Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo launches

Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo

When the press release came in for the Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo, we were a bit surprised to learn that Skoda has been playing in Motorsport for 110 years. We knew they had a noble history before communism relegated them to skip-on-wheels status, but we’re ashamed to confess we knew nothing of their early Motorsport history.

We knew of the profile Skoda had in the ’70s with success in rallying, which juxtaposed jarringly with the general perception of their cars. But 110 years ago? So we had a quick furtle around but all we can come up with for 1901 is Skoda making motorised bicycles. So it must be two-wheeled motorsport roots for Skoda. Someone will doubtless enlighten us.

But what of the Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo? Well, it’s a good starting point for a chuckable little rally car for the road. Basically the Polo underneath, the Skoda Fabia ia a good little car, particularly in mean-mode Fabia vRS guise. Sadly, this Fabia Monte Carlo isn’t specially fettled for chucking around at high speed, but is instead a straightforward cosmetic job. Oh,well.

On the outside the Fabia Monte Carlo gets Piano Black body trim (which extends over the wheel arches and down the full length of the car), black roof and door mirrors, smoked headlights and 17″ Trinity alloys.

Inside you can have black or red and black trim with extra-bolstered seats. Extra bits include black leather steering wheel with red stitching, leather for handbrake a gearlever gaiter with silver kick plates and steel pedals.

You can grab the Fabia Monte Carl with a wide range of engines, from the 1.2 69PS to the 1.6 TDI CR 105PS. Starting price is £12,755 rising to £15,000.

A pretty enough special of a good little car.

All of the Fabia Monte Carlo models will be fitted with a 5-speed manual transmission and will be available to order from 24 January 2011.

By Cars UK