The estate-bodied Skoda Fabia Combi has been revealed in official pictures ahead of its public debut at this week's Paris motor show.
Like the hatchback model, the new Fabia Combi adopts design elements first seen on the VisionC show car. The front end is identical to the production hatch.
The new model is 10mm longer, 90mm wider and 31mm lower than its predecessor, which gives it a 4257mm length, 1732mm width and 1467mm height. It has a 30mm wider track at both the front and the rear and a wheelbase that is 5mm longer.
The Fabia Combi has a 530-litre boot capacity, which is 25 litres up on its predecessor and a class leading figure according to Skoda. Folding the rear bench increases load space to 1395 litres, which is actually 90 litres less than the outgoing car.
The seat can be folded down in two positions, with the seat folding first and then the backrest.
Skoda claims items up to 1550mm in length can be accommodated in the car. The loading sill is 611mm off the ground to make loading easy, and the tailgate opens to 1900mm and is 1028mm wide.
The car's interior is wider by 21mm and longer 8mm and although the car is now slightly lower, there is more headroom for the driver and front passenger.
The Fabia Combi adopts elements of VW's modular MQB technology, such as the engines, electro-mechanical steering and electrical architecture.
The engines powering the new Fabia Combi are on average 17 per cent more efficient compared to the units in the second-generation model. These improvements are the result of a new generation of petrol and diesel engines, improved aerodynamics and all-round weight reduction. On average the car has lost 55kg across the range, the weight of the lightest variant – the 1.0-litre, three-cylinder petrol – is down to 1004kg.
Three petrol and three diesel engines will be offered, all equipped with stop-start and a brake energy recovery system. Power output in the petrol engines ranges from 74bhp to 108bhp. The new three-cylinder diesel range offers between 74bhp and 104bhp. Manual and automatic DSG transmissions will be offered.
The most frugal variant, the Fabia Combi Greenline, can return a claimed 91mpg on the combined cycle, and emits 82g/km of CO2.
Improved technology will also form a centerpiece of the new Skoda’s appeal to younger customers. The infotainment systems in the new Skoda Fabia Combi are all adopted from Volkswagen’s MIB (modular infotainment matrix) technology. Other highlights include keyless entry and start, front and rear parking sensors, a new-generation aircon system and the option of a panoramic glass roof.
It is the first car in Skoda’s range to feature Mirrorlink, a system that allows smartphone apps to be displayed on the infotainment screen. Another new function is Smartgate, where vehicle-specific information such as fuel consumption, average speed or g-force readings can to transferred and recorded on a smartphone.
Making its debut in the Fabia Combi is the new column-electric power steering, which replaces the previous electro-hydraulic power steering and saves weight and fuel.
The car also includes up to 17 of the ‘Simply Clever’ items found on other models in the range, including the ice scraper in the fuel filler cap, storage nets on the inside edges of the front seats, a smartphone cradle in the centre console and a rubbish bin in the side door.
The new Skoda Fabia Combi is set to arrive in European markets from January 2015. The estate-bodied car first went on sale in 2000 and to date Skoda has sold more than 1.1m examples. UK-specific pricing and spec details have not yet been released.
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