Report: VW considering Skoda for SA launch

[WhoWhat]

giant big siiiiighhhhhhh we don't need another stupid semi-luxury car in SA we need a cheap VOLKSwagen - a car for people. Just the very basics needed for safe travel, tough for SA conditions, cheap parts, high milage, easy to repair (no computers and other stuff ordinary joe soap can't fix with a few basic tools), available as a passenger vehicle and a small bakkie / utility vehicle type thing to encourage small entrepreneurs. And it needs to be under R50K with easy financing available.

Even better if there massive discounts for turning in your old unroadworth jalopy and for first time car buyers.

 

[Ockie]

giant big siiiiighhhhhhh we don't need another stupid semi-luxury car in SA we need a cheap VOLKSwagen - a car for people. Just the very basics needed for safe travel, tough for SA conditions, cheap parts, high milage, easy to repair (no computers and other stuff ordinary joe soap can't fix with a few basic tools), available as a passenger vehicle and a small bakkie / utility vehicle type thing to encourage small entrepreneurs. And it needs to be under R50K with easy financing available.

Even better if there massive discounts for turning in your old unroadworth jalopy and for first time car buyers.

Below 50K? NEVER gonna happen! Not even the Datsun Go can come close to that price, and that car is as basic as they come.

 

[WhoWhat]

Below 50K? NEVER gonna happen! Not even the Datsun Go can come close to that price, and that car is as basic as they come.

The Tata Nano costs $3 000 / R39 000 with the current exchange rate. Don't see why a similar priced car can't be built here.

And this still isn't as absolutely bare basic as it could get. Stop thinking in terms of a consumer car and think in terms of the absolute barest minimum to have four wheels on a chassis with an engine and some seats - hard wearing, long lasting seats.

 

[WhoWhat]

The tuk-tuk comes close to what I mean in terms of just the basics but they are fully imported and have a R51 999 price tag. And the three wheels and small motor aren't suitable for long distance driving on SA freeways.



but this with 4 wheels, and a slightly bigger engine to be safe enough on the freeway made here to avoid import duty - MUST come in at less than R50K.

 

[FiestaST]

Skoda in SA in the olden days. Non-VAG.

 

[XPD]

giant big siiiiighhhhhhh we don't need another stupid semi-luxury car in SA we need a cheap VOLKSwagen - a car for people. Just the very basics needed for safe travel, tough for SA conditions, cheap parts, high milage, easy to repair (no computers and other stuff ordinary joe soap can't fix with a few basic tools), available as a passenger vehicle and a small bakkie / utility vehicle type thing to encourage small entrepreneurs. And it needs to be under R50K with easy financing available.

Even better if there massive discounts for turning in your old unroadworth jalopy and for first time car buyers.

Intention was the VW Up! To do this. Just not @ 50k though. Who knows, maybe some manufacturers can still turn a profit for certain cars if sold at 50k, not in SA ......never, for as long as we keep buying at current prices, there is only one way pricing will go.

 

[Drifter]

giant big siiiiighhhhhhh we don't need another stupid semi-luxury car in SA we need a cheap VOLKSwagen - a car for people. Just the very basics needed for safe travel, tough for SA conditions, cheap parts, high milage, easy to repair (no computers and other stuff ordinary joe soap can't fix with a few basic tools), available as a passenger vehicle and a small bakkie / utility vehicle type thing to encourage small entrepreneurs. And it needs to be under R50K with easy financing available.

Even better if there massive discounts for turning in your old unroadworth jalopy and for first time car buyers.

Whoa. you are talking about Never Never land here.

 

[Hemi300c]

Skoda in SA in the olden days. Non-VAG.

R3 850.00 the most expensive car on that list. Today that wouldn't pay for the mats.

 

[FiestaST]

 

[FiestaST]

Check out this funky Skoda Concept. It loosely based on a production model.


Skoda Element Concept

Following on from the Skoda CitiJet, Skoda Funstar and the Skoda Atero, now comes the Skoda Element - students from the Skoda Vocational School have built a student car for the fourth time. The Skoda Element, an electrically powered buggy based on the Skoda Citigo, stands as yet another testament to the skills of the young people at the Skoda Academy. The new student car is a roadworthy beach buggy featuring a solar panel, Smart TV, cool box and mobile disco.

The Skoda Element is 3,597 mm long and 1,641 mm wide. With no roof or doors and just two seats, the student car not only has 60 mm more ground clearance, above all it is also visually a totally discrete model - a classic, open buggy.

The silver-coloured underbody protection at the front and rear as well as the black/yellow 16-inch SCORPIUS alloy wheels with all-terrain tyres are particularly striking. The high wheel arches are framed by a black trim which continues along the bottom edge of the sills between the wheels, creating a narrow running board. There are no doors; you just climb over the side sills decorated with aluminium checker-plate strips and slide into the sports bucket seats. The rear lights feature LED technology. The Skoda students also considered the smaller details, with the car's yellow (Dragon Skin) brake callipers, demonstrating their attention to detail.

The black leather/Alcantara bucket seats with yellow edging and decorative stitching originate from the Skoda Octavia RS. They are adorned with the embroidered name of the Skoda Academy. The two-tone theme also continues in the individually designed interior. The painted front of the instrument panel shines in pearlescent yellow, the steering wheel and gearstick are covered in black leather and bear golden-yellow details. The surface between the instrument panel and the windscreen is lined with black Alcantara.

There is also a Navigon navigation system on board, which - fitted in a separate bracket - seems to float above the air conditioning controls. The car's most striking feature, however, can be found where the Skoda Citigo has its back seats. The students fitted a solar panel as well as a Smart TV behind the front seats which can be paired with a smartphone via Bluetooth. The Smart TV is located in the aluminium-decorated boot lid to which the solar panel has been mounted, sitting between two rustic, matt-black brackets. One speaker next to each seat and two additional speakers fitted in the boot turn the Skoda Element into a 400-watt beach club on wheels. The students have also integrated a cool box into the boot that is classily lined with blue carpet. The cool box is connected to an additional battery and powered by the solar panel.

A compact 60-kW (82 PS) electric motor with a torque of 210 Nm powers the Skoda Element. The electric design study accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 13 seconds and reaches a top speed of 130 km/h. The lithium-ion battery integrated in the car floor has a capacity of 18.7 kWh. This means that - depending on the route profile, driving style and payload - the Skoda Element has a range of up to 160 km.

https://www.netcarshow.com/skoda/2017-element_concept/

 

[qscwbt]

I agree as mentioned here. Vw introduced Seat and then dumps the brand in SA.

 

[The_Librarian]

Check out this funky Skoda Concept. It loosely based on a production model.


Skoda Element Concept

Following on from the Skoda CitiJet, Skoda Funstar and the Skoda Atero, now comes the Skoda Element - students from the Skoda Vocational School have built a student car for the fourth time. The Skoda Element, an electrically powered buggy based on the Skoda Citigo, stands as yet another testament to the skills of the young people at the Skoda Academy. The new student car is a roadworthy beach buggy featuring a solar panel, Smart TV, cool box and mobile disco.

The Skoda Element is 3,597 mm long and 1,641 mm wide. With no roof or doors and just two seats, the student car not only has 60 mm more ground clearance, above all it is also visually a totally discrete model - a classic, open buggy.

The silver-coloured underbody protection at the front and rear as well as the black/yellow 16-inch SCORPIUS alloy wheels with all-terrain tyres are particularly striking. The high wheel arches are framed by a black trim which continues along the bottom edge of the sills between the wheels, creating a narrow running board. There are no doors; you just climb over the side sills decorated with aluminium checker-plate strips and slide into the sports bucket seats. The rear lights feature LED technology. The Skoda students also considered the smaller details, with the car's yellow (Dragon Skin) brake callipers, demonstrating their attention to detail.

The black leather/Alcantara bucket seats with yellow edging and decorative stitching originate from the Skoda Octavia RS. They are adorned with the embroidered name of the Skoda Academy. The two-tone theme also continues in the individually designed interior. The painted front of the instrument panel shines in pearlescent yellow, the steering wheel and gearstick are covered in black leather and bear golden-yellow details. The surface between the instrument panel and the windscreen is lined with black Alcantara.

There is also a Navigon navigation system on board, which - fitted in a separate bracket - seems to float above the air conditioning controls. The car's most striking feature, however, can be found where the Skoda Citigo has its back seats. The students fitted a solar panel as well as a Smart TV behind the front seats which can be paired with a smartphone via Bluetooth. The Smart TV is located in the aluminium-decorated boot lid to which the solar panel has been mounted, sitting between two rustic, matt-black brackets. One speaker next to each seat and two additional speakers fitted in the boot turn the Skoda Element into a 400-watt beach club on wheels. The students have also integrated a cool box into the boot that is classily lined with blue carpet. The cool box is connected to an additional battery and powered by the solar panel.

A compact 60-kW (82 PS) electric motor with a torque of 210 Nm powers the Skoda Element. The electric design study accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 13 seconds and reaches a top speed of 130 km/h. The lithium-ion battery integrated in the car floor has a capacity of 18.7 kWh. This means that - depending on the route profile, driving style and payload - the Skoda Element has a range of up to 160 km.

https://www.netcarshow.com/skoda/2017-element_concept/

that solar panel gonna get feet...

 

[Rouxenator]

Bring it so SA, then 2 years later pull out. Classic SEAT move.

 

[FiestaST]

Skoda US plans put on hold

Skoda's entry the to the US has been delayed after taking the lead for a low-cost car project in India

Skoda’s investigation into whether it should enter the US market has been delayed as a result of it taking the lead for VW Group’s low-cost car project in India.

Skoda CEO Bernhard Maier had previously said that Skoda was actively assessing the opportunity of launching in the US, potentially taking the lead for sales in the wake of the VW Dieselgate scandal because of its relatively untarnished image in the region. He had indicated that the firm’s investigations would be complete by the end of this year.

However, earlier this year the VW Group entered a co-operation with Tata Motors in order to co-develop a low-cost car for emerging markets. When cost targets weren’t hit, however, the partnership was dissolved, and Skoda’s bosses asked the lead the initiative.

“We will need more time to work on the US plans now,” said Maier. “The Group has asked us to lead development of a platform with a strong focus on India and to investigate building that business sustainably and in a predictable manner.

“That is a huge task, and we must always approach projects one step at a time. There is no hurry to rush into the US and no deadline to even decide if we should be looking to go there. There’s no need to make a decision right away.”

At present, Skoda is said to be assessing whether the VW Group’s MQB A0 platform - as used on cars including the new VW Polo and Seat Ibiza - could form the basis for a low-cost vehicle, although Maier has hinted forging another joint venture is possible if it makes more sense financially. If it chooses to launch on its own platform, VW faces having to set up the entire manufacturing infrastructure in India.

“It’s clear that without radical localisation and the related cost advantages, we will be unable to turn the MQB A0 platform into a competitive tool in India,” he told Reuters.

The task is made harder because new, tougher crash and emissions regulations will come into effect in India from 2020 - the year the country is expected to become the world’s third largest car market, behind China and the USA.

Once established in India, insiders expect the low-cost car to be launched in South America and the Middle East. Concurrently, the VW Group is developing a low-cost car for sale in China with its partners there, which is expected to launch in 2019.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry/skoda-us-plans-put-hold

 

[Jet-Fighter7700]

giant big siiiiighhhhhhh we don't need another stupid semi-luxury car in SA we need a cheap VOLKSwagen - a car for people. Just the very basics needed for safe travel, tough for SA conditions, cheap parts, high milage, easy to repair (no computers and other stuff ordinary joe soap can't fix with a few basic tools), available as a passenger vehicle and a small bakkie / utility vehicle type thing to encourage small entrepreneurs. And it needs to be under R50K with easy financing available.

Even better if there massive discounts for turning in your old unroadworth jalopy and for first time car buyers.

at least somebody agrees with me for once,

they need for SA something like.....something like...... a nissan 1400
or a tazz, but the nissan 1400 sold in huge numbers due to the fact its simple, no computers,
and old joe can fix it, built tough but simple.

unfortunately the motor industry does not operate that way,
due to laws concerning emissions and mandatory safety equipment fitment
and the fact that most manufacturers want cars to break down after a certain amount of mileage and time so you buy a new one.
(planned obsolescence)

otherwise they wont make money on new cars.
otherwise if people fix their cars themselves and the parts easy to replace, any old mechanic can fix them.
depriving dealerships with their nice carpets and coffee machines of business.

sad situation nowadays, until electric/hydrogen cars come out and are reliable.
then the status quo will shift and hopefully to the better, as electric vehicles are even simpler than internal combustion

yes the manufacturers will stick their hand into it, and overly complicate and bloat new electric cars.
but I am sure once the infrastructure is in place, many more kit built or low volume manufacturers will start working on models.
as it will be a lot easier to do this.

 

[FiestaST]

1400 Champ lookalike.

 

[FiestaST]

Perhaps a meaningful discussion for 2018 can be had?

 

[FiestaST]

VW Platform Mountiaq Bakkie Revealed

Does this Skoda Mountiaq provide any clues to Volkswagen's future leisure bakkie?

Students at Volkswagen's Czech subsidiary, Skoda, have given us a good idea of what a future compact German cab-and-half bakkie could look like.

A group of 35 Skoda apprentices spent 2 000 hours to build this Mountiaq bakkie, which is based on VW’s MQB platform. That means it is, in some way, similar to the VW Tiguan, which is also built on the German automotive giant’s MQB platform.

The Skoda Mountiaq measures 5 metres bumper-to-bumper, is a touch more the 2 metres wide and stands just over 1.7 metres tall. Those dimensions mean it's notably shorter than an Amarok, but wider. Despite its smaller overall size, the Mountiaq is not light, posting a kerb weight of 2 450kg – a lot heavier than any production Amarok double-cab.

Although the Mountiaq is configured as a cab-and-half bakkie, space behind its seats is taken up by a monumental sound system. The Mountiaq has 320-watt speakers and a 2 000-watt sub-woofer, boosted by a 2 000-watt amplifier unit. And there’s a fridge in the cabin, too.

https://www.cars.co.za/motoring_news/vw-platform-mountiaq-bakkie-revealed/46799/

 

[namzsteve]

I don't think Skoda is for SA, they should just stick to Europe

 

[Jchan11hk]

Maybe VWSA should just apologize on the SEAT issue and rather reintroduce SEAT than Skoda.
Please bring a SEAT Leon Cupra R for me