Skoda opens order books on new eco Fabia GreenLine
Skoda Fabia GreenLine - a Fabia, but lighter
Author: Chris Barker
Published: 27 February 2008
Skoda is now taking orders for the new £11,490 Fabia 1.4 Tdi GreenLine supermini - which also comes in estate form for £12,140.
With green being the new black, Skoda is following in the tyre-tracks of its brethren Volkswagen and Seat by developing the 74bhp GreenLine as an environmental and pocket-friendly variant of its popular Fabia supermini.
Similarities end with badge connection however, as Skoda hasn't chosen the recent tried-and-tested route of higher gear ratios, revised ECU and low-friction tyres, as favoured by VW's Polo BlueMotion and Seat's Ibiza EcoMotive.
Instead, Skoda looked long and hard at alternate ways to nibble away at the excessive pounds that contribute to poor fuel economy and climate change.
Skoda accomplished this by fitting aerodynamic panels to the Fabia's underbelly and unceremoniously dumping the spare tyre to make way for a weight-plummeting puncture repair kit. Plus, in a bid to minimise loss of economy forced by drag factor, the GreenLine's front bumper has been raised by 35mm.
This tinkering has certainly done the trick, as the lightweight Fabia nudges 69mpg on the combined cycle, and will reportedly eke 689 miles out of a single tank, even surpassing the 1.4-litre TDi Fabia 2 on which it's evolved.
It's therefore fair to say that this frugal Fabia GreenLine will greet fuel pumps with a regularity akin to Russell Brand's appointments with his barber. What's more, pound for pound, there is no leaner, greener estate currently on sale in the UK in the GreenLine's segment, according to Skoda.
Channelling a Congestion Charge-evading 109k/gm of CO2, the Fabia GreenLine will cost only £35 for annual road tax.
Available in Amazon Green, Magic Black, Brilliant Silver and the very distinctive Candy White (complete with unique GreenLine decals) the first Fabia GreenLine customers are expected to take delivery as early as 2 April.
A Skoda Fabia on a diet - but the figures speak for themselves.
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