Skoda GreenLine IIThe Skoda success story continues. Here in the UK their market share has risen every year since 2004 and now stands at over 2%, which is more than the likes of Volvo, and which last year meant sales of over 41,000 cars.Like virtually all other manufacturers Skoda in the last few years have tried to paint themselves an ever deeper shade of green, and the name they’ve chosen for the exercise is apt: ‘GreenLine’. The first cars to carry it appeared in 2008, and in 2011 a significant push further into the greenery is signalled by a change of name to GreenLine II. All the new GreenLine models take the latest diesel engine technology, plus a number of other features designed to minimise fuel consumption and save energy wastage. Here’s a brief run-down of them. Note that the figures mentioned are Skoda’s own.Energy Recovery is the process of converting kinetic energy (energy created through movement) back into usable electricity which is either stored in the battery or immediately used again.Deceleration: When the vehicle decelerates, the voltage in the alternator’s electronic regulator increases to a level above the current battery voltage (12V). Where this extra energy would previously have been transferred into heat and lost, the Energy Recovery process means it’s used to power the car’s electrical appliances and charge the battery.Accelerating and driving at constant speed: When the car accelerates, or travels at a constant speed, the voltage in the alternator’s electronic regulator is reduced to a level below the battery voltage, so the electrical appliances in the car are powered by the energy stored in the battery. This reduces load on the engine and therefore also contributes to lower emissions and reduced fuel consumption.The system improves efficiency and in tests it has helped achieve a reduction in CO2 emissions of 2-4 g/km.Stop/start System – Increasingly common in today’s car park, this system turns off the engine when it’s not needed, for example when the driver is stopped at traffic lights or in heavy traffic. When a normal car is stationary, the engine will idle, which obviously consumes fuel and generates emissions. The Stop/start system cuts out this unnecessary work by stopping the engine automatically when the car is stationary, in neutral and the clutch pedal is released. As soon as the driver presses the clutch to put the vehicle in gear, the engine immediately starts up so acceleration is as instant as if the car had been idling. Tests have shown that in combined consumption mode, the Stop/start system can save 5-10g CO2/km, and in urban traffic can cut CO2 emissions by 10-20 g/km.Gear Recommendation The recommended gear feature on the trip computer or Maxi-dot display shows the driver whether the gear they are in is appropriate or whether they need to change up or down. The aim is to help the driver achieve optimum engine speed and reduce fuel consumption.Other key features One of the simplest ways to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions is to create a more aerodynamic vehicle. All GreenLine II models have smaller, lighter alloy wheels and low rolling resistance tyres with higher prescribed air pressure to reduce friction. In addition, all feature lowered suspension (up to 20mm) while the Fabia Hatch features a rear spoiler to facilitate better airflow.The end result of all this is a range of cars – Fabia, Roomster, Yeti, Octavia and Superb – which in GreenLine II format all manage CO2 output of less than 120g/km, with three of them less than 100. Even for those not so concerned about the planet, 100g/km will be good news for wallets as there’ll be no road tax to pay.The diesel engines are all common rail types, not the formerly popular Pumpe Düse which employed even higher injection pressures, and was therefore noisier. If ultimate economy is your goal, the Fabia GreenLine with its 1.2-litre three-cylinder diesel is for you, with CO2 emissions an impressively low 89g/km, and official fuel consumption of 83.1mpg (we’re surely approaching the time when an official 100mpg will be not only possible, but commonplace).My drives of the GreenLine range were inevitably centred on that Fabia, but the more memorable car was the big one – the 4.84 metre (that’s 15’10”) Superb. Using the same 1.6 diesel as the Yeti and the Octavia, it drives like something half its size; an absolute peach on a twisty B-road, yet capable of returning (if you try hard enough to get the official figure) 64mpg.GreenLine II models:CO2 emissions and Combined mpgFabia (hatch & estate): 89g/km 83.1mpgRoomster: 109g/km 67.3mpgYeti: 119g/km 61.4mpgOctavia (hatchback): 99g/km 74.3mpgOctavia (estate): 109g/km 67.3mpgSuperb: 114g/km 64.2mpgFull details of the GreenLine range are available on the manufacturer’s website: www.skoda.co.ukPeter Cracknell – April 2011
Skoda GreenLine II
The Skoda success story continues. Here in the UK
their market share has risen every year since 2004 and
now stands at over 2%, which is more than the likes of
Volvo, and which last year meant sales of over 41,000
cars.
Like virtually all other manufacturers Skoda in the last
few years have tried to paint themselves an ever
deeper shade of green,
and the name they’ve
chosen for the exercise is
apt: ‘GreenLine’. The first
cars to carry it appeared
in 2008, and in 2011 a
significant push further
into the greenery is
signalled by a change of
name to GreenLine II. All
the new GreenLine
models take the latest
diesel engine technology,
plus a number of other
features designed to
minimise fuel consumption
and save energy wastage.
Here’s a brief run-down of
them. Note that the
figures mentioned are Skoda’s own.
Energy Recovery is the process of converting kinetic
energy (energy created through movement) back into
usable electricity which is either stored in the battery or
immediately used again.
Deceleration: When the vehicle decelerates, the
voltage in the alternator’s electronic regulator increases
to a level above the current battery voltage (12V).
Where this extra energy would previously have been
transferred into heat and lost, the Energy Recovery
process means it’s used to power the car’s electrical
appliances and charge the battery.
Accelerating and driving at constant speed: When the
car accelerates, or travels at a constant speed, the
voltage in the alternator’s electronic regulator is
reduced to a level below the battery voltage, so the
electrical appliances in the car are powered by the
energy stored in the battery. This reduces load on the
engine and therefore also contributes to lower
emissions and reduced fuel consumption.
The system improves efficiency and in tests it has
helped achieve a reduction in CO2 emissions of 2-4
g/km.
Stop/start System – Increasingly common in today’s
car park, this system turns off the engine when it’s not
needed, for example when the driver is stopped at
traffic lights or in heavy traffic. When a normal car is
stationary, the engine will idle, which obviously
consumes fuel and generates emissions. The Stop/start
system cuts out this unnecessary work by stopping the
engine automatically when the car is stationary, in
neutral and the clutch pedal is released. As soon as the
driver presses the clutch to put the vehicle in gear, the
engine immediately starts up so acceleration is as
instant as if the car had been idling. Tests have shown
that in combined consumption mode, the Stop/start
system can save 5-10g CO2/km, and in urban traffic
can cut CO2 emissions by 10-20 g/km.
Gear Recommendation The recommended gear
feature on the trip computer or Maxi-dot display shows
the driver whether the gear they are in is appropriate or
whether they need to change up or down. The aim is to
help the driver achieve optimum engine speed and
reduce fuel consumption.
Other key features One of the simplest ways to
improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions is to create
a more aerodynamic vehicle. All GreenLine II models
have smaller, lighter alloy wheels and low rolling
resistance tyres with
higher prescribed air
pressure to reduce
friction. In addition, all
feature lowered
suspension (up to 20mm)
while the Fabia Hatch
features a rear spoiler to
facilitate better airflow.
The end result of all this
is a range of cars –
Fabia, Roomster, Yeti,
Octavia and Superb –
which in GreenLine II
format all manage CO2
output of less than
120g/km, with three of
them less than 100. Even
for those not so
concerned about the planet, 100g/km will be good news
for wallets as there’ll be no road tax to pay.
The diesel engines are all common rail types, not the
formerly popular Pumpe Düse which employed even
higher injection pressures, and was therefore noisier. If
ultimate economy is your goal, the Fabia GreenLine with
its 1.2-litre three-cylinder diesel is for you, with CO2
emissions an impressively low 89g/km, and official fuel
consumption of 83.1mpg (we’re surely approaching the
time when an official 100mpg will be not only possible,
but commonplace).
My drives of the GreenLine range were inevitably centred
on that Fabia, but the more memorable car was the big
one – the 4.84 metre (that’s 15’10”) Superb. Using the
same 1.6 diesel as the Yeti and the Octavia, it drives like
something half its size; an absolute peach on a twisty B-
road, yet capable of returning (if you try hard enough to
get the official figure) 64mpg.
GreenLine II models:
CO2 emissions and Combined mpg
Fabia (hatch & estate):
89g/km
83.1mpg
Roomster:
109g/km
67.3mpg
Yeti:
119g/km
61.4mpg
Octavia (hatchback):
99g/km
74.3mpg
Octavia (estate):
109g/km
67.3mpg
Superb:
114g/km
64.2mpg
Full details of the GreenLine range are available on the
manufacturer’s website: www.skoda.co.uk
Peter Cracknell – April 2011
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