The ultimate practical family car? Since its international launch last year in Geneva, the Roomster has been critically acclaimed across Europe. It has won Car of the Year in Estonia, Finland and Bulgaria, and Family Car of the Year in Sweden and Belgium. Production capacity is currently being ramped up to meet global demand levels.

ROOMSTER SNAPSHOT

• Roomster defines a completely new market segment but will compete across existing segments. It is positioned between the small and medium segments.
• Unique spatial execution from 'clean sheet' design maximises versatility and manages to be simultaneously driver-, passenger- and cargo-friendly, as well as elegant and enjoyable.
• Staggering cargo volume up to 1,780 litres, with incredible capacity to swallow bulky items thanks to clever cargo area packaging.
• Engaging European drive experience, with all expected top-quality inclusions standard. Roomster is a practical, fun car you can enjoy driving every day and which adapts simply to just about every lifestyle.
• ESP standard, five-star EuroNCAP crashworthiness rating and full-sized spare tyre (not a space-saver).
• Safe for kids as well, achieving a four-star child protection rating.
• Pedestrian friendly design is forward-compatible with pedestrian protection standards effective in Europe in 2010.
• Leading petrol and diesel engine options combine efficiency and performance. Front-drive, with six-speed Tiptronic automatic available.
• Ultimately versatile seating configurations adapt quickly to a multitude of roles. Quickly configured as a five-, four-, three- or two-seater.
• Internationally launched June 2006.
• Manufactured in Škoda's Kvasiny production plant in the Czech Republic.
• Incredibly competitive on real value; priced from $26,990 (RRP).

Although the Škoda Roomster is not a direct competitor for any vehicle currently in the market, it is envisaged the Roomster will compete with vehicles which may include:

• Honda Civic
• Subaru Impreza 2.0i
• Mazda 3

	Škoda Roomster	Honda Civic	Subaru Impreza	Mazda 3
ESP Standard?	YES	No	Yes	No
Crash-worthiness	5-star	4-star	5-star	4-star
Petrol & diesel options?	Yes	No	No	Yes
Spare tyre	Full-sized	Full-sized	Space saver	Space saver
Cargo volume, removable seats out	1,780 litres	450 litres	540 litres	300 litres
Entry-level (RRP)	$26,990	$21,490	$24,490	$21,990
Top-line (RRP)	$28,990	$30,490	$39,990	$29,600
Overall length	4.205 m	4.55 m	4.415 m	4.4 m
Overall height	1.607 m	1.435 m	1.475 m	1.465 m
Overall width	1.684 m	1.75 m	1.74 m	1.755 m

RRP not including options (auto trans, etc.)

DESIGN

The Škoda Roomster is the first Škoda car designed and built using the 'module' concept.

To maximise return on investment, minimise time to market and boost the vehicle's economic fundamentals, proven modules and components from within the Volkswagen Group have been integrated into the Roomster's design. Unique research and development resources are therefore used most efficiently. Substantial investment and development costs were in this way saved and employed in the design of the Roomster's innovative interior features.

Examples of Roomster's modularity include the front end, which is based on the popular and proven Škoda Fabia, while the rear axle is sourced from the Škoda Octavia Tour. The rear platform is sourced from the Volkswagen Golf.

The successful use of the module strategy in Roomster heralds a new era of efficient, faster vehicle development, including niche product development, at Škoda.

EQUIPMENT

The Škoda Roomster is offered in one impressive specification level only - fully loaded with high equipment levels.

Briefly, the vehicle's standard equipment highlights include:

• Remote central locking
• Front and rear power windows
• Electrically adjustable heated rear-vision mirrors
• Climatronic air conditioning system
• Eight-speaker radio/CD/MP3 in-car entertainment system
• Cruise control
• Alloy wheels (6J x 15-inch, with 195/55 tyres)
• Multi-function onboard trip computer
• Leather-bound steering wheel.

DRIVETRAIN

The Roomster is offered with a choice of two engines.

1.6 Petrol

The 1.6-litre inline four-cylinder petrol engine develops 77 kW of peak power at 5,700 rpm and a maximum of 155 Nm of torque at 3,500 rpm. This engine features 10.5:1 compression and direct injection technology. Its recommended fuel is 95 RON unleaded. It is matched to a five-speed manual gearbox or an optional six-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic.

1.9 TDI Diesel

The 1.9-litre turbocharged diesel engine with 19:1 compression and electronically controlled high-pressure direct injection system develops 77 kW of power at 4,000 rpm and 240 Nm of torque at 1,800 rpm. This engine develops more than 200 Nm of torque at all revs from 1,400 rpm to 3,600 rpm, offering effortless mid-range tractability and is matched to a five-speed manual transmission.

SAFETY

The Škoda Roomster cuts no corners on safety, backing up its obvious versatility with a highly protective combination of impressive active and passive safety features.

Roomster Active Safety
The Roomster comes standard with the lifesaving benefits of the Electronic Stability Programme (ESP), which continuously monitors the cornering process and can intervene to help prevent loss of control by reducing engine power and automatically applying the brakes - often before the driver is even aware there is a problem.

An advanced Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) helps maintain driver control by preventing wheel lock-up if an emergency stop is required, while a Traction Control System (TCS) monitors the driveline continuously for wheelspin and automatically reduces engine output to prevent wheelslip. Finally, engine braking control (EBC) prevents the driven wheels from locking if the accelerator is lifted suddenly, or if the vehicle brakes sharply because a low gear has been selected.

Roomster Passive Safety
The Roomster's body structure features defined load paths that reduce and control generated collision forces and channel these into the floor structure, away from the occupants. Thus the interior remains as a survival space inside which the biomechanical loads on occupants remain below permissible limits, mitigating the chance of injury.

Front, head and side airbags are standard (six in total). In the demanding EuroNCAP crash-test evaluation process, the Roomster was awarded the coveted five stars for occupant protection and four stars for child protection.

The Roomster is even pedestrian friendly, with body construction designed to fulfil today the requirements of stringent pedestrian protection regulations that don't come into force across Europe until 2010. A deformable bonnet and de-coupled or covered rigid forward structures distinctly reduce the likelihood of serious pedestrian injury.

Suited to Australia's typically harsh operating conditions, the Roomster is available standard with a full-sized spare tyre - not a space saver.

PRICING (RRP)

Roomster 1.6 petrol five-speed manual	$26,990
Roomster 1.6 petrol six-speed Tiptronic automatic	$29,290
Roomster 1.9 TDI diesel five-speed manual	$28,990