The Cayenne, Q7 and Touareg are all produced in Bratislava. Here a Q7 Pick-up.
What do the Porsche Cayenne, Audi Q7, Volkswagen Touareg have in common with the old, rear-engined Skoda Rapid? They are all produced at the same production facility in Bratislava. There will also be Volkswagen Up! Skoda Citigo and SEAT Mii, - as well as several earlier Volkswagen models. Before that, several models for Skoda and Tatra.
I haven't visited the factory , but Bratislava's Transport Museum, which proudly displays its local car production at the city's old railway station. This is a fairly small museum, although it takes a fairly large area to exhibit things like steam locomotives, commercial vehicles and passenger cars. There should be more similar museums in Slovakia. And there should be more goodies there.
All Golf Syncro were made in Bratislava, so this one from 1990 in a trendy design.
I had hoped to find a Tatraplan or old ZIL, but found no obvious scoop. The first thing I noticed was a 90's Golf Syncro with campaign livery, which could have been marketed as 'Surf', 'Urban' or something like that. I don't remember. Furthermore, I noticed an Audi Q7 pick-up, and a number of Touaregs, - some in racing versions. The place of production was stated to be Bratislava. Was only the Q7 pick-up produced in Bratislava? No, all Q7s are made in Bratislava. So also Touareg and Cayenne.
After the fall of the Iron Curtain, the Skoda factory in Bratislava continued to produce cars under its own name (BAZ). Both models were attempts to extend the lifespan of the Skoda Rapid.
I am trying to find out which cars originated in Bratislava. Then I find the brand name "BAZ", which was the original name of the factory. In the era after the fall of the Iron Curtain, before Volkswagen bought all the shares, the Slovaks wanted to continue producing passenger cars and commercial vehicles under the BAZ car brand. They gave the Skoda Rapid a facelift and named it BAZ Locusta. But in the newly wealthy Europe of the time, there was little demand for former Eastern European cars. Several new projects therefore never got further than the prototype stage.
This is a fully functional, rolling prototype based on the beautiful Tatra 603. Well, the bus had the drive train in the front - not in the back like the passenger cars. On the right, two other 80s prototypes from BAZ.
Nevertheless, one prototype project stands out as something that absolutely should have gone into production. Around 1960, BAZ was commissioned to make a light commercial vehicle from Tatra's great limousine 603. They first developed a minibus (603 MB), then a pickup (603 PN). The gearbox and air-cooled V8 engine were moved to the front and provided power to the front wheels. The result was extremely successful. But, the clients, the communist regime, unfortunately turned the thumbs down on the project. Maybe the pamps in the party thought that the vehicles were too nice for ordinary people?
Today the minibus is in the museum. Perhaps the world's most beautiful minibus?
This car can be started and driven. Too bad you didn't get to see the inventory.A full-size prototype of the Skoda Fabia Scout facelift, 2010, developed in Bratislava and previously shown in car media around the world.Last facelift of the stern-engined Skoda 130.Skoda, as we remember it from the 60s, had many friends here in Norway. Not least in rallying.It's not every day you get to see the two-door version Skoda MBX.A great Skoda Octavia with decorations on the wheels and extra lights.Skoda has certainly not been a bad car, but there is no doubt that the best Skodas are those produced before and after the Iron Curtain...This fine Wanderer stood alongside semi-restored cars from the local vintage car club.Outside was a Trabant and, of all things, a Saab 99...... while the bus was set up.Tatraplan is one of the world's most beautiful cars. I have read that there is supposed to be one in a nearby museum. I am convinced that if Tatra had not ended up behind the Iron Curtain, today's car park would look different.
Undoubtedly Skoda, - but not easy to see which one.
It almost looks like a Golf, but drives like a Fabia. Space like a station wagon. Will this be a big seller in Norway?
Look and feel
The Spaceback is a beautiful car. No doubt about it. It carries the design language of both the new Golf, Audi A3 Sportsback, - and not least the facelifted Seat Leon. Alloy wheels, fog lights, leather steering wheel and center armrests help to strengthen the family resemblance. But the beautiful appearance cannot hide the sad interior of the basic version. A lot, - and very hard plastic. The only positive feeling you get when you get into the car for the first time is the good sense of space. I also got the impression of a vehicle that can withstand being used for years without silk gloves and a suit. I think of dirty children's boots, muddy dogs and things and seaweed.
Driving pleasure
When I take the car out on the road, I understand that this is neither a Golf, A3 nor Leon. This car is more reminiscent of the Fabia. A big Fabia. I therefore had to check on the Internet to learn that the Skoda Rapid is assembled based on the front axle from the Fabia and the rear axle from the Roomster. It's not a bad car to drive, but by no means measures up to the Golf we tested a couple of weeks ago. With a narrower track width and softer suspension, you are encouraged to drive calmly and leisurely, - not sporty.
Withstands rough treatment in the basic version.We used the car in connection with a relocation process. It was used a lot, with and without cargo. With the rear seats folded down, you can really load up a lot, but with a full load, the driving characteristics are somewhat affected. It reinforces my impression of a car that holds quite a lot, but drives like a car in the so-called B segment. Nevertheless, it is a car that covers everyday transport needs well. The only thing I didn't like was the position of the clutch pedal. It was too far to the right, so that I got the feeling of sitting at an angle when I clutched. I saw that the pedal rubber was heavily worn on one side, despite the fact that the car had not driven more than 17 km as a rental car. A sign that more people than me experience an unfortunate pedal placement.
The 105 horsepower engine works well with this car. The 5-speed gearbox distributed the power nicely, and I didn't miss sixth gear at speeds up to 120 km/h.
Comfort
User-friendly, manual air conditioning.I was never able to adjust the driver's seat correctly. The height adjustment takes place at the back of the seat, so that you only get thigh support when the seat is in the lowest position. But in the lowest position I thought I sat too low (I'm 1,88m tall). Therefore, I had to seek a compromise. I suspect that Skoda has chosen to use standard Fabia seats and that these do not fit this car. If the seats had been placed a couple of cm higher, they would have suited me much better.
Another weakness of the comfort is the relatively high noise level, especially from the TDI engine during city driving. You feel it well when you alternate between driving several cars. But since the engine works well at low revs, the sound does not feel annoying. The noise level does not seem as intrusive at steady motorway speeds.
The leather steering wheel and the center armrests count positively. The manual air conditioning also worked fine.
Place
The depth of the luggage compartment can be increased by removing a panel.The Spaceback has 415 liters of luggage space with the seats up and 1370 liters with the seats down. Golf's figures are respectively 380 liters and 1270 liters. The differences are noticeable. In the Spaceback, the luggage compartment is larger and deeper. Inside, the space also feels spacious, although I think that can be explained by the fact that you sit in slightly small and low seats. There is no doubt that place is this car's strongest point.
Safety
Skoda Rapid is one of the latest models from Skoda. It has almost exactly the same safety level as the Octavia in NCAP. The downside is that you cannot order advanced safety equipment such as blind spot warning, falling asleep alarm, lane change warning and distance holder, to name a few. In addition, the active safety is not as good as, for example, the Golf. Among other things, you must expect longer braking distances.
Economy
The TDI engine with 105 horses is one of the market's most economical engines. This also applies in a Rapid Spaceback. This is a car you can easily find an economical driving style with, - and consequently a fuel consumption among the best in all car classes. Low purchase price and expected good trade-in value also contribute to a pleasant car account. In terms of purchase price, the Rapid Spaceback is approximately 60 less than a similarly equipped Golf. The Golf belongs to half a class above the Rapid. In addition, the feeling of quality is better in the Golf, and the trade-in price is better. It seems that the Rapid is designed to fill the demand for cheap cars in Eastern Europe and countries in the Near East. We have seen the same with other, typical cheap cars such as Dacia and Korean cheap brands: The Norwegian tax system means that the difference between expensive and cheap cars is evened out. I think that the purchase price of the Skoda Rapid is too high for the car to be successful in Norway. Most people will make a better price-wise choice half a class up with the Octavia or Golf.
As a moving vehicle, it also worked perfectly!
Luggage compartment and interior space
Low consumption of fuel
Difficult to find a comfortable sitting position.
The clutch pedal is too far to the right.
Noise level from engine.
See
Skoda Rapid Spaceback (facelift).Everything is correct in the Golf with 1.6 TDI 105 and DSG.Seat Leon EcoMotive – Extremely low consumption2017 Fiat Tipo.
Safety
