Skoda has revealed a special anniversary edition of the Fabia, with 130kW to commemorate the brand’s 130th anniversary.
Skoda has unveiled a special edition of the Fabia for Europe, with all the ingredients to be a new RS model, but no RS branding in sight.
The Skoda Fabia 130 has been introduced to celebrate Skoda’s 130th anniversary, and comes with a 130kW version of the Fabia’s 1.5-litre engine, up from the 110kW version available in the Fabia Monte Carlo.
Perhaps a little confusingly, the Fabia 130 is more powerful than the Monte Carlo Edition 150 that the current-generation Fabia launched as in Australia, with the 150 moniker of that model referencing the 150PS power output, which converts to 110kW.
Skoda claims the Fabia 130 is the fastest ever series-produced Fabia, with a claimed top speed of 228km/h.
It’s not, however, the most powerful production version of the Fabia, with the Fabia RS 132TSI, sold in Australia until 2015, outgunning it by just 2kW, but topping out with a slightly lower 224km/h top speed.
The new, heavier Fabia 130 is also slightly slower in the 0-100km/h sprint, taking 7.4 seconds compared to the 7.3-second claim for the Fabia RS 132TSI.
Other hot hatch touches applied to the Fabia 130 include lowered suspension, retuned handling, and a special set-up for the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission to complement the car’s more sporty demeanour.
Engine changes include a new intake plenum and changes to the rocker arms and vibration damper to cope with the increased power.
The new engine produces more power than the 110kW version it’s based on from 3500rpm onwards, and hits its 130kW peak from 5750 to 6000rpm.
Peak torque of 250Nm is unchanged, but spans a wider rev range, from 1500 to 4000rpm (instead of 1500-3500rpm).
The steering of the Fabia 130 has also been revised for more immediate response and sharper steering feedback.
Skoda engineers have also tweaked the stability control calibration, with a two-stage setting that allows increased slip in sport mode with later stability control intervention.
Styling for the Fabia 130 includes black detailing on the roof, rear wing, rear diffuser, and front spoiler with 130 badges added on the front guards.
The bi-LED headlights come with black internals, and the 18-inch Libra alloy wheels are finished in a unique smoke coloured finish. The rear of the car comes with a motorsport-inspired black stripe spanning the tailgate, and gloss black dual exhaust tips.
The interior is equipped with electrically adjustable front sport seats, a three-spoke sports steering wheel, stainless steel pedal covers, and black door sill plates.
Availability of the Fabia 130 has so far only been announced for select European markets, but the inclusion of a more powerful engine and revised transmission and handling package leaves the door open for a full-time return of the Fabia RS hot hatch, which has been missing from the global Fabia line-up since the third-generation Fabia was introduced in 2014.
Kez Casey migrated from behind spare parts counters to writing about cars over ten years ago. Raised by a family of automotive workers, Kez grew up in workshops and panel shops before making the switch to reviews and road tests for The Motor Report, Drive and CarAdvice.
