Filed under: Spy Photos, Minivans/MPVs
Spy Shots: Skoda Roomster
If you’ve been paying attention you’ll instantly recognize the Skoda Roomster. We’ve featured it and its unforgettable design on Autoblog before. In fact, we last brought you high quality press shots of the production version, so why the spy shots?
Because this Autoblogger likes this little car a lot. It’s so “un-American” in a healthy, inspiring way. I won’t speak for the rest of the Autoblog team, but despite the fact I think the Roomster is hella fugly, it appeals to me on account of its thoughtful and innovative design.
Am I wearing beer goggles or do some of you out there agree with me?
The Roomster will be officially unveiled at Geneva in March and we’ll get plenty of interior shots since that area of the vehicle has yet to be seen, at least by us.
[Thanks Mike for the tip]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
z 4:53PM (2/15/2006)
looks like an updated Rancho, one of the first crossover vechicles ever
http://www.matrasport.dk/Cars/Rancho/experience.html
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Jason 4:57PM (2/15/2006)
I kinda like it to. Unusual is good, usually when I see little weirdo Euro cars, my first thought is, hey, I wish I could take that for a spin.
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Poconom35 4:58PM (2/15/2006)
This has to be the rhsc (red-headed step-child) of the equally unbecoming Ssasyong Rodius.
http://www.uglycars.co.uk/uglycar.asp?ref=71
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David 6:27PM (2/15/2006)
I love it, but it's probably too unusual for the conservative U.S. market. Skoda makes some other good cars -- basically rebadged VWs with lower prices and fewer gadgets. I wouldn't mind if they exported cars here.
The Czechs have a great design tradition. I remember the first time I saw a Tatra 603 -- it was 1991 and I had moved to Prague. It was a faded black limo with an air cooled V-8 in the back (sounded like a big communist Porsche 911!), a split-rear window like the '63 Vette (except the Tatra was introduced in 1955), and what passed for aerodynamic styling in the 1950s. I think they were used to shuttle commie officials around. Awesome car.
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Dave 7:00PM (2/15/2006)
This is a great looking car and functional too. It looks much better than its rivals such as the Renault Kangoo and the Peugeot Partner MPV.
See Kangoo here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Kangoo.jpg
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hadaheadoninaPandawithaShogunandlived! 7:29PM (2/15/2006)
Someone said its too unusual for the US, maybe its time for VW to be brave again, they got by with the beetle did they not? They should put there triple tdi in it too, make a funky noise then as well:-) Got a 107 2tronic(60mpg Imperial every day) because of its Toyota triple. Do folks in the US who drive SUVs fell the need to take two spaces/park on the kerb like they do here?
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JW 11:05PM (2/15/2006)
That THING is ugly. What's with the windows? The front I like, but the rest of it weird...
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tbyron 12:17AM (2/16/2006)
I like this car a lot. The particular thing I like about it most is the height of the rear doors...this would greatly ease the contortions required to fasten small children into their carseats. And, the design of this feature is done in a way that makes the whole car more interesting. Bravo!
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Joel A 5:10AM (2/16/2006)
I'm with JW. I like the vehicle but those rear side windows...!
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Puff Chippy 8:30AM (2/16/2006)
The reincarnation of the AMC Pacer. Yippie. Not.
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Christopher 8:39AM (2/16/2006)
#7 I don't see any rear door handles,
very unbecomingly ugly vehicle that would not be accepted by the American car buying public, deffinitely beer goggles.
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Bill 9:49AM (2/16/2006)
I bet this car would also sell very well in the commercial market in most of the world outside the US. I haven't visited in a couple years, but in Europe you see these delivery vehicles that have small car front-ends, but with a small boxy van-body attached behind. Same principle as a cargo truck with a chevy van front-end, just a lot smaller.
Heck, this could be the new postal jeep...
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dennis ?terberg 10:56AM (2/16/2006)
This car is already selled in Sweden, under VW brand and called caddy Life.
It will probably looks the same inside, as they look alike outside.
You will find pics adter the jump.
http://www.volkswagentransportbilar.se/page_8195_content.shtml
EnjoyThis car is already selled in Sweden, under VW brand and called caddy Life.
It will probably looks the same inside, as they look alike outside.
You will find pics adter the jump.
http://www.volkswagentransportbilar.se/page_8195_content.shtml
Enjoy!
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JW 1:16PM (2/17/2006)
The VW looks alright, the windows are proportioned like a normal vehicle. Not bad compared to the Skoda
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Ville 5:21PM (2/17/2006)
Actually, the Roomster isn't based on the Caddy Lite. I just read an article on the finnish mag Tekniikan Maailma where it said that, under the sheetmetal, this one basically has the front-end of the Fabia and the rear-end of the Octavia with specially built stuff in the middle. This means that the Roomster has a wider Wheel Track in the Rear than in the front. They had no pictures of the interior, but said that the (not final) interior was less radical than the exterior.
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Owain Ozymandias Buck 7:45PM (1/18/2007)
Wow. Love it! It definitely doesn't look right at first, but after closer examination, the efficiency of its design makes it pretty in a unconventional way. This little wagon/van/whatever thing Rocks! Slap a good torquey (sp?) diesel in it, and I'm sold.
I do wish some of the manufacturers would take a chance with stuff like this in the U.S. Who the hell really wants a compact SUV when they've driven--and paid for fuel for-- a well executed modern smaller wagon?
Don't tell me about ground clearance, off-road, etc. My Focus wagon has hustled its way down more field roads than most 4wd trucks will ever see.
Anyway, off topic. This funky little Skoda is pretty cool!
--wagon evangelist
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