Skoda Australia now plans to launch the new Fabia in the third quarter of 2022 with a single spec grade – the flagship Monte Carlo Edition 150.
The new top-of-the-range, higher-performance variant of Skoda’s light car staple is a more upmarket, highly specified, and powerful proposition than before, and can subsequently be expected to cost more too.
From there the range will expand in 2023 with cheaper, less powerful entry Fabia grades, though specific details on this are being held back due to ongoing production snags.
The latest rollout plan for the Fabia looks a little different to what was previously announced, but arguably better reflects the brand’s increasingly premium positioning.
The new-shape Fabia was revealed in May 2021, and had been tapped for a first-quarter of 2022 Australian launch. This was then pushed to later this year, but specific to the less powerful entry grades.
The fourth-generation Fabia migrates to the Volkswagen Group’s MQB-A0 modular platform, which also underpins the bigger Skoda Scala.
Power for the local Monte Carlo launch car will come from a 1.5-litre TSI Evo four-cylinder engine making 110kW (or 150hp, which is where the ‘Edition 150’ name comes from) and 250Nm, mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The claimed 0-100km/h time is 8.0 seconds.
The engine also comes with cylinder-on-demand/shutoff to cut fuel use during low-load driving, and meets Euro 6d standards.
These outputs aren’t quite going to make it a reborn Fabia RS, but they certainly sit above the old 81TSI Monte Carlo – which for context last sold for $28,490 drive-away.
Monte Carlo grades have various sporty blacked-out styling accents, and sit 15mm lower than normal models due to a sportier suspension tune. Expect LED headlights and 18-inch wheels to feature.
Inside, the car is expected to come with striped one-piece bucket seats, various red highlights, metallic pedal caps, and faux carbon-fibre weave accents. A 9.2-inch touchscreen is expected to be joined by a digitised instrument cluster.
Once the 2022 Fabia Monte Carlo is bedded down, Skoda Australia will then launch cheaper Fabia grades powered by an 81kW and 200Nm three-cylinder engine similar to that used in the related Volkswagen Polo, with fewer standard features.
These will compete not just with the Polo, but other well-known options such as the Toyota Yaris, Mazda 2 and Kia Rio.
One model that won’t come is a new Fabia wagon, which has been axed. That role is now being played by the Kamiq small crossover SUV.
Once the new Fabia hits Australian showrooms, Skoda will have its most expensive line-up to date, comprising: Fabia, Kamiq, Scala, Octavia, Superb, Karoq, and Kodiaq.
Finally, the Enyaq iV electric SUV and coupe-SUV range will open for orders in late 2023.
MORE: Everything Skoda Fabia
