Skoda Fabia spied almost undisguised

Here’s our best look yet of the new Skoda Fabia, which is set to headline Skoda’s stand at the Paris Motor Show in October. From these new shots it’s clear the Fabia has ditched the round-edged styling of its predecessor for a more angular look garnished with sharp geometric styling lines. It’s less radical than Skoda’s design team initially hinted, with the clean surfacing of the Vision D concept from 2011 carrying through to production.

Straight-edged headlights bookend a wider, slimmer grille that’s clearly related to the ‘family face’ of the Skoda Rapid and Octavia. These themes are evident on the car’s bootlid too, with the triangular styling lines either side of the numberplate. Disguise masks the taillights, which are expected to follow the squared-off, LED-led design of the larger Octavia.

The familiar looks disguise a growth spurt: the new Fabia is wider than the rather slab-sided current car, but lower too, aiding handling as well as the looks. Skoda hints the new car will be lighter too, but it’s not thanks to a clever new platform under the clean-cut skin – the new Fabia recycles the ‘PQ’ architecture of the current VW Polo and Audi A1 rather than using a shrunken version of the newer MQB platform.

Turbocharged 1.2 and 1.4 TSI engines should form the backbone of the range, along with a 1.6 TDI diesel and a fuel-sipping ‘Greenline’ offshoot. Skoda could also benefit from the new 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine VW introduced into the Polo line-up in its recent facelift.

Sadly for hot hatch fans, this angular new Fabia won’t spawn a go-faster vRS variant. The current car’s switch to petrol power from its diesel roots and stubborn refusal to offer a manual gearbox has pooled lacklustre sales, so it’s expected Skoda will concentrate on offering more accessory packs with coloured trim and natty wheels for the new Fabia, rather than an out-and-out performance variant.