F1 Driver Robert Kubica Injured in Rally Crash, May Save his Arm After Emergency Surgery [with Video]

While competing in the Ronde de Andorra rally in Italy, Polish Formula 1 star Robert Kubica was involved in a horrendous crash on Sunday, as he lost control of his Skoda Fabia S2000 rally car and left the road at high speed. The Lotus-Renault team driver was airlifted from the scene and underwent successful emergency surgery at the Santa Corona hospital in Pietra Ligure.

Kubica has suffered multiple fractures to his right arm and hand with initial reports saying that he could lose the functionality of his limb. Fortunately, the operation went well, according to Dr. Mario Igor Rosello, who told reporters that Kubica, awakened form an induced coma, was able to move his fingers, which is “an encouraging sign for the rest of the recovery process”.

The Italian specialist was also optimistic due to the lack of swelling and infection, but added that it will take “several days before it is known if the operation is 100 percent successful”.

Kubica’s injuries were caused by a guardrail that went through the door, while his co-driver, Jakub Gerber, was able to walk away unhurt.

This is another sign of just how dangerous motorsports can be and, unfortunately, Kubica has already had his share of mishaps. Back in 2003, the racing driver had an accident while driving in Formula 3, injuring his left arm and also needing surgery. His bad luck struck again four years later, when he crashed in spectacular style at the Canadian F1 Grand Prix. On both occasions, Kubica managed to return to the driver’s seat after a short convalescence. However, it seems that this time the recovery will take a lot longer, meaning that reserve driver Bruno Senna will replace Kubica for an unspecified number of races.

By Csaba Daradics

Source: CNN

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Skoda's Fabia Monte Carlo Anniversary Model Packs Style but Lacks Punch

VW Group subsidiary Skoda is celebrating the 100 years of the Monte Carlo Rally as well as its own 110 year-long involvement in motorsports with the presentation of the Fabia Monte Carlo, a special edition version of the five-door hatchback model with bespoke exterior and interior styling cues.

On the outside, the Czech special gets extensive piano-black trim covering the front grille and spoiler lip, wheel arch add-ons, side skirts and mirror housings. Furthermore, the Fabia Monte Carlo boasts a black roof, tinted windows and headlights, complemented by 17-inch Trinity alloys for the UK or 16-inch Comet rims for the rest of Europe.

Inside, customers can choose between all black or red and black sport seats which provide additional side support. In tone with the exterior’s color scheme, designers opted for black roof lining and leather steering wheel with red stitching, accompanied by leather handbrake and shifter knob. Silver footrests and steel pedals round off the interior upgrades.

Based on the Ambiente (SE in the UK) trim level, the special edition model will be available with an extensive, market-differentiated engine line-up, including the 86/105 hp 1.2-liter TSI petrol and 75/105 hp 1.6-liter TDI diesel engines, all coupled to a 5-speed manual transmission.

The Fabia Monte Carlo will make its first public appearance at this year’s Monte Carlo Rally (January 19-22), while its show premiere is planned for the Geneva Salon in March. Depending on the market, orders will be taken from January 24 (UK) or beginning from February.

By Csaba Daradics

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VW Group's Skoda Division Sets New Record in 2010 with 762,600 Sales

The once ailing Skoda brand is turning out to be a solid investment for the Volkswagen Group as the Czech automaker is breaking one sales record after the other. In the year that just passed on, Skoda Auto recorded is best-ever sales results delivering 762,000 vehicles, which represents an increase of 11.5% over 2009 when it sold 684,200 units. Furthermore, the company broke the threshold of three quarters of a million vehicles sold in a single year for the first time in its history.

Commenting on the results, Prof. Dr. h.c. Winfried Vahland, Chairman of the Board of Skoda Auto said:

“In 2010, Škoda achieved an outstanding performance. In almost all markets, we have had significant growth and increased our market share. Once again, our sales have risen at a double-digit pace. In the most significant developing markets, our growth rates are above 40%. Within the framework of the Škoda growth strategy, we will shift up a gear in the coming years. By 2018, we want to at least double our worldwide sales. In order to do so, we will clearly expand the Škoda model range and strengthen the activities in international markets."

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VIDEO: Meet the Bad Boy Builders of Skoda’s Mean Green Fabia vRS

After focusing on the 'Mean Green' machine first, Skoda has now released a follow-up video clip documenting the fictional bad boy crew that builds the Fabia vRS hot-hatch in the firm's latest commercial on the car for the United Kingdom. The new campaign takes a darker but equally humorous twist on the Fabia’s ‘Made of Lovely Stuff’ proposition which was made famous by the 2007 Fabia ‘Cake’ commercial. You can watch the new ad in the video after the jump.

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Skoda Celebrates IRC Title with Fabia RS Edition S2000

In celebration of the International Rally Championship (IRC) title won by its Fabia S2000, Skoda has rolled out a limited-run edition version of its road-going Fabia RS hot hatch dressed in the firm's racing colors. All 200 examples of the car will be painted in a Rally Green finish with a white roof, white alloy wheels and stickers from the rally-spec S2000 model.

There are no other changes over the stock model, which was presented for the first time at this year's Geneva International Motor Show. As a result, the limited edition Fabia RS gets the same 1.4-liter twin-charged petrol engine with 180-horsepower and a seven-speed dual-clutch DSG transmission with paddle-shifters transferring power to the front wheels.

Since changing colors has no affect on performance, the Edition S2000 is as fast as the normal Fabia RS reaching the 100km/h mark in 7.3 seconds while topping out at 225km/h or 140mph.

The VW Group owned maker has not yet released pricing for the Fabia RS Edition S2000.

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VIDEO: Skoda Fabia vRS Hot Hatch Shows its "Meaner" side in New TV Ad

As Skoda is enjoying its best year on record, the VW Group-owned company wants to build on the momentum by launching a new TV campaign for the Fabia vRS hot hatch. The new ad, which is meant to show the darker side of the 180-horsepower-strong hatch, features the "Made from Meaner Stuff" tagline. There will be two versions of the TV commercial, a short 30 second ad and an uncut, 60 second advert.

The 'meaner' campaign, which is the work of Skoda and its advertising agency, Fallon, sees creative directors Chris Bovill and John Allison, who were behind the the 2007 'Cake' campaign, joining forces with director Nick Gordon.

"We always said we'd never make a sequel to 'Cake' but when the vRS brief came along we thought we'd make an 'opposite'. 'Cake' made our mums smile, this should make them want to hide behind a cushion" said Chris Bovill.

Indeed, the cast in this video is anything but friendly or cute as there's a naughty, dark feeling taking center stage here. Just how modern young-lings like their rides to be.

By Csaba Daradics

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A Painted History of Skoda

Just today, we learned that Skoda delivered a record number of vehicles in the first nine months of 2010, increasing its operating profit by a whopping 64%. This is what most people know about the Czech automaker; that it has been a wild success since Volkswagen took over the reins of the company. But there are others -myself included- who think the real glory of Skoda lies in its past.

When the Germans arrived in 1990 (this time with more peaceful intentions), Skoda really needed a strong partner if it wanted to stay afloat. The first fruit of their "love" was the updated Favorit, stamped with a "VW System" badge. That meant it had received fuel injection, instead of a carburetor, and a slightly updated interior. It was better than the original Favorit, launched in 1987, but still a long way from being a good car.

A decade later, the firm's range includes cars like the Fabia, Octavia and Superb. Skoda's modern day success is anything but a coincidence. The Czechs worked diligently under German supervision. And today they build cars that some consider being better than Volkswagens. Talk about a student surpassing his master…

But what these modern cars don't have is the soul of a 1905 Laurin-Klement Voiturette A, a 1924 Skoda Hispano-Suiza, or even the original 1934 Superb.

Yes, Skoda's history goes well beyond these past twenty years. It all started in 1895 with the partnership of Vaclav Laurin and Vaclav Klement, two bicycle enthusiasts and fabricators, who after 4 years in the business, began manufacturing motorcycles.

By 1905 they were ready to take the next big step: building automobiles. That's when the Voiturette A stormed Europe and made Laurin-Klement a truly international company.

In the mid 20s, after two decades of constant expansion, Lauren-Klement joined forces with Pilsen Skoda Co. and thus the Skoda brand was born.

Choosing the ultimate historic model is quite hard, because we all have different tastes. So let's choose all of them. Behold the artistic gallery of classic Skoda models, released in 1991, which says so much more than written words.

By Csaba Daradics

Images via: Skoda Club - Many thanks to Horváth Krisztián

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