it will be revealed in the first half of next year.
The current architecture of the Fabia, a re-engineered version of a platform first used back in 2008, will be junked in favour of purely MQB A0 underpinnings. That’s the same platform used by the Audi A1 Sportback, Seat Ibiza and Volkswagen Polo – as evidenced by the Polo-based Fabia development mules that were spotted recently.
Crucially, this platform will ensure the Czech supermini is no longer the poor relation of the family. As for styling, sources suggest a greater leap than the Fabia made between its second and third generations. Inspiration will come from the linked Kamiq crossover in particular, plus design elements and details from the Scala and Octavia.
The interior is likely to receive the biggest overhaul, however, given that the current Fabia’s dashboard design and technology are now off the pace compared with the Volkswagen Group standard. As such, a revised layout, much larger and clearer displays and Skoda’s latest infotainment system and connectivity features will be introduced.
Despite wider group plans, the Fabia won’t offer any form of electrification initially – not even mild-hybrid engines. Insiders tell us this will keep the Fabia affordable at its core.
As electrified powertrain technology becomes more attainable in future, however, it could be brought across from other group models.
As such, the new Fabia’s engines will be familiar, albeit now without any diesels. The turbocharged three-cylinder petrol TSI will sit at the heart of the range in varying power outputs, while more powerful four-cylinder engines (and a cheaper naturally aspirated three-pot) could also be used.
We won’t see the return of the vRS badge, but sources say the popularity of today’s top-tier Monte Carlo model will mean a greater emphasis on sportiness (visually or otherwise) higher up the range.
The switch to the MQB platform should also yield noticeable forward strides in the fields of refinement and comfort. The current Fabia remains one of the more spacious in its class, so actual size may not change, however.
Lawrence Allan