Skoda has launched the 1.2l petrol version of the Fabia to complement the 1.4l petrol and diesel versions that were launched earlier. The variants on offer are the same – Classic, Ambiente, and Elegance. The 1198cc engine will signal a conscious effort to highlight fuel efficiency as a priority, something new to the Fabia.
The price of the 1.2 will range from Rs 5.5 to 6.5 lakh across all three variants. The 1.2 will churn out 70bhp of power and 123Nm of torque. The Fabia enters into the premium hatchback segment and so it includes a good range of standard features. The options list has alloy wheels, ABS, remote locking and seat height adjust for those willing to shell out a little more. There is a range of colours to choose from as well.
The space offered by the Fabia in terms of legroom and boot space has always been one of its biggest selling points but the high pricing and the cutthroat competition have made its progress difficult. Nonetheless, the company has sold over 3,500 units of the Fabia until April 2008. The target for the Fabia range is 10,000 units for 2008; the Fabia 1.2 MPI is expected to contribute 40 percent to that figure.
All we can do is wait and see what the reaction will be to this response from Skoda who have in a way succumbed to the needs of the masses. There is absolutely no doubt that a Skoda product has all that one needs in terms of power, performance and reliability; then again, the hatchback market is very unforgiving here and the lines dividing the segments are so thin that you could invariably step into the range of an entry level sedan while looking for a hatchback.
More on the Skoda Fabia 1.2L Petrol version
