SPY PICS: New Skoda Fabia busted

Here for your viewing pleasure are first images of the fourth-generation Skoda Fabia without camouflage – in both standard and Monte Carlo form.

Snapped by our spy photographers in Europe, where the new Skoda Fabia goes on sale later this year, the all-new light hatch may not arrive in Australia until 2022.

But when it replaces the current model, which dates back to 2014 and opens the Skoda Australia range at $18,390, the new Fabia hatch (a new Fabia wagon is yet to be confirmed and may not eventuate) will be based on the same MQB A0 platform as the latest Volkswagen Polo and Audi A1.

The move away from the current model’s aged PQ26 platform should bring big advantages in ride, handling, refinement and technology, the latter thanks to the first appearance of Volkswagen’s latest MIB 3.0 infotainment system with the choice of flush-fit touch-screens up to 9.2-inch, plus the option of the German car-maker’s 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a panoramic sunroof and LED ambient lighting.

These spy shots show the next Fabia’s wheel tracks and wheel-arches are wider than those of the existing model, which we named the 2020 carsales Best First Car, while a longer wheelbase should liberate a bit more rear legroom and cargo space.

However, the distinctive overall proportions of Skoda’s light hatch remain the same and interior space is not expected to grow significantly, to maintain its position below the new Skoda Scala hatch, first local deliveries of which commence next month following a stop-sale order.

A larger and wider upright grille gives it more road presence, as do new LED headlights and tail-lights, plus ‘SKODA’ block lettering on the bootlid and wheel sizes up to 18-inch.

The red 2021 Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo prototype you see here features winglets on its front bumper, wider side skirts, a deeper rear diffuser and a larger tailgate spoiler. Once again, showroom versions will also come with larger alloy wheels and sports seats.

Under the bonnet, the new Fabia is likely to stick with Volkswagen’s newest 1.0-litre three-cylinder TSI turbo-petrol engines, matched to six-speed manual and seven-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmissions.

While the current Skoda Fabia is available in 70TSI and 81TSI form, expect outputs from the new model’s 1.0-litre engine to rise as high as 85kW, and the Golf’s 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four to power premium versions.

In Europe, there may be CNG, diesel and mild-hybrid powertrains, but there are no plans for a plug-in version because of cost and packaging issues associated with housing batteries in such a compact hatch.