Skoda Flavorit

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Skoda

Škoda Flavorit

1987 - 1995
Country:
Czech Republic
Engine:
4 cyl.
Capacity:
1137 / 1298 cc
Power:
62 bhp (46 kW)
Transmission:
5 spd. MT
Top Speed:
90 mph
Number Built:
n/a
Collectability:
0 star
Skoda Flavorit
Skoda Flavorit
Reviewed by Unique Cars and Parts
Our Rating: 1

Introduction



This Favorit was the replacement for the ageing rear-engined, rear-wheel drive �koda 105/120 Estelle, and was a considerable move towards the modern mainstream in design terms thanks to its Bertone-designed hatchback body and front-wheel drive. Its Western debut was made at the Ulster Motor Show where the company showed off the front-engined, front drive, 1.3-litre five door hatchback.

The one-off Ulster car was exhibited in left-hand drive form, but it was trimmed and equipped to the proposed UK specification. The Favorit was styled by Bertone, and the car's engineering had, so the manufacturers claimed, Porsche input (engine mounts, see below) - although who were they kidding - it was obvious to everyone that the real contributors were Lada with their Samara.

At that same Ulster Motor Show Skoda Great Britain also exhibited their good looking rear-engined Rapid Coupe, as well as a full range of rear-engined Estelle four-door sedans which, since August 1986, had been powered by a more potent 1289cc engine with eight-port light alloy head and water heated inlet manifold. Maximum power had increased to 46 kW and torque to 99 Nm. The more sprightly Rapid was, by 1987, designated 136 instead of 130. So the Flavorit was not the only East-Bloc product hitting Western showrooms, and Skoda Great Britain Ltd managed to sell nearly 16,000 cars in Britain in 1986!

A Dispute With Nuccio Bertone



The Favorit initially took a long time to get to market - Skoda's then owner, the communist government of Czechoslovakia approved the development of this new front-wheel drive car back in 1982, with actual development not starting until 1983. Disputes between the government�s brief, and Nuccio Bertone, the designer, meant that the car was not designed until mid-1985, and full production wouldn't commence until 1987. One of the results was that the completely designed sedan / saloon remained just that, a design study, with only the hatch making it to the production stage.

The Flavorit was constructed from ready-to-rust mild steel - the body quickly succumbing particularly in colder climates, where it really should have been more durable. There was five-door wagon version named the Skoda Forman (Type 785) which was launched in 1990. This was known as the Favorit Estate in the UK from its launch in June 1991, two years after British buyers were first able to buy the hatchback. The name originated from the English word "wagoner", which in Czech is "forman", or someone who transports goods by wagon. It is a common misconception that the name was somehow related to famous Czech filmmaker Milos Forman. A two-door two-seat pick-up truck, called the Skoda Pick-up (Type 787) was introduced the following year.

Following the takeover of Skoda Auto in 1991 by the Volkswagen Group, new developments and upgrades were rapidly implemented on the Favorit. This included new fuel injected catalytic converter versions, marketed as the Li, GLi and the GLXi models were introduced. At the same time many cosmetic improvements were made to the Favorit, such as improved door hinges, Volkswagen seats and interiors, dashboards and instrumentation. Quality control improvements were also implemented, along with safety features such as strengthened beams in the doors, and a redesigned front. During 1993 the Flavorit underwent yet another makeover which included mechanical and electrical upgrades to the engine, a facelift of the bodywork, and bigger bumpers.

The Flavorit Black Line



Luggage capacity in the hatchback was 251 litres with the rear seats in the upright position, increasing to 1,038 litres with the rear seats folded. For even more luggage capacity the back seat could be removed completely. Special versions were made in limited numbers. For example, the "Black Line" was sold with a pop-up sunroof, Hella clear rear lighs, tinted windows all-around, power door locks, tachometer, digital clock in the center overhead console, smart intermittent wipers, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter knob, Hella headlight washer, and a Blaupunkt stereo with 4 speakers. The car is recognizable from the all-black paint, and the factory 13" Ronal F-Series alloy wheels. "Silver Line" was similar, only in metallic silver color with a black fascia around the back window and the B pillars.

These packages were available with both hatchback and wagon body styles. The "Solitaire" was very rare, this version including all of the additional features included on the Black Line but adding a spoiler on the rear door, factory alarm system, power front windows and fuel injection. The other special versions came with either carburetted or fuel-injected engines. For all body styles, the powertrain of the Favorit used one internal combustion petrol engine, 1,289 cc (78.7 cu in), inline-four-cylinder, four-stroke, liquid-cooled, overhead valve, which was an upgraded version of the 998 cc (60.9 cu in) engine used in the Skoda 1000MB.[citation needed] This initially produced a rated motive power output of 46 kW (63 PS; 62 bhp) at 5,000 rpm. It originally used either a Pierburg 2E-E Ecotronic single-barrel carburettor, or a Pierburg Ecotronic dual-barrel carburettor.

This engine had its combustion chambers redesigned by Ricardo Consulting Engineers in the UK, while German car maker Porsche helped engineer the engine mountings. Throughout its timescale in the Favorit, the engine was progressively upgraded with various iterations of emissions control systems, including two different types of catalytic converter, and also utilised improved fueling and engine control by way of Bosch Mono-Motronic single-point fuel injection. These changes had minor effects on the rated power (50kW) and torque outputs. The engine requires the cam chain changed every 60,000 km, but it can least over 200,000 km (cases of engines working 400,000 km without the change of cam chain are known, although with serious degradation of performance, respectively).

The chain was relatively short, but had no tensioner. This engine was also used in Skoda Felicia with BMM and MPI injection, and until 2003 as a 1.4 MPI unit in the Skoda Fabia, and a 1.0 version in the Skoda Fabia, Seat Arosa and Volkswagen Lupo. The only transmission available was a five-speed manual gearbox, which was of a transaxle design, and contained the differential and final drive units. Drive was through the front wheels. The Favorit proved itself as one of Central Europe's most popular cars, and was also exported to a number of countries including Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Israel, Poland, Russia, Turkey and other countries. It was replaced in 1994 by the Skoda Felicia, which was developed in conjunction with Volkswagen Group, who by then were the new owners of Skoda Auto.
Skoda Flavorit
Skoda Flavorit
Skoda Flavorit
Skoda Flavorit

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Also see:


The Skoda Story - A Pictorial History from Laurin and Klement to Skoda
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