Skoda's 'Simply Clever' marketing mantra is much more than lip service or PR bumph. That's the official word from new Skoda Australia head, Matthew Wiesner, who today went one step closer to formalising the Volkswagen-owned Czech manufacturer's opening model line-up for Australia.
Set to debut at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney in October, Skoda will build its brand and sales Down Under with a blend of "clever solutions and value for money," says the former VW Australia exec, who is expected to confirm a 'start-up' network of around 14 dealers that will service both metro and major provincial centres.
While Wiesner's small Oz-based team is still finalising specification and pricing details, the opening model line-up has been all but cemented. It will comprise the innovative small hatch/MPV, the Roomster, and Octavia -- a medium car that will be offered in both sedan and wagon variants.
As is the case with Volkswagen, turbodiesel engines, standard ESP/ABS and side and curtain airbags across the range, will play an important part in Skoda's offering.
The five-star NCAP Roomster will arrive in both 1.6-litre, 16-valve fuel-injected petrol and 1.9-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel variants. Only one specification level will be offered but expect a reasonable options list including a full-length (fixed) glazed panorama style roof.
Though auto and manual versions of the petrol will be offered, the TDI version will be six-speed manual only at this time.
The first VW Group vehicle to use the conglomerate's new flexible module platform (which can combine existing front, rear and mid section sub-assemblies with new sections to create unique chassis), the Roomster features a multi-mode, multi-position, triple-fold, sliding second row of seats which provide a host of seating and cargo combinations. Dubbed Varioflex, the seating system is also unique to Roomster.
Wiesner would not confirm pricing for the Roomster but conceded "mid twenties" was where the car "had to be".
The five-door Roomster will sit in the burgeoning VFACTS small car segment Down Under. It straddles the size and packaging options of VW's own Polo and Golf -- an indicator, Wiesner says, of how the companies would continue to 'de-conflict' their model line-ups going forward.
"Clever solutions are not just about innovative storage and seating combinations," Wiesner said. "Skoda's engineers have a history of doing more with less. The Roomster combines extra width and height for more passenger room within the 'conventional' small car envelope and is a unique offer."
According to Wiesner, the quirky Roomster does not have any direct competitors Down Under. Skoda's own Roomster development team said the car was benchmarked against the likes of the Opel Meriva and Honda Jazz as well as other VW Group products.
Octavia on the other hand will be aimed four-square at the Japanese makers' medium cars -- though not Camry, says Skoda.
"Octavia is not about taking on Camry, but we do see the car coming into the consideration set of people looking at Mazda 6, Accord Euro and the like," Wiesner said.
Wiesner believes the European origins of the Octavia would be a selling point in this segment.
Another advantage Octavia will have in the segment is the ability to offer both sedan and wagon (Combi) variants. Both models have near identical (and substantial) cargo space, with the 'sedan' gaining added flexibility thanks to its lift/hatchback style rear treatment. The rear window lifts with the boot lid, though the feature is cleverly disguised in profile.
Two petrol engines and two diesel engines will be offered from launch -- all familiar to VW aficionados. The petrol 2.0-litre FSI and 1.9 and 2.0 TDI will be offered in both manual and auto or DSG variants while the range-topping TFSI 2.0-litre petrol four, sourced from VW's Golf GTI, will be six-speed manual only and reside in the range-topping vRS sports trim line.
In addition to the vRS models, Skoda will offer Ambient and Elegance levels; the latter is the premium model.
The high-riding all-wheel drive wagon variant of the Octavia dubbed Scout, just released in Europe will not make it Down Under... Yet!
According to Weisner, Skoda Australia will likely add it to its range -- along with a new higher-output 125kW TDI engine for a turbodiesel vRS offering -- once DSG became available in the variant.
Speaking at the Australian media launch for the marque in Prague today, Wiesner told the Carsales Network that Skoda was conservative with its volume estimates.
"We're entering the most competitive marketplace in the world and nobody's going to give us a leg up.
"Skoda won't be riding on VW's shirt tails, we have to make our own way -- as we have done in other markets like Germany and the UK with our own unique offers -- like Roomster.
"The next couple of years are about establishing the brand in Australia. We have more models we can bring and more variants of the models we'll launch with, but we need to bed in what we are doing and then move forward.
"This isn't about throwing a couple of models into the marketplace, seeing if they sell and pulling out if things don't go our way," Wiesner opined.
"Skoda will build more than 600,000 cars this year and new international markets like Australia are very important for the company. We're in it for the long haul,"
Look for more news on Skoda's plans, and our launch reviews of the Roomster and Octavia soon.
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