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An expedition led by renowned British adventurer Alastair Humphreys is set to answer the question that has vexed explorers for centuries – does the Yeti exist? The adventure, which begins early next month, is backed by ŠKODA UK and will see a fleet of Yeti cars drive high into the Bhutan mountains to visit areas where sightings have been made.

The Yeti, or Abominable Snowman, has been part of Bhutanese folklore since the late 18th Century. Thought to be a part-man, part-animal, the Yeti has been the subject of countless expeditions over the past 200 years with number of high-profile sightings that remain unexplained to this day. Many locals firmly believe in the Yeti’s existence, while experts have suggested in recent years that the creature could be a present day specimen of the giant ape ‘Gigantopithecus’ which is thought to be extinct.

The ŠKODA team will work under the direction of Alastair Humphreys and will start their epic journey in Samdrup Jonkhar in the South East of Bhutan. The team will then travel north for more than 300 miles and up to an altitude of 3,530 metres.

The expedition route will take the team to the 162,000 acre Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary where the Yeti is thought to reside. A number of local experts will act as guides and will show the team where sightings have been made in the past.

Alastair Humphreys said: “I’m excited to be part of this expedition with ŠKODA. Bhutan’s surroundings are some of the most beautiful in the world and we’ll seek to uncover the stories of the Yeti within these communities. I’m pretty certain nowhere else on earth can claim to have a sanctuary for an apparently mythical creature, and that is a fascinating adventure to be part of.

“Whether the Yeti exists or not may always be a mystery, but what is true is the strong belief that the people of Bhutan have in the creature.”

The team will rely on a fleet of ŠKODA Yetis to carry themselves and equipment across some of the most challenging roads in the country. Like its namesake, the Yeti can survive the harshest of conditions and is perfectly at home in the rugged surroundings of the Himalayas.

The vehicles used for the expedition will be Yeti Outdoor models equipped with ŠKODA’s optional off-road package that adds additional protection to the underside of the vehicle. All will benefit from the Yeti’s Outdoor standard multi-plate four-wheel drive system that provides the perfect balance between on and off-road performance.

Unlike the Himalayan Yeti, the ŠKODA version is somewhat easier to spot in the wild. Since the start of production in 2009, more than 580,000 examples have been sold worldwide, with demand increasing year on year.

Adventure enthusiasts can follow Alastair and ŠKODA’s expedition on Twitter via @ŠKODAUK and @Al_Humphreys.

Article source: www.skoda.co.uk

One of the most distinctive models in the history of ŠKODA celebrates the 80th anniversary of its motor show premiere.

On October 1, 1936, the ŠKODA POPULAR Sport Monte Carlo was presented to visitors of the 20th International Motor Show in Paris. Over the following three years, limited edition sporty roadsters, convertibles and coupés were developed, which are now considered among the most attractive vintage cars to have ever been produced by the brand from Mladá Boleslav.

“The extraordinary vehicles of the POPULAR Monte Carlo type are tied to ŠKODA’s successful motorsport involvement 80 years ago, which had begun in 1901,” says Andrea Frydlová, Head of the ŠKODA Museum in Mladá Boleslav. “The limited-edition series was directly derived from the one-off vehicle built for the Monte Carlo Rally in 1936, their buyers benefited from the experience of ŠKODA’s racing department.”

In January 1936, ŠKODA achieved an unusual success in motorsport: The team Zdeněk Pohl / Jaroslav Hausman was virtually unheard of, however, they finished in second place at the Monte Carlo Rally in the <1500 cc class with a modified Roadster ŠKODA POPULAR. The company seized this opportunity to launch a limited series of sports models with a distinctive design – the ŠKODA POPULAR Sport Monte Carlo. Exactly 80 years ago, the model celebrated its motor show premiere at the International Motor Show in Paris.

Much like the rally car, the customer vehicles also had the more powerful four-cylinder engine under the bonnet, with a 1.4-litre displacement and 23 kW (31 hp) from the RAPID model. The three-speed transmission sat above the rear axle, forming a bloc with the differential (transaxle system). The model had a top speed of 110 km/h, and the effective hydraulic brakes completed the sporty disposition of ŠKODA POPULAR Montecarlo. In 1936, the base price of the limited edition model was 28.500 crowns, while the standard Roadster POPULAR 1.0 l / 16 kW (22 PS) started at 18,700 crowns.

The first two vehicles of the ŠKODA POPULAR Montecarlo type were built in July 1936; the last copy - a coupé with dark grey metallic paint - was delivered on 13 January 1939. Of the 70 cars produced, 24 were roadsters in a lighter version with simpler equipment. In addition, 17 comfortable roadsters were produced with handle-operated side windows instead of the attachment windows. 23 coupés, two convertibles, two chassis for the individual body construction and two suspension variants and a range of engines completed the series.

There were two roadsters that were particularly luxurious, which the Czechoslovak government sent to the Yugoslavian Head of State in 1938 – the then 14-year old king Petar II. Karađorđević. Discerning private customers could opt for the two-seater coupé ŠKODA POPULAR Monte Carlo, which cost 35,000 crowns. It was 4.20 meters long, 1.50 meters wide and 1.37 meters high, weighing in at 960 kg.

In October 1937, the facelift model went on sale, its characteristics included a modified suspension and tuning, as well as a longer wheelbase. The compact body featured many aspects of the then streamlined design; the headlights were partially embedded in the wings. Among the prominent clients were the popular actor of the Prague theatre ‘Na Vinohradech’ Otomar Korbelář.

Today about a dozen cars bear the ŠKODA POPULAR Monte Carlo name, and they are among the most sought-after classic cars produced by the brand. In 1968, the newly founded ŠKODA Museum acquired a black coupé dating back to 1937, which subsequently underwent careful restoration at the turn of the century. Since then, the two-seater has been used for presentations on the history of the brand from Mladá Boleslav, it has also taken part in many classic car events. Another copy of the limited edition POPULAR Sport Monte Carlo is currently being restored with great care at the ŠKODA Museum workshop.

Did you know, that ŠKODA AUTO:
› is one of the longest-established vehicle manufacturers in the world. The company was founded in 1895 – during the pioneering days of the automobile. Today, the company’s headquarters remain in Mladá Boleslav.
› currently offers the following models in the range: CITIGO, FABIA, RAPID, OCTAVIA, YETI, KODIAQ and SUPERB.
› in 2015 delivered more than 1 million vehicles to customers worldwide.
› has belonged to Volkswagen since 1991. The Volkswagen Group is one of the most successful automotive groups in the world. ŠKODA, in association with the Group, independently manufactures and develops vehicles, as well as components, engines and gear transmissions.
› operates at three locations in the Czech Republic, produces in China, Russia, Slovakia and India mainly through Group partnerships, as well as in Ukraine and Kazakhstan through local partners.
› employs over 26,600 people globally and is active in more than 100 markets.

Article source: www.skoda-auto.com

The recent world premiere of the new Kodiaq SUV may signal the start of ŠKODA’s broader SUV campaign, but the ŠKODA Yeti – the brand’s first SUV – is enjoying a rise in popularity. Now in its seventh production year, debuting in 2009, the ŠKODA Yeti has been one of the most successful compact SUVs ever.

In total, ŠKODA has delivered more than 580,000 Yetis to customers worldwide, and due to continued high demand is expanding capacity for production. In the UK, ŠKODA has seen the Yeti’s popularity continue to rise, with nearly 60,000 registrations since its 2010 market introduction. In 2015 it had its best-ever year, with 13,306 examples being snapped up by UK customers.

“We are delighted to be able to deliver as many ŠKODA Yetis to our customers in Europe as they wish,” says Michael Oeljeklaus, ŠKODA Board Member for Production and Logistics. “By using the production capacities of another European plant within our international production network, we can respond satisfactorily to the high demand.”

The compact SUV is currently produced at four plants: In addition to Kvasiny in ŠKODA’s home country the Czech Republic, the model is manufactured at Solomonovo (Ukraine), Nizhniy Novgorod (Russia), Öskemen / Ust Kamenogorsk (Kazakhstan) and Anting (China). In order to meet the high demand for the Yeti models in Europe, ŠKODA is utilizing the additional production capacities at the Nizhniy Novgorod plant. The ŠKODA Yeti has been produced here since 2012 alongside the ŠKODA Octavia. Production in Nizhny Novgorod is carried out in partnership with the Volkswagen Group Russia and the Russian automobile manufacturer GAZ Group.

ŠKODA entered the compact-SUV segment with the Yeti in 2009. In Europe, the award-winning ŠKODA Yeti is one of the best-selling SUVs in its class and underlines the all-wheel-drive competence of the brand.

More than 580,000 ŠKODA Yetis have been sold to customers around the world to date. In 2015 alone, ŠKODA delivered around 99,500 Yeti models. Between January and August 2016, approximately 61,700 customers worldwide opted for a Yeti, with over 14 percent of those allocated to UK customers.

Article source: www.skoda.co.uk

Debut of the ŠKODA KODIAQ at the Paris - video shows the highlights of the motor show premiere in France.

At the Paris Motor Show, the ŠKODA KODIAQ had its international motor show premiere yesterday during ŠKODA’s press conference. ŠKODA CEO Bernhard Maier presented the highlights of the newcomer: its striking design, top Package and numerous technical innovations that will be driving the brand’s first large SUV to customers from early 2017.

A compilation of the highlights of the ŠKODA KODIAQ’s motor show debut and the first press day in pictures are available to download at www.skoda-storyboard.com.

The press kit for the ŠKODA KODIAQ, along with wide range of pictures, videos and technical data on the vehicle, is available to download at ŠKODA Storyboard as well.

Article source: www.skoda.co.uk

ŠKODA participates in Top City Classic Rally China 2016 and ŠKODA FELICIA wins award for ‘Most Elegant Car at the Event’. Further success: victory in a special stage and award for 'Historical Revival of the Rally'.

The ŠKODA FELICIA, the most popular open-top model, won the award for ‘Most Elegant Car’ at the Top City Classic Rally China 2016. The ŠKODA cabriolet, which was produced in 1960, drove over 500 km in each of the Beijing and Shanghai stages of the rally. The model completed the rally successfully and impressed droves of spectators along the way.

Andreas Hafemann, President of ŠKODA China, took part in the rally in Beijing and attended the award ceremony at the stage destination Zhangjiakou – one of the host cities of the Winter Olympics 2022. “ŠKODA is one the oldest automobile manufacturers in the world, with a legendary history spanning 121 years. We are very glad to share the classic and iconic ŠKODA models, as well as ŠKODA’s unique auto culture and heritage with consumers and auto fans in China,” said Mr. Hafemann.

The Top City Classic Rally China was organized by the German magazines Auto Motor und Sport and Motor Klassik. The rally was divided into two stages: The Beijing stage involved 35 vintage cars from various brands starting in a Beijing suburb, passing by the picturesque grassland of Hebei province and finishing in Zhangjiakou. In the Shanghai stage, 36 classic cars started from the landmark Oriental Pearl Tower, heading through the ancient town of Wuzhen and finishing at the beautiful Thousand Island Lake in Zhejiang province.

ŠKODA took part in the first Top City Classic Rally China in 2014, when two vintage cars from the Czech brand – a ŠKODA FELICIA and a Laurin & Klement – became the stars of the show.

This year, the ŠKODA FELICIA was once again the highlight of the event. The car was originally produced in 1960. Over the last 56 years, the car has been painted in various colours and some parts were lost or damaged. Recently, only with great support from the ŠKODA Museum’s historical archives, technical documents and auto parts was the car fully restored and re-furbished.

The ŠKODA FELICIA is ŠKODA’s most famous open-top car model. Continuing the company’s tradition of manufacturing open-top cars, the ŠKODA FELICIA was series-produced between 1958 and 1964. The car offered elegant bodywork that became a symbol of the Czech social revolution of the 1960s and also appeared in numerous films. Whilst inspired by the classic English roadsters, it surpassed them with its driving features, universal character and driving comfort. With a total of 14.863 units manufactured, the FELICIA became the most popular open-top model by ŠKODA.

2016 marks 121 years since the company was founded, making ŠKODA AUTO one of the longest-established vehicle manufacturers in the world. The company was one of the pioneers in the industry, launching bicycle production in 1895, followed soon after by the production of motorcycles and cars at their headquarters in Mladá Boleslav, Czech Republic. ŠKODA has sold more than one million vehicles for the second year in a row and is present in over 100 markets worldwide. The most comprehensive model range in the company’s history is manufactured at 14 plants in Europe and Asia.

Since entering the Chinese market in 2007 with the first locally produced vehicle – the OCTAVIA, ŠKODA has established a very successful partnership with SAIC Volkswagen. Over the past nine years, the partners have jointly established ŠKODA as one of the major car brands in China, so far delivering a total of 1.8 million cars to customers in China.

Article source: www.skoda-auto.com

Debut of the ŠKODA KODIAQ at the Paris - video shows the highlights of the motor show premiere in France.

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