Å koda Roomster

Template:Infobox Automobile The Škoda Roomster is a leisure activity vehicle produced by the Czech automaker Škoda Auto. It was a revealed as a production model in March 2006 at the Geneva Auto Show, with sales starting in June. It is built at the Škoda factory in Kvasiny. A panel van version is sold as the Praktik.

The Roomster is Škoda's first car since the Volkswagen Group's take over of the brand that is not based on an existing Volkswagen platform. Instead, it shares components with the previous Škoda Octavia and the current Škoda Fabia. The name is reportedly a concious combination of the words 'Room' and 'Roadster', and the split personality theme is played out in the design with a carefully honed 'driving room' ahead of the b-pillars and a generous 'living room' the the rear. The Roomster therefore competes both in the mini MPV and leisure activity vehicle markets, which it will be sharing with the Fiat Idea, Nissan Note, Opel Meriva and Renault Modus

Prototype

The Roomster is based on the concept car of the same name originally revealed in September 2003 at the Frankfurt Auto Show. The concept was slightly shorter (4055 mm against 4205 mm) than the production model but has a longer wheelbase (2710 mm against 2617 mm), and featured a single rear sliding door on the passenger side, which was replaced by two swinging rear doors.

Engines

The Škoda Roomster takes its engines from its Volkswagen Group sisters. Petrol engines include the multivalve three cylinder 1.2 L, with power now at 51 kW (69 PS), followed by the 1.4 L and 1.6 L four cylinder EA111 engines, with power of 63 kW (86 PS) and 77 kW (105 PS) respectively. The 1.6 L is also available with a Tiptronic automatic transmission, and is available on the most luxurious models.

Diesel powers comes from the three cylinder 1.4 TDI, with two power levels, base at 51 kW (69 PS) and "sport" at 59 kW (80 PS). The most luxurious models get a four-cylinder 1.9 TDI, with 77 kW (105 PS).

Cabin

Škoda conceived the Roomster's cabin in a way it can have different configurations at the choice of the user. The rear seats, which are taller than the front seats, can be folded in a 40-20-40 split configuration, instead of the more usual 40-60, and can also be moved longitudinally and transversally (by removing the middle seat). The rear seats also have variable inclination up to 7° to the back, or completely to the front.

The luggage compartment can have a completely flat surface with the rear seats completely removed, and the surface's height can also be modified with an amplitude of 250 mm. With the rear seats removed, the Roomster's luggage compartment has enough room to carry a bicycle.

Safety

The Škoda Roomster was rated in 2006 under the Euro NCAP car safety test programme as follows :

• Adult occupant = Template:Rating-5
• Child occupant = Template:Rating-5
• Pedestrian = Template:Rating-4

External links

• Škoda Roomster official website