HOT SPECIAL FABIA BOOSTED TO 174BHP

Skoda celebrates 130 years with its fastest Fabia yet

- CHARLIE MARTIN

Skoda has souped up the Fabia to create the fastest variant of the supermini yet.

With a top speed of 142mph thanks to a power output of 174bhp, the Fabia 130 has been created to mark Skoda's 130th anniversary. The nameplate also pays tribute to the 130 RS, one of Skoda's most successful motorsport entries - and one of its most famous, given that it was the first to claim a class win at the Monte Carlo Rally, in 1977. The extra 27bhp over the standard Fabia has been achieved through a reworking of the supermini's turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. The unit has also been tuned to deliver its full 174bhp between 5750rpm and 6000rpm. Peak torque is unchanged at 184lb ft.