Very interesting article on the AutoExpress website about the upcoming Fabia Scout - according to the article it will have 4WD. This would make it a "proper" Scout unlike the slightly silly Roomster Scout. There are a bunch of pictures which I won't bother to re-host - check the article out at AutoExpress:Fabia Scout.

One interesting thing I noticed from one of the pictures is that the boot floor for this combi model appears LEVEL. A real breakthrough! Although I have to say that particular image looks to me like a rendering rather than a photo - one giveaway is the fake-looking lens flare. There are also some dubious looking things on the floor aft of the wheel arches that look like big speakers - could be remnants of a concept study?

Otherwise the car looks pretty good and I might find it a tempting upgrade for my current Fabia Estate that I'm not entirely happy with. It would go well with our Octavia Scout which is a wonderful car. One thing they would have to have fixed is the sloppy handling that almost totally devoid of feel on the Fabia. If it felt like the Octavia Scout to drive I would be a very happy owner!

The AutoExpress article doesn't have any details of price or availability yet. Bound to be a bit of a premium, though, which might be somewhat hard to sustain in these times...

Here is a quote from the article to back up the first post:

"Skoda’s Fabia is growing up! Joining the off road trail blazed by the Octavia and Roomster is is the all-new Fabia Scout. And it heads an impressive list of new Skodas including the VW Tiguan-based Yeti due to be revealed in Geneva on March 3rd.

While the concept car made its debut in Frankfurt two year’s ago, these renderings give us the best look yet at what the show car will look like.

Apart from raised ground clearance over the standard Fabia, the A4 all-road and Saab 9-3X rival, the Scout will receive a serious rugged makeover. That means expect flared wheel arches, grey protective side panels, bigger wheels, new front and rear bumpers, a larger boot and it will be four-wheel drive.

As expected, this new model will share a lot of parts with Fabia Wagon, so expect to see the same units powering the Scout which means there will be three petrol and three TDI engines. It is also likely both interiors will share many similarities.

Further details and a full pricelist and a launch date will be available after the cars launch."

Like nickoll I think it would make a great car and totally agree with the comment about the Roomster Scout. Still I'm unsure about the 4x4 really appearing in the final version.

Edited 19 February, 200917 yr by rkenny
spelling

Edited 19 February, 200917 yr by George_Couser

That looks pretty cool, wonder how much cost difference there will be between this and a 3? Or if theyll be simiarly priced but with different spec like the vroomster.

The Fabia Scout will be 2wd only like the Roomster Scout. Which is not silly IMO - it's just a different trim level and to my taste both the Roomster and Fabia combi look better in Scout spec than standard form.

That's a terrible article from Autoexpress - those renderings are of the concept car and have been available for months. Also, AFAIK the Yeti will not be Tiguan based.

A 4wd Fabia....never going to happen as no one would buy a £15k Fabia. As mentioned that Chop has been round for ages and it's just another rumour to add to the pile of Mk2 VRS ones. Not surprising coming from the Sunday Sport of auto journalism...

BTW, there is method behind the perceived madness of the Roomster scout which you would all probably realise when you look at the spec list, especially as it makes the Fabia Combi look very poor value for money.

Edited 19 February, 200917 yr by Decron

No 4WD it's official.

ŠkodaAuto News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PR/FEB2009/07

19 February 2009

NEW Škoda Fabia Scout BREAKS COVER

First official photographs of Fabia Scout released

Fabia Scout to make its world debut at Geneva Motor Show

Škoda has unveiled the first official photographs of the Fabia Scout. The new addition to the Scout family will make its world debut at this year's Geneva Motor Show.

The design of the brand new Scout includes distinct features and attractive protective elements' date=' giving this functional and economical car, new emotional dimensions. A uniquely-shaped bumper and plastic cladding give this new version of Škoda's popular estate enhanced, robust features. In addition, protective elements on the sides of the body and a silver roof-rails underline the Fabia Scout's bold shape.

Four engines will be available for the new Fabia Scout – two petrol and two diesel units. The petrol engines will consist of a 1.4 litre, 63 kW (85bhp) engine with fuel consumption of 6.5L/100km (43.5mpg) and 1.6 litre, 77 kW (105bhp) with a fuel consumption of 6.9L/100km (40.9mpg), available with a six-speed transmission.

The two diesel engines are a 1.4 litre,*59 kW (80bhp) engine with fuel consumption of 4.6L/100km (61.4mpg) and the top-of-the-range 1.9-litre engine offering 77 kW (105bhp) and fuel consumption of 4.9L/100km (57.7mpg).

Scout-specific upholstery brings the Scout styling to the interior along with floor mats bearing the Scout logo. The Scout logo also appears on the vehicle's tailgate. Other Scout features include the pedals with stainless steel surfaces and anti-slip, heavy-duty rubber elements.

(cont’d)

ŠkodaAuto News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PR/FEB2009/xx

19 February 2009

NEW Škoda Fabia Scout BREAKS COVER

(Page Two)

First official photographs of Fabia Scout released

Fabia Scout to make its world debut at Geneva Motor Show

The Fabia Scout is fitted with lightweight ‘Arktos’ alloy wheels designed especially for this model. It is fitted with sixteen-inch alloy wheels as standard and customers can choose seventeen-inch wheels of the same design as an option. Other distinctive features of the Fabia Scout include fog lamps (with corner design) and tinted windows.

Extending the very popular Scout portfolio, the vehicle will be available from late May this year.

-Ends-

[/quote']

BTW, there is method behind the perceived madness of the Roomster scout which you would all probably realise when you look at the spec list, especially as it makes the Fabia Combi look very poor value for money.

I agree about the Vroomster Scout having a goodspec compared to my combi, i would have liked one but being on the PCP theres over a £1000 deficit on the scout's GFV compared to the Fabia for me after 2 years so that was the decider.