Skoda Fabia and Roomster: the 2010 facelifts

By Tim Pollard

First Official Pictures

25 February 2010 23:05

Skoda's big news at the 2010 Geneva motor show is a brace of facelifts: the Fabia and Roomster duo both receive a cosmetic makeover, new engines and a smattering of fresh tech to keep mpg up and emissions down.

As these first pictures confirm, this is a modest facelift. The massaged radiator grille and reprofiled, wider headlamps are the most obvious changes, but there's also a looping detail line on the bonnet that swoops down to encircle the badge, reminding us of the hood on the latest BMW 5-series.

The changes are also rolled out to the muddy-puddles Scout models.

And what's all this about a new Fabia vRS hot hatch?

Ah yes. Nothing confirmed yet, but do you remember we scooped the Czech hot hatch a few months back? Geneva should provide the launchpad for this warm hatch. Unlike its diesel-only forebear, we expect the 2010 vRS to stick with petrol power, using one of VW's downsized, turbocharged engines.

What we can confirm now is a suite of fettled engines across the bread-and-butter Fabia and Roomster range. Outputs range from 60bhp to 105bhp and Skoda gets to play with the group's latest hardware.

So there's a 105bhp 1.2-litre TSI unit available with a seven-speed twin-clutch box, delivering 53.3mpg, while the diesel Fabias keep CO2 below 110g/km.

The Fabia engine line-up in full

• 1.2 12v 60bhp
• 1.2 12v 70bhp
• 1.2 TSI 85bhp
• 1.2 TSI 105bhp (manual and DSG)
• 1.6 TDI 90bhp
• 1.6 TDI 105bhp

The Roomster engine line-up in full

• 1.2 12v 70bhp
• 1.2 TSI 85bhp
• 1.2 TSI 105bhp (manual and DSG)
• 1.6 TDI 90bhp
• 1.6 TDI 105bhp

By Tim Pollard