Skoda Fabia 2022: new-generation Monte Carlo teased with a manual transmission

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Skoda has shown official design sketches of the 2022 Fabia Monte Carlo – armed with a six-speed manual transmission – ahead of its unveiling on February 15.

The fourth-generation Fabia launched globally towards the end of last year and has been locked in for Australia, with the punchy Monte Carlo grade expected to continue in the local model line-up.

Skoda currently offers a Monte Carlo variant on its Kamiq small SUV and Scala hatchback, which sharpen the dynamics with lower and firmer suspension, and sporty looks thanks to more aggressive exterior and interior design treatments.

The Monte Carlo will provide an affordable performance option for the Fabia range after Skoda CEO Thomas Schafer admitted last year that building a full-fat hot hatch ‘RS’ version did not stack up financially. 

The sketches released yesterday show the Fabia dressed in a striking two-tone paint job combining a red base coat and black accents on the roof, front grille, lower air intake and side skirts.

Adding to the visual aggression is a set of huge wheels with a split five-spoke design. The wheels will almost certainly be smaller in production form to assist the suspension in providing a more comfortable ride, but the body design will likely carry over.

The enlarged dimensions of the fourth-generation Fabia provide a wider stance than the previous model, adding some brawn to the pocket-rocket in an attempt to lure buyers away from warm small hatches such as the Hyundai i30 N-Line and Kia Cerato GT.

Inside, the sports-flavoured Fabia follows the Monte Carlo template with more aggressive bolstering on the seats and dashes of red on the dash, centre console and seats.

Sketches confirm a manual option

Possibly the most important detail from the interior picture is the inclusion of a typical H-pattern manual shifter and three-pedal set-up. 

Skoda has previously offered a manual option for the Fabia though most buyers choose the seven-speed dual-clutch ‘DSG’ transmission in Australia.

The third-generation Monte Carlo debuted a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol three-cylinder, which continues in the core 2022 Fabia range with the same 81kW/200Nm outputs, and can be paired with the aforementioned DSG or a six-speed manual.

Skoda has also equipped the new-gen Fabia with the 110kW/250Nm 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder from in the larger Scala, but has yet to confirm a manual option for this engine.

The new Fabia’s switch to the highly proficient MQB-A0 platform sported by the current Volkswagen Polo GTI (and other Polos) is also bound to deliver keener handling, but we’ll have to drive it to find out.