While competing in the Ronde de Andorra rally in Italy, Polish Formula 1 star Robert Kubica was involved in a horrendous crash on Sunday, as he lost control of his Skoda Fabia S2000 rally car and left the road at high speed. The Lotus-Renault team driver was airlifted from the scene and underwent successful emergency surgery at the Santa Corona hospital in Pietra Ligure.
Kubica has suffered multiple fractures to his right arm and hand with initial reports saying that he could lose the functionality of his limb. Fortunately, the operation went well, according to Dr. Mario Igor Rosello, who told reporters that Kubica, awakened form an induced coma, was able to move his fingers, which is “an encouraging sign for the rest of the recovery process”.
The Italian specialist was also optimistic due to the lack of swelling and infection, but added that it will take “several days before it is known if the operation is 100 percent successful”.
Kubica’s injuries were caused by a guardrail that went through the door, while his co-driver, Jakub Gerber, was able to walk away unhurt.
This is another sign of just how dangerous motorsports can be and, unfortunately, Kubica has already had his share of mishaps. Back in 2003, the racing driver had an accident while driving in Formula 3, injuring his left arm and also needing surgery. His bad luck struck again four years later, when he crashed in spectacular style at the Canadian F1 Grand Prix. On both occasions, Kubica managed to return to the driver’s seat after a short convalescence. However, it seems that this time the recovery will take a lot longer, meaning that reserve driver Bruno Senna will replace Kubica for an unspecified number of races.
In its civilian form, the Skoda Fabia hatchback is an affordable, no-frills supermini that comes with all the usual qualities you'd expect from any Volkswagen Group model. The rally-spec Fabia S2000 is an entirely different story. Presented for the first time as a concept study at the Geneva show in 2007, the Fabia S2000 has been developed ever since to compete in the Super 2000 category.
It features a 2.0-litre four-cylinder naturally-aspirated engine based on the VW Group's standard 2.0 FSI unit, a six-speed sequential transmission and an advanced four-wheel drive system with three passive differentials. But enough with the talk. Time to sit back, turn up the volume and enjoy the video that was shot during the official presentation of the rally-car earlier this month (June 2009).
VW Group subsidiary Skoda is celebrating the 100 years of the Monte Carlo Rally as well as its own 110 year-long involvement in motorsports with the presentation of the Fabia Monte Carlo, a special edition version of the five-door hatchback model with bespoke exterior and interior styling cues.
On the outside, the Czech special gets extensive piano-black trim covering the front grille and spoiler lip, wheel arch add-ons, side skirts and mirror housings. Furthermore, the Fabia Monte Carlo boasts a black roof, tinted windows and headlights, complemented by 17-inch Trinity alloys for the UK or 16-inch Comet rims for the rest of Europe.
Inside, customers can choose between all black or red and black sport seats which provide additional side support. In tone with the exterior’s color scheme, designers opted for black roof lining and leather steering wheel with red stitching, accompanied by leather handbrake and shifter knob. Silver footrests and steel pedals round off the interior upgrades.
Based on the Ambiente (SE in the UK) trim level, the special edition model will be available with an extensive, market-differentiated engine line-up, including the 86/105 hp 1.2-liter TSI petrol and 75/105 hp 1.6-liter TDI diesel engines, all coupled to a 5-speed manual transmission.
The Fabia Monte Carlo will make its first public appearance at this year’s Monte Carlo Rally (January 19-22), while its show premiere is planned for the Geneva Salon in March. Depending on the market, orders will be taken from January 24 (UK) or beginning from February.
The once ailing Skoda brand is turning out to be a solid investment for the Volkswagen Group as the Czech automaker is breaking one sales record after the other. In the year that just passed on, Skoda Auto recorded is best-ever sales results delivering 762,000 vehicles, which represents an increase of 11.5% over 2009 when it sold 684,200 units. Furthermore, the company broke the threshold of three quarters of a million vehicles sold in a single year for the first time in its history.
Commenting on the results, Prof. Dr. h.c. Winfried Vahland, Chairman of the Board of Skoda Auto said:
“In 2010, Škoda achieved an outstanding performance. In almost all markets, we have had significant growth and increased our market share. Once again, our sales have risen at a double-digit pace. In the most significant developing markets, our growth rates are above 40%. Within the framework of the Škoda growth strategy, we will shift up a gear in the coming years. By 2018, we want to at least double our worldwide sales. In order to do so, we will clearly expand the Škoda model range and strengthen the activities in international markets."
After focusing on the 'Mean Green' machine first, Skoda has now released a follow-up video clip documenting the fictional bad boy crew that builds the Fabia vRS hot-hatch in the firm's latest commercial on the car for the United Kingdom. The new campaign takes a darker but equally humorous twist on the Fabia’s ‘Made of Lovely Stuff’ proposition which was made famous by the 2007 Fabia ‘Cake’ commercial. You can watch the new ad in the video after the jump.
The new Fabia Scout hatchback should make its premiere in one of the forthcoming international auto shows in Europe. source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com
As with the Fabia Estate Scout, the hatchback model will be offered exclusively with a front-wheel drive layout while expect to see a similar engine line-up as in the standard car. That means 1.4-liter and 1.6-liter petrol engines with 85 and 105HP outputs respectively as well as two diesel powerplants, an 80HP 1.4-liter TDI and a 105HP 1.9-liter TDI.
Interior changes are limited to the two-tone trim, the sports steering wheel, the aluminum pedals and the sport seats.
Based on the subcompact Fabia Estate, the Scout has been adorned with plastic cladding, newly styled bumpers and silver roof-rails.Other distinctive features of the Fabia Scout include fog lamps (with corner design), tinted windows and 16-inch alloy wheels.
Inside, apart from the Scout-specific upholstery there's floor mats bearing the Scout logo, pedals with stainless steel surfaces and anti-slip, heavy-duty rubber elements.
When it goes on sale across Europe from late May this year, the Fabia Scout will be available with four powerplants. The petrol engines will consist of a 85HP 1.4 litre, with fuel consumption of 6.5L/100km (43.5mpg UK) and a 105HP 1.6 litre with a fuel consumption of 6.9L/100km (40.9mpg UK).
The two diesel engines are a 80HP 1.4 litre with fuel consumption of 4.6L/100km (61.4mpg UK) and the top-of-the-range 105HP 1.9-litre engine with fuel consumption of 4.9L/100km (57.7mpg UK).
