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<title><![CDATA[Skoda Octavia Scout: month 1]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Car Enthusiast - A 4x4 workhorse joins the fleet this month and has already been put to good use as a removal van...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 05 Jun 2008 11:46:18 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Skoda Superb stretches a point]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Car Enthusiast - Skoda's new Superb is even bigger and better than before]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 11:44:59 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Superb world debut from Skoda]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Car Enthusiast - The Skoda Superb makes its world debut at the Geneva show displaying its new Twindoor system.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 04 Mar 2008 00:35:40 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Eco Skoda Fabia launched]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Car Enthusiast - Skoda has added a low emissions, high economy model called GreenLine to the Fabia range.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 27 Feb 2008 10:47:42 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Super Skoda]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Car Enthusiast - Skoda is planning to go racing in the Super 2000 category with its new four-wheel drive Fabia.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 14 Feb 2008 12:15:51 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Skoda hatches new Superb]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Car Enthusiast - Here are the first proper official pictures of the next Skoda Superb, which will use an innovative 'twin door' system.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 28 Jan 2008 07:44:16 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Scouts in Skoda world record attempt]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Car Enthusiast - How many Scouts can you fit in a Skoda? No, it's not a joke but a world record attempt.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 11 Jan 2008 10:07:55 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Skoda Roomster 1.4 Range : ROOM AT THE TOP]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Car And Driving - Skodas Roomster doesnt fit into any convenient vehicle category. Best approach with an open mind. By Andy EnrightWell, its not bland. That much goes without debate. Skodas Roomster is, in fact, quite unlike any other vehicle on the roads today, yet fulfils a very straightforward brief albeit via unorthodox means. Think of it as a rival to typical van-based MPVs without feeling the least bit commercially sourced and youre getting warm. The 1.4-litre model I tested was shorn of all the baubles; a straight shot of the Roomster brand values.I decided fairly early on in the test drive that I liked the Roomster. Ive got a lot of time for Skodas as a whole. I like their determinedly anti-fashion appeal and their solid lack of the usual aspirational, lifestyle flim flam. When the Czech company first announced the Roomster, I was a little concerned that theyd veered off down this route. Pre-launch publicity shots showed tanned people with Californian teeth and mountain bikes. Reassurance came in the way Skoda had named the trim levels. Theres no bull about calling the cars 1,2 and 3 in ascending order of plushness. Theres no ambiguity either. If you own a 2, you have a very clear idea of where you fit in the Roomster hierarchy, something that silly names like Ambiente or Dynamique dont quite convey. Fortunately, the Roomster isnt a car that your neighbour will likely one-up you with. Id gamble and buy a 1, just to live that little bit dangerously. That said, Roomster ownership is unlikely to prove in any way hazardous. Even this 1.4-litre 16v model is well stuffed with safety equipment. Taking the entry-level 1 as a baseline, you get twin front, side and curtain airbags and ABS anti-lock brakes. The price of £10,510 isnt going to cause palpitations for your bank manager either. Even the Roomster pricing is easy to understand: add a grand and you get a 2, tack on another thousand and you get a 3. Easy. Laudably, Skoda has fitted all of the Roomsters safety gear to the 1, so the 2 and 3 merely add convenience features. Theres also a Scout model with off-roader styling cues and a raised ride height. You might feel that a 1.4-litre engine commanding just 85bhp would struggle to shift the Roomsters bulk with any great alacrity and, by and large, youd be right. One up, its a bit of a hoot, the Roomsters taut suspension allowing for plenty of fun as long as you use the five-speed manual box judiciously, rapid cross country progress becoming an exercise in preservation of momentum. I didnt get the chance to load the car up to the gunwales but could envisage this making it a good deal less effervescent. For what its worth, Skoda quotes a fuel consumption figure of just over 40mpg with the sprint to 60mph being notched off in 12.7 seconds. A top speed of 106mph means things can get a little breathy when charging hard on the motorway but the kerb weight of just 1,155kg means that it pulls harder than youd expect."The Roomster makes a lot of sense but also shows its fun side with some decidedly unconventional styling"Its a fun little engine, this 16-valve unit with a peak torque of 126Nm. Its also a good deal more refined than expected. At one point, I thought I was noodling along in fifth only to realise that I was in third gear, the rev counter registering over 4,000rpm. In any of the Roomsters erstwhile rivals, over 4,000rpm sounds not unlike a USAF shock and awe campaign but you really have to listen out in the Skoda, especially if youve got your iPod plugged into the auxiliary input and are cranking out some Mongo Santa Maria. The engine spins freely up to around 5,000rpm, after which it merely amplifies the noise level rather than adding any incremental go. Its a lot better than it has any right to be and makes paying the additional £500-odd for the 1.4-litre TDI diesel a questionable decision, especially if your annual mileages are average or below. The Roomster feels nimble around town, the 10. 5 metre turning circle making it easy to jink a quick three-point turn if you take a wrong steer. Its also fairly easy to park. Visibility out of the car is excellent and its a mere 235mm longer than a Fabia supermini. Despite this, it makes a lot of the space inside. All models have the VarioFlex rear seating as standard. Even with five passengers on board, theres still up to 530 litres of luggage space a good deal better than most compact MPVs. Fold the rear seats down and theres a humungous 1,555 litres available. In addition to the removable centre seat, the two outer chairs can also be completely removed. By pulling on a lever, both chairs can be dismounted and lifted out and you neednt worry about prolapsing a disc either at just 14kg each theyre reassuringly light. With the rear seats stowed in the garage, youve got 1,780 litres of space and its useable space too, the almost vertical side windows making it easy to load bags right up to the roof if necessary. Just about the only real problem with the Roomster is its sheer pragmatism. Get past its unusual broken back styling and theres not a lot that is really very striking. Well thought out things rarely are. Some of the plastics are a little low rent the internal door handles for instance but Im nitpicking now. As a budget family vehicle, the Roomster rates a solid nine out of ten in my book. It almost seems churlish to ask whether that is enough but a slew of rival manufacturers are rushing to capitalise on the utility MPV market. With the Roomster, Skoda has placed a marker and a very formidable one at that.FACTS AT A GLANCE CAR: Skoda Roomster 1.4 range PRICES: £10,510-£13,510 - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 4E CO2 EMISSIONS: 172g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 12.7s / Max Speed 106mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 40.1mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: ABS, front, side and curtain airbags. WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE ?: Length/Width/Height 4205/1648/1607mm]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 30 Oct 2007 15:17:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Skoda Octavia 1.8 T FSI : OCTUNG BABY]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Car And Driving - The mid-range 1.8T FSI engine sits well with the middle-of-the-road Skoda Octavia. Steve Walker reportsThe Skoda Octavia 1.8 T FSI is a polished all-round family car. The engine offers strong performance coupled with reasonable economy while the Octavia package has space, build quality and value for money on its side. If only it had a bit more by way of character. There are definitely cars that excite you more readily than Skodas Octavia. Indeed, many people will have completed tax returns that gave them more of a buzz. As a ticks all the boxes compact family car, though, Skodas Golf-based stalwart doesnt have a lot wrong with it. For people who really need their daily drive to display a touch of sparkle, Skoda even lay-on the hot vRS model but with 198bhp and an £18,000 pricetag, that car is creeping away slightly from the core Skoda values. A good compromise might be the 1.8-litre T FSI we feature here. Its just about as exciting as sensible gets. Skoda has benefited hugely from being subsumed into the Volkswagen Group. At a time when the brands journey from running joke to respectable contender is all but complete, its range of value for money vehicles based on VW platforms looks stronger than ever. The Octavia feels closer than any other Skoda to its Volkswagen progenitor. From the engine range to the interior, echoes of the Golf abound and along with Skodas tighter pricing, this is key to what makes the Octavia appealing. There are differences though and amongst them, is this 1. 8-litre T FSI engine. Its unique amongst the Octavias powerplants in that its not found in the Golf. The 1,798cc petrol engine uses Fuel Stratified Injection (FSI) technology and turbocharging so its nearest VW group relative is the 2.0-litre T FSI unit found in the Golf GTI, the Audi S3 and the Octavias own vRS. The smaller capacity means theres 158bhp of grunt available here instead of the 198bhp from the 2.0-litre turbo unit but it still makes for an eager feeling Octavia that retains the silky-smooth power delivery of the more powerful unit. The full 250Nm maximum torque is available from 1,500rpm up to 4,200rpm so between those engine speeds, a flex of the throttle brings instant results. The turbocharger remains largely anonymous with the power flowing seamlessly through the gears and very little trace of lag even from a standing start. The 0-60mph sprint takes 8.2s and the top speed is 138bhp."Its just about as exciting as sensible gets."The Octavia never feels less than competent on the road. Keen drivers might bemoan the rather dead steering and the suspension set up that isnt the sharpest but they could be accused of missing the point. The 1.8 T FSI isnt the vRS. The car is tuned for comfort and it soaks up the bumps very well while staying composed over larger undulations. If you do throw it into a few corners, the body is well controlled and theres no shortage of grip. Engine noise the whistle of the wind and the roar from the road are well insulated in the Octavia so the drivers free to sit back in the firm seats and get on with the job. If the Skoda Octavia had been given beguilingly sculpted bodywork and an interior that bristled with surprise and delight, Volkswagens Golf would have had a big problem on its hands. In the interests of preserving the groups complex hierarchies, the Octavia was kept simple and, if were honest, rather plain. In no way is the styling ugly or stupid and there are none of those nagging awkward details that crop up on cars from time to time. The Octavia employs a classic shape that suggests saloon but is, in reality, a hatchback with neat lines and very little that even hints at being out of the ordinary. Inside its more of the same but in a way it matters less. Again the design is straight down the line but the built quality certainly isnt. Theres a real quality feel to the Octavia cabin that exceeds the expectations that most of us have for a car in this price tag. Its all done in dark grey plastic as is the Volkswagen Group tradition but the plastics look and feel expensive while everything fits together impeccably. The Octavia is also a very practical car. That hatchback opens to reveal a boot of epic proportions. Its 560 litres of space can be extended to 1,350 litres by way of the split folding rear seats. When those seats are occupied, passengers benefit from good amounts of head and legroom. Despite being based on the Golf and having the same wheelbase, the Octavia is longer and fractionally wider. It feels like a larger car. The 1.8 T FSI engine is available across four of the Octavias trim levels. The entry point is the £14,655 Ambiente, then theres the Sport, the Elegance and the range-topping LandK derivative that commands a price tag of £18,430. Estate versions of the Octavia come at an £850 premium. Standard kit is quite generous with the Ambiente featuring a 6 CD autochanger, electric windows, remote central locking and alloy wheels. The Sport has 17" wheels and sports suspension that sharpens the handling up a notch or two plus a range of additional styling features. Elegance models have rear parking sensors, climate control and cruise control while the LandK has just about everything else that Skoda could think of. Safety provision is reasonable but you need to get up to the lofty LandK level before you get ESP stability control and curtain airbags. The upfront costs of the Octavia are certainly attractive when you weigh up what youre getting in the package but what about running the car? The 1. 8-litre T FSI engine produces just over 38mpg on the combined cycle which is around 10mpg less than the Octavias desirable 138bhp 2.0-litre diesel that costs £1,400 more. The 1.8 is faster over the 0-60mph sprit but the oil-burners torque will be preferable to some, its very much a case of horses for courses. CO2 emissions are measured at 176g/km in the 1.8 T FSI and the Octavia manages to cling onto its value better than many rival models. All in all, this isnt a car thats going to prove a catastrophic drain on your resources. The Skoda Octavia will appear a dull choice to many family hatch buyers but theres a definite satisfaction to be gleaned from choosing such a resolutely capable family car and paying such a sensible price for it. The 1.8-litre T FSI engine is a modern powerplant that suits Skodas hatchback well. Its moderately sporty and theres not too much of a hit in terms of running costs. If you prioritise style and design innovation, the Skoda Octavia probably isnt the car for you but on more practical criteria like build quality, equipment, space and price, there isnt a lot that beats it. The 1.8-litre T FSI engine even adds the prospect of some driving enjoyment into the bargain. It combines with the Octavia platform to produce a great value and, whisper it, desirable car.FACTS AT A GLANCE CAR: Skoda Octavia 1.8 T FSI range PRICES: £14,655-£19,280 on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 11-12 CO2 EMISSIONS: 176g/km PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 138mph / 0-60mph 8.2s FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 47.9mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Front and side airbags, ABS, ASR, MBA, MSR. WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 4572/1769/1462mm]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 12 Sep 2007 17:50:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Skoda Octavia Estate Range : CZECH OUT THE REAL ESTATE]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Car And Driving - Skodas second generation Octavia Estate is bigger, better and more attractive than ever. Andy Enright reportsThe cat is well and truly out of the bag. Take a quick look at Skodas sales figures for the last couple of years and youll see that buyers all over Europe accept the brand and recognise it as offering Volkswagen group build quality for decidedly un-Volkswagen pricing. Of course, the sensible Skodas are still a far easier sell than those that appear to reach a little shall we say, image-wise, and that should put the latest generation Octavia Estate on a very sound footing indeed.First shown at the Paris Show in September 2004, the Octavia estate is a good deal sleeker and more rounded than its rather setsquare predecessor. Built on the same platform as the hatchback model, the Octavia estate eschews the current trend for long wheelbase estate versions and instead concentrates on offering solid value for money and practical interior solutions rather than headline grabbing gimmickry. A split/fold rear bench isnt the most exciting feature but it can free up a huge amount of space some 1,620 litres all in and even with the seats in place, theres 580 litres available to stuff with bags. Thats fully 32 litres more than the old car despite the latest model looking a good deal sportier. Still, you could be forgiven for thinking the latest car is merely a facelift of the previous model. Skoda and their customers were happy with the styling of the outgoing version and despite the current car being all new from the ground up, the lines are evolutionary. The grille is that little bit more pronounced and the wheelarches look more architecturally sculpted but otherwise you wont need to clock the badge on its behind to figure out that its an Octavia. The load bay is not only large but also sensibly shaped. Instead of the wheelarch intrusion that so many estate models suffer, the Octavia Estate features a large, flat load space, carpeted and trimmed with rails so that heavy items can be slid into place. Lashing eyes mounted on the floor ensure that heavy objects can be firmly stowed and all the fixtures and fittings look beefy enough to last the course. The sheer attention to detail is impressive. The low loading lip is thoughtfully contoured so that heavy items can be rested there for a moment without danger of slipping. Beefy gas struts keep the tailgate well out of your way so youve got plenty of room to manoeuvre."The Octavia Estate majors on solid value for money and practical interior solutions rather than headline grabbing gimmickry"Launched in 1998, the original Octavia sold more than a million units. If you parked every Skoda Octavia ever built end-to-end theyd form a queue that ran from the MladÃ¡ Boleslav plant in the Czech Republic all the way to London. Thats a lot of Skodas, a whole heap of satisfied customers and a big burden of expectation placed upon the broad shoulders of the latest car. Fortunately its well up to the task. Rather unsurprisingly given its Volkswagen Group parentage, the Octavia runs on the latest Golf chassis. Other models from this empire do so too the Volkswagen Touran for instance but the Octavia opts for a more comfort-oriented bias in keeping with its target market. Given that Skoda buyers tend to be a little more mature than those who favour Volkswagen and Audi products, that makes a lot of sense. The conservative styling and the high quality but low key interior will also appeal to those who no longer feel the need to be the centre of attention. The rear overhang has been extended a little further to give the Octavia Estate better load capacity. Passenger room is similarly generous and thats important since the prodigious luggage space of the original Octavia required rear seat passengers to pay in kind. The wheelbase of the latest model has been teased out by another 66mm, endowing it with admirable rear legroom even when long limbed adults occupy the front seats. Rear headroom is better than the swooping roofline would suggest, helped in no small part by a slightly more generous seat back recline than in many such cars. The fascia wont surprise too many, again being a development of the old cars styling themes. The Venetian blind air vents and the no nonsense switchgear are recurrent themes but the quality has been improved still further. Whereas the old Octavias dash was very well screwed together but made of noticeably cheaper materials than the Golf, the expensively slush-moulded finishes of the current Octavia bear comparison with the best in class. True, theres no soft touch damping in the grab handles but even Volkswagen and Skoda brand managers need something to get all protective and bickery over. The Octavia drives pretty much as youd expect assured, comfortable but nothing too sporting. These days, even the more comfort biased chassis are so competent that it takes a genuinely hamfisted development to result in a car thats no fun to drive. The latest Octavia benefits from Volkswagens quest to endow the Golf chassis with Ford Focus-style driving manners. Even with the wick turned down a good few notches, it cant help but feel extremely capable when stitching a series of bends together. Engine-wise, prepare to be faced with a 75bhp 1. 4-litre, a 115bhp 1.6-litre FSI, a 150bhp 2.0-litre FSI, a 160bhp 1.8 T FSI and the 200bhp 2. 0-litre turbo powerplant found in the vRS if you choose petrol power. Opt for diesel and theres a 105bhp 1.9-litre entry-level TDI, a torquey 140bhp TDI and a 170bhp TDI acting as the flagship diesel engine in the vRS TDI. If you prefer your Octavia to be the bit nimbler, the 115bhp 1. 6-litre FSI engine represents probably the best balance between poise and power. Of course, the 2.0-litre TDI 140 diesel is the car that many will be drawn to as it also offers a version of the VW Groups fantastic DSG dual clutch gearbox, albeit without the F1-style paddle shift. There are even all-wheel drive models with a Haldex electronically controlled multi-plate clutch that uses sensors around the car to determine the amount of drive needed for the rear wheels. If you cant run to a Volvo XC70 or a Subaru Forester, this Skoda estate 4x4 or Scout derivatives represent a very worthy alternative and theyre a good deal more capable than that part time drive system would suggest. Whichever Octavia Estate model you opt for, youre buying quality and capability. The value for money aspect is common knowledge. The secrets out. FACTS AT A GLANCE CAR: Skoda Octavia Estate range PRICES: £12,965-£20,705 on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 7-12 CO2 EMISSIONS: [2.0 TDI] 159g/km PERFORMANCE: [2.0 TDI] Max Speed 129mph / 0-60mph 9.4s FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.0 TDi] (average) 47.9mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Front and side airbags, ABS, ASR, MBA, MSR. WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 4595/1769/1462mm]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 12 Sep 2007 17:46:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<pubDate>Wed, 12 Sep 2007 17:42:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Skoda Fabia 1.4 16v : NEW BOTTLE, OLD WINE?]]></title>
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<pubDate>Mon, 14 May 2007 13:21:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Skoda Fabia Range [New] : AB FAB]]></title>
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<pubDate>Wed, 09 May 2007 15:43:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<pubDate>Wed, 09 May 2007 13:07:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Skoda Roomster Scout Range : SCOUTS HONOUR?]]></title>
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<pubDate>Wed, 09 May 2007 13:05:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Skoda Roomster 1.2 12V HTP : ROOM MIESTER]]></title>
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<pubDate>Wed, 09 May 2007 12:55:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Skoda Roomster Range : ROOM WITH A VIEW]]></title>
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<pubDate>Wed, 09 May 2007 12:55:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Skoda Superb V6 TDI : HOW TO CLEAN UP IN THE CAR PARK]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Car And Driving - ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 09 May 2007 12:43:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Skoda Superb 2.8 V6 Elegance : ONE FOR THE HERITAGE CENTRE]]></title>
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<pubDate>Wed, 09 May 2007 12:41:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Skoda Superb 2.0 Classic : ITS A BIRD, ITS A PLANE ITS SUPERB MAN]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Car And Driving - ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 09 May 2007 11:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Skoda Superb 1.8T Range : CZECH BOOK JOURNALISM]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Car And Driving - ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 09 May 2007 11:24:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Skoda Superb TDI Range : SUPERB SENSE]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Car And Driving - ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 09 May 2007 11:09:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Skoda Superb Range : CZECH IN]]></title>
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<pubDate>Wed, 09 May 2007 10:55:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Skoda Roomster : BUDGET SPACE]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Car And Driving - ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 09 May 2007 01:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Skoda Superb : SUPERB IN NAME ONLY?]]></title>
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<pubDate>Wed, 09 May 2007 01:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Skoda Octavia : SAFE AND SOUND]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Car And Driving - ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 09 May 2007 01:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Skoda Octavia VRS - Travel Story : SPEED CZECH]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Car And Driving - ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 08 May 2007 18:22:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Skoda Octavia 2.0TDI vRS : TORQUE REALLY IS CHEAP]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Car And Driving - ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 08 May 2007 18:21:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Skoda Octavia 2.0T vRS : CRAZY GOLF]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Car And Driving - ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 08 May 2007 18:19:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Skoda Octavia TDi Range : SMOOTHLY DOES IT?]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Car And Driving - ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 08 May 2007 18:15:00 GMT</pubDate>
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