Laurin & Klement / Škoda 120 Years of Success

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1970: ŠKODA 110 R

The sleek coupé ŠKODA 

110 R gave a voice to the sporty 

side of the brand. The two-door 

vehicle also known as ‘Erko’ was 

rear-wheel drive and was built 

a total of almost 57,000 times. 

More than 90 per cent of the 

production was exported. There 

were later racing versions based 

on the 110 R. From 1975, one of 

the most successful racing cars 

of its time was the legendary 

ŠKODA 130 RS.

1976: ŠKODA 105

The ŠKODA 1000/1100 MB was 

given the series designation 

100/110 after its facelift. The 

further development led to the 

ŠKODA 105/120 family car in 

the mid-1970s, and later, after 

further modifications, was also 

known as 125/130/135/136. The 

vehicles differed in capacity and 

engine performance and there 

were also different specifications. 

Later, the coupé ŠKODA Garde 

and ŠKODA Rapid followed. In 

total, the manufacturer produced 

more than two million units of 

the series with a rear engine 

between 1976 and 1990.

1987: ŠKODA Favorit

The brand made a real statement 

in 1987 with the introduction of 

the ŠKODA Favorit — a modern 

compact car concept with a front 

engine, front-wheel drive, variable 

passenger compartment and large 

tailgate. Parts of the development 

took place in cooperation with 

renowned foreign companies 

such as Porsche and Bertone. The 

hatchback was soon followed 

by an estate and a commercial 

vehicle version. The produc-

tion concept of the Favorit set 

standards in terms of economic 

efficiency, an aspect that, after the 

political changes of 1989/90, was 

of particular interest to foreign 

manufacturers.

1994: ŠKODA Felicia

Three years after the merger with 

Volkswagen, the ŠKODA Favorit 

was replaced by the new ŠKODA 

Felicia model. The cooperation 

with Europe’s largest car manu-

facturer Volkswagen elevated the 

production to a new level. The 

new vehicle met international 

standards in terms of quality, 

technology and styling. Both 

petrol engines and economical 

diesel power trains were used for 

the hatchback and estate. Com-

fort and safety equipment were 

state-of-the-art; this was the 

first time ŠKODA had air condi-

tioning and airbags, for example.

1996: ŠKODA Octavia

In autumn 1996 the ŠKODA 

Octavia had its debut. The first 

ŠKODA model to be developed 

completely from scratch after the 

fall of the Iron Curtain and the 

merger with Volkswagen gave 

the decisive model impetus for 

the rapid transformation of the 

company into one of the recog-

nised global players. Since 1996, 

over 40 per cent of the entire 

ŠKODA sales have been down 

to the Octavia. Over four million 

vehicles have been sold to date. 

The third-generation Octavia, 

available since the end of 2012, is 

in a class of its own and inspires 

customers around the world.

1999: ŠKODA Fabia

Small car, big success: in 1999, 

ŠKODA introduced the new 

ŠKODA Fabia. After the hatchback, 

just one year later the estate 

version of the small car was to 

follow. The second-generation 

Fabia celebrated its debut in 2007. 

Around 3 million plus Fabias of 

the first and second generation 

have been sold to date. In autumn 

2014, the manufacturer presented 

the completely redeveloped third 

generation Fabia as a hatchback 

and estate. The vehicle inspires 

with a clearly sharpened design, 

less weight, reduced consumption 

and technical innovations from 

higher vehicle classes.

2001 / 2008: ŠKODA Superb

Since 2001, the ŠKODA Superb has been the flagship of the ŠKODA brand. The model stands for quality from the Czech 

Republic on global markets and offers lots of space, innovative technology, top safety and a high level of comfort. With the 

presentation of the first Superb generation, the manufacturer tied in the 1930s tradition of large, representative ŠKODA 

saloons. In 2008, the second Superb generation was launched onto the markets; alongside the saloon, the estate and an 

all-wheel drive version were introduced. ŠKODA has sold over 600,000 Superbs and Superb Combis to date. The top model 

also enjoys a great deal of popularity abroad. For example, the model received the ‘Luxury Car of the Year’ award in the UK. 

The completely redeveloped third-generation Superb arrives in 2015.

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120 years of progressive solutions for the customers

Technical development

at ŠKODA AUTO

The art of engineering at the highest level has formed 

the  central  pillar  of  the  success  of  ŠKODA  AUTO  for 

120  years.  Modern  technology  with  the  highest  cus-

tomer  benefit  —  that  has  been  the  driving  force  for 

the development of new models from Mladá Boleslav 

since  the  beginnings  of  the  mobility  pioneers  Laurin 

and Klement.

Today, technical development employs around 1,700 

qualified  specialists,  engineers,  designers  and  con-

structors. This makes ŠKODA the only car manufacturer 

that not only produces but also develops cars in the 

Czech Republic. In 2013 alone, ŠKODA invested CZK 

8.7 billion in technical development. The manufacturer 

has the fourth-largest development centre in Volkswa-

gen Group, and one of the most modern of its type in 

the automotive industry, in Česana in Mladá Boleslav.

The history of the company is rich in technological mile-

stones.  The  first  years  after  foundation  were  already 

characterised by groundbreaking developments. This 

includes one of the world’s first four-cylinder motorcy-

cles (Laurin & Klement CCCC, 1904), then the Voi-

turette A, of course, but also the first Central European 

eight-cylinder engine L&K FF (1907) and a functional 

prototype of a hybrid vehicle based on the L&K 

Type E (1908). In 1934 the models Popular, Rapid and 

Superb formed a new successful generation of vehicles 

with modern central tube frames and refined techno-

logy. In 1932, ŠKODA produced the air-cooled rear en-

gine, in 1939 an eight-cylinder V engine.

The ŠKODA 1000 MB set a further technological 

milestone  in  1964  with  its  innovative  engine  —  and 

drive — technology. ŠKODA was the first European car 

manufacturer to introduce cylinder and crankcase pro-

duction using an aluminium die casting process at this 

time and thereby reverted to an original Czech patent.

Since then, the development and production of 

engines has formed a focal point of the company’s 

research and development. Today, ŠKODA carries out 

important  development  work  in  this  field  as  part  of 

Volkswagen Group. In autumn 2014, ŠKODA opened 

a new engine centre with 20 new engine and compo-

nent test benches. The manufacturer, together with 

Volkswagen Group, invested over 34 million euros in 

the new development.

The core elements of ŠKODA’s company strategy are 

sustainability and environmental protection. The goal is 

to make every new vehicle generation 10 to 15 per cent 

more  efficient.  The  GreenLine  and  Green  tec  models 

in particular, stand for top efficiency in the brand and 

are available throughout the entire ŠKODA range. The 

ŠKODA Octavia GreenLine creates CO

2

 emissions of just 

85 g/km with diesel consumption of just 3.2 l/100 km. 

Furthermore, the brand is backing natural gas vehicles. 

With the Citigo G-TEC, the Octavia G-TEC and the 

Octavia Combi G-TEC, ŠKODA is currently offering three 

natural gas vehicles (as of: 31

st

 December 2014).

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