10 things you might not know about Škoda

Some questions about Škoda are repeated more than others. Who gave her voice to Laura? What’s actually the most expensive Škoda car? Here is a list of those questions – with the answers, of course!

30. 1. 2024 Škoda World

1. Where did the name Škoda come from?

Václav Klement (on the left) a Václav Laurin

The Škoda carmaker has a rich history that was set in motion by Václav Laurin and Václav Klement. These founders originally started manufacturing bicycles under the Laurin & Klement brand in 1895. They expanded into the world of motorcycles four years later, before presenting their first car in 1905. The car’s success led to the company’s conversion to a public limited company in 1907.

During World War I the company was involved in production for the war effort. When the war ended, the company expanded its product range to include lorries and aircraft engines. A key event in the history of the brand came in 1925 when it merged with the engineering giant Škoda, named after the industrialist Emil Škoda. Following this merger, the Laurin & Klement brand gradually began to disappear, replaced by the Škoda name and logo on the company’s new car models.

One interesting fact is that the Škoda name was at that time only a trade name for automobiles (except for Škoda Plzeň products). In 1946 the name of Mladá Boleslav car plant was changed to Motor Works, National Enterprise (Automobilové závody, národní podnik, or AZNP), which is the name it retained until 1989. In connection with the privatisation, a new name Škoda, automobilová a.s. emerged. For linguistic reasons and due to the global scope of the car company, the name was adjusted to the present Škoda Auto in 1998.

2. How do you pronounce Škoda correctly?

1. Š – This letter doesn’t exist in the English alphabet. It is a specific character from the Czech language (where the Škoda car brand originates). It is pronounced like “sh” in English, like in “shoe” or “shore”.

2. ko – This is pronounced similarly to the “co” in “cot”.

3. da – This is pronounced as “da” with a short “a” like in the word “cat”.

Putting it all together:

When pronounced correctly, “Škoda” should therefore sound like “SHKO–da”.

When saying the name, it’s essential to stress the first syllable (SHKO–) and say the second syllable (–da) more quickly. This gives the name its characteristic rhythm.

While written explanations are helpful, one of the most effective ways to grasp the pronunciation of a word in a foreign language is to listen to native speakers. There are many online platforms where you can hear native Czech speakers say “Škoda”, like Forvo for example.

In conclusion, while “Škoda” might appear a tad daunting due to the unfamiliar “Š” character, once you grasp its sound and rhythm, it becomes quite straightforward to pronounce. Remember, practice makes perfect!

3. Can you fit seven people into any Škoda car?

You bet you can. Seven passengers can quite easily fit into a Kodiaq with its third row of seats. The seven-seater SUV is Škoda’s biggest car, but that doesn’t stop it being highly elegant on and off the road. It comes with five petrol and diesel engines, including a plug-in hybrid, all with automatic transmission. The VISION 7S concept car also reckons with a larger number of seats, suggesting that additional Škoda models that can seat more than five will join the Kodiaq in the future.

5. Why does Škoda have close links to cycling?

One reason that Škoda is linked to cycling can be found in the company’s early history: it was founded in 1895 as a bicycle factory. Škoda is a partner of the Tour de France (the official main partner of the Tour since 2004), the Vuelta a España and several professional cycling teams. Since 2015, Škoda has also sponsored the green jersey for the Tour de France points classification leader and the Czech carmaker’s designers have fashioned a crystal trophy for the winner of the world’s biggest cycling race. On top of that, Škoda sponsors the WeLoveCycling initiative, which aims to motivate, support and inspire cyclists around the world through their shared passion. Social responsibility is another aspect of the initiative, so facilitating contact between cyclists and motorists is very important to the company.

6. Which Škoda is/was the fastest of all?

The fastest Škoda of all time was a specially modified Octavia. In 2011, on the salt flats of Bonneville, Utah, the British importer unveiled a souped up version of the Octavia with around 550 horsepower. This vehicle reached a speed of 325 km/h, making it the fastest car with the winged arrow logo in the Czech carmaker’s history. The team later added another 40 km/h to this record.

Based on the RS model, this extraordinary Octavia is even equipped with a braking parachute. Its engine is derived from the Octavia RS (2.0TFSI) but was modified with a new Garett turbocharger, an intercooler and other components. Thanks to these tweaks, it delivers between 550 and 600 hp and 450 Nm of torque. The fuel used is 120-octane petrol. The original goal was to reach a speed of 200 mph, which is 322 km/h, but on the sixth attempt, the Octavia hit 325 km/h (202 mph). This wasn’t enough for the team, though, and on the next attempt they managed 365 km/h (365 mph), making the Octavia the fastest mass-produced car with a two-litre turbo engine and the Czech carmaker’s fastest car. Richard Meaden of Evo magazine was behind the wheel on both runs.

7. Has Škoda starred in a movie?

Diving into the archives of Škoda’s history reveals some truly unique creations. One such gem is the original Ferat, which took centre stage in the movie The Ferat Vampire. With its distinctive design and features, this vehicle showcased Škoda’s ability to craft cars that are not only functional but also cinematic icons. A Škoda car also has a big role in a European co-production science fiction/crime film set in 2041 called Restore Point. In the film, the main female character drives a fourth-generation Škoda Octavia in the RS version.

10. What is the most expensive Škoda currently available?

That is the Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 competition model, which costs around ten times the price of a regular Fabia. It’s an all-wheel drive car with a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine delivering 291 horsepower and 430 newton metres of torque. The engine is based on the VW Group’s well-known 2.0 TSI engine and transfers power to both axles via a five-speed sequential gearbox. The Fabia RS Rally2 is available to race teams around the world.

*in the WLTP cycle