Skoda Plant to Produce VW Group's New 1.2 TSI Turbo Petrol Engine

In celebration of the 110th anniversary of engine building at its Mladá Boleslav plant in the Czech Republic, Skoda has announced that it will manufacture the VW Group's latest generation 1.2-liter TSI gasoline engine. The new four-cylinder power unit features both direct fuel injection and turbocharging technology delivering an output of 105HP at 5,000 rpm and 175Nm (129 lb-ft) of peak torque available between 1,500 and 3,500 rpm.

It can be combined with either a six-speed manual transmission or the VW Group's 7-speed dual-clutch DSG transmission.

"This brand new TSI engine provides a unique opportunity of combining environmental friendliness with a well-balanced driving performance," says Skoda Auto BOD Chairman Reinhard Jung. "With substantially lower CO2 figures, this new engine needs to be seen as a contribution to a significant reduction of average emission volumes in our cars."

The new powerplant makes its Skoda debut in the new Yeti compact SUV, and is also offered in various Audi, Volkswagen and Seat vehicles.

Would You Believe that this Skoda Octavia RS Photo has More than 3,400 Diggs in Less than 48 hours?

Sometimes we begin to wonder if there's any logic at what makes internet users 'click'. Take this photo for example. You'd think that it wouldn't be worth a second look, but believe it or not, this cropped picture of a red-colored Skoda Octavia RS Mk1 has received more than 3,400 votes on Digg (so far, that is) in less than 48 hours! And like most of you that are reading this post now, we too were curious to find out what makes this photo so special to draw the attention of so many internet users.

Well, to answer that question we headed over to the comment section of the specific Digg post. While some commentators "saw" a snake and others a... toilet seat at the rear bench, what really made internet users 'tick' in this case was the bear sticker on the window as it was linked to the so-called "Pedobear" which in turn is associated with pedophiles - swear to God, first time we ever heard about this.

Not surprisingly, to most folks that explanation sounds a lot better than let's say, the owner's kid simply put the sticker on the window...

But as one user on Digg wisely put it, "It's amazing how easily people are amused these days...". Nuff said.

Via: Digg , Photo: Imageshack

Skoda Superb Combi: Live Photo Gallery from the Frankfurt Motor Show

The all-new Skoda Superb Combi, a station wagon version of the Czech automaker's flagship saloon, was launched at the Frankfurt motor show. At 4,838 mm long, 1,817 mm wide and 1,510 mm tall, the estate retains the same dimensions with the conventional Superb but because it is taller at the back, its luggage compartment volume has been increased to an echoing 633 liters (+68lt over the sedan), rising to 1,865-liters with the rear seats folded down.

As a first for a Skoda car, the Combi offers an optional electrically controlled tailgate that also automatically moves the boot cover to its middle position to free up more space. Other gizmos include the KESSY system for starting, unlocking and locking the vehicle without using a conventional key, an optional electrically controlled two-piece panoramic sunroof and the cool-looking fin-shaped roof antenna.

The engine range of the estate is identical with that of the Superb saloon comprising of three gasoline units, a 1.4 TSI with 125HP, a 1.8 TSI with 160HP and the top-of-the-line 3.6 FSI V6 that makes 260HP and is offered with a four-wheel drive system, plus two 2.0-liter diesel engines producing 140HP and 175HP.

All engines are linked to five or six-speed manual gearboxes while the VW Group's DSG dual clutch auto transmission will be optional.

Skoda Superb Estate: Mega Photo Gallery with 85 Images Hits the Web

We're only a few day away from the official unveiling of the all-new Skoda Superb Estate (Combi) at the Frankfurt Motor Show but a complete gallery of the mid-size station wagon is already doing rounds on the internet. The more practical version of the Superb replaces the liftback-saloon's innovative 'twindoor' split hatch with a sloping tailgate that makes the car look less frumpy than one would imagine and a new rear-end design boasting a pair of Cayenne-esque tail lamps.

The Estate retains the same exact length, wheelbase and width with the conventional Superb, but because it is taller at the back it comes with a massive boot that can accommodate a whopping 633 liters of luggage (up to the height of the rear seat), an increase of 68 liters over the saloon model.

When the Estate goes on sale in Europe in the beginning of 2010, the line-up will comprise of three petrols and two diesels from the current Superb range, including a 125HP 1.4-liter TSI, a 260HP 3.6-liter V6 FSI plus the company's first common rail diesel, the 2.0 TDI CR with 175 horsepower. The engines will be coupled to manual gearboxes and optionally, to the VW Group's DSG twin-clutch transmission.

Source: Skoda , Via: Roadlook