Skoda's new baby boomer

This pint-sized pocket rocket is the next item on Skoda Australia's agenda for its local line-up. Unveiled overnight at the Geneva Motor Show, the new Fabia RS hot hatch is set to lead the Czech brand's small car push locally.

Skoda Australia will launch Yeti compact SUV later this year but planning for the next model has already began. And the company has made it clear that Fabia is the next Czech in line for Australian showrooms.

"We are currently working on Yeti as our priority," said Karl Gehling, Skoda Australia spokesman. "We will then turn our focus to the Fabia as our next model."

The red hot RS will lead the range with Skoda Oz deploying a top-down approach to the Fabia roll-out. Based on the same platform as the Volkswagen Polo GTI, the Fabia RS is powered by the VW Group's 1.4 TSI engine. The turbo and supercharged unit produces 132kW and is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox as standard.

"That's something we'd definitely like to add to the range," Gehling said of the RS. "It's a very attractive vehicle for us."

Skoda claims a top speed of 224km/h for the Fabia RS and acceleration from 0-100km/h in 7.3seconds. Handling is aided by the VW Group's XDS electronic limited slip differential.

It rides on 17-inch alloy wheels and features red brake callipers, tinted windows, a new rear bumper that incorporates a diffuser and double exhaust tips.

But as Skoda Australia looks to add the Yeti and Fabia it is considering dropping the slow-selling Roomster from the line-up. The quirky compact has just received a facelift in Europe and Gehling admitted the local operation was taking the opportunity to review the Roomster's future down under. Given only eight examples of the car sold so far in 2010, it looks unlikely to stick around.

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