Škoda Felicia
Encyclopedia
For the Skoda Felicia of 1959 to 1964 see Škoda Felicia (1959-1964)
The Škoda Felicia, (Typ 791) is a small family car produced by the Czech
automaker
Škoda Auto
between 1994 and 2001 (1995 - 2001 for the estate). It was one of the first models to benefit from Škoda Auto's takeover by the German
giant Volkswagen Group
. The Felicia was a reworked version of the Favorit
, but had a fresh, more modern appearance, with a redesigned front end, and a wider range of internal combustion engine
s. It was premiered in October 1994 on the Charles Bridge in Prague
. Serial production begin in October 1994, and ended June 2001.
The name Felicia was not used for the first time, resurrecting a nameplate originally used by Škoda in the 1960s for a range two-seater sports cars. They were very popular.
Production start: October 1994 — Felicia, June 1995 — Combi, August 1995 — Pickup/Fun
Production end: 2000 — Fun, June 2001 — Felicia/Combi
As the Felicia benefited from Volkswagen input, it helped to elevate Škoda's image in Western Europe. It heralded the first ever diesel
-powered Škoda, and became their first car to feature major safety and convenience features. Some SLXi models featured air conditioning
and velour
upholstery. Anti-lock Braking System
(ABS), drivers airbag
, and seat belt
tensioners were also available.
In 1998, the Felicia made headlines after its high satisfaction score gave Škoda the "Best Manufacturer" accolade in that year's J.D. Power Car Survey.
Production of the Felicia ceased at the end of June 2001, one year after the launch of the Fabia
. A total of 1,416,939 cars had been made (the pick-up model was available for sale throughout 2001).
, both for personal and professional use. The base model was a five-door hatchback
, and from June 1995, was accompanied by an estate
— replacing the Favorit-based Forman - now redubbed as the Felicia Combi (Typ 795). There was also a pick-up
version, the Felicia Pickup, (Typ 797) and a panel van
called a Felicia VanPlus. The pick-up version was also imported to some countries re-branded as the VW Caddy pick-up. The pick-up model also had a lifestyle edition named the Felicia Fun, (Typ 796) conceived mostly for the Western European market. The rear screen section hinges out into the loadbay, allowing 2 extra seats to be folded out, giving comfortable seating for 4 adults. A tonneau cover is available to cover the rear seats, which are otherwise open to the elements. A Truckman top is also available which encloses the rear seats and loadbay, making for a more practical bad weather conversion.
Luggage
capacity in the hatchback was 272 litres with the rear seats in the upright position, and this increased to 976 litres with the rear seats folded. For the Combi (estate version), this was 447 and 1,366 litres respectively.
In 1998, the Felicia and Felicia Combi received a minor facelift
. The most obvious visual change was a redesigned radiator grille
and larger bumpers, but changes also included minor upgrades to the chassis and bodyshell to improve crash safety.
market, it made the headlines with an excellent rating in a Top Gear customer satisfaction survey for N-registered cars (sold from August 1995 to July 1996), and as the only Skoda-badged car sold in the United Kingdom for that period it saw the Skoda brand make headlines as the most satisfying brand of car to own. By the time British sales ended in late 2000, more than 76,000 had been sold, and by 2011 almost 30,000 examples were still registered on the road.
s used in Felicia are inline four cylinder designs, operate on the four-stroke cycle, are fuel injected
, and water cooled.
The fundamental layout
of the Felicia's powertrain
included engines
mounted at the front of the vehicle
, and orientated transversely
. The line-up included the old 1.3 litre overhead valve
(OHV) Škoda petrol engine
s, now with Bosch
Mono Motronic
single-point fuel injection
(up until 1997), and Siemens
multi-point fuel injection, with two rated power
outputs of 40 kW and 50 kW. There was also two engines sourced from Volkswagen Group: a 55 kW 1.6 litre petrol engine with Magneti Marelli multi-point fuel injection, and a 47 kW 1.9 D diesel engine
. The 1.6 litre model served as a homologation
basis for the Škoda Felicia Kit Car
used in the World Rally Championship
's F2 class.
The only transmission
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 Škoda Felicia, (Typ 791) is a small family car produced by the Czech
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
automaker
Automotive industry
The automotive industry designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and sells motor vehicles, and is one of the world's most important economic sectors by revenue....
Škoda Auto
Škoda Auto
Škoda Auto , more commonly known as Škoda, is an automobile manufacturer based in the Czech Republic. Škoda became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group in 2000, positioned as the entry brand to the group...
between 1994 and 2001 (1995 - 2001 for the estate). It was one of the first models to benefit from Škoda Auto's takeover by the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
giant Volkswagen Group
Volkswagen Group
Volkswagen Group is a German multinational automobile manufacturing group. , Volkswagen was ranked as the world’s third largest motor vehicle manufacturer and Europe's largest....
. The Felicia was a reworked version of the Favorit
Škoda Favorit
The Škoda Favorit 135 and Škoda Favorit 136 were a range of small family cars produced by Czech auto manufacturer Škoda Auto from 1987 to 1995. It was Škoda Auto's first car to follow the European trend of locating the engine at the front, mounted transversely, and was also their first car to use...
, but had a fresh, more modern appearance, with a redesigned front end, and a wider range of internal combustion engine
Internal combustion engine
The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer in a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine, the expansion of the high-temperature and high -pressure gases produced by combustion apply direct force to some component of the engine...
s. It was premiered in October 1994 on the Charles Bridge in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
. Serial production begin in October 1994, and ended June 2001.
The name Felicia was not used for the first time, resurrecting a nameplate originally used by Škoda in the 1960s for a range two-seater sports cars. They were very popular.
Production start: October 1994 — Felicia, June 1995 — Combi, August 1995 — Pickup/Fun
Production end: 2000 — Fun, June 2001 — Felicia/Combi
As the Felicia benefited from Volkswagen input, it helped to elevate Škoda's image in Western Europe. It heralded the first ever diesel
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
-powered Škoda, and became their first car to feature major safety and convenience features. Some SLXi models featured air conditioning
Air conditioning
An air conditioner is a home appliance, system, or mechanism designed to dehumidify and extract heat from an area. The cooling is done using a simple refrigeration cycle...
and velour
Velour
Velour or velours is a plush, knitted fabric or textile. It is usually made from cotton but can also be made from synthetic materials such as polyester. Velour is used in a wide variety of applications, including clothing and upholstery....
upholstery. Anti-lock Braking System
Anti-lock braking system
An anti-lock braking system is a safety system that allows the wheels on a motor vehicle to continue interacting tractively with the road surface as directed by driver steering inputs while braking, preventing the wheels from locking up and therefore avoiding skidding.An ABS generally offers...
(ABS), drivers airbag
Airbag
An Airbag is a vehicle safety device. It is an occupant restraint consisting of a flexible envelope designed to inflate rapidly during an automobile collision, to prevent occupants from striking interior objects such as the steering wheel or a window...
, and seat belt
Seat belt
A seat belt or seatbelt, sometimes called a safety belt, is a safety harness designed to secure the occupant of a vehicle against harmful movement that may result from a collision or a sudden stop...
tensioners were also available.
In 1998, the Felicia made headlines after its high satisfaction score gave Škoda the "Best Manufacturer" accolade in that year's J.D. Power Car Survey.
Production of the Felicia ceased at the end of June 2001, one year after the launch of the Fabia
Škoda Fabia
The Škoda Fabia is a supermini produced by Czech manufacturer Škoda Auto since 1999. It was the successor to the Škoda Felicia, which was discontinued in 2001...
. A total of 1,416,939 cars had been made (the pick-up model was available for sale throughout 2001).
Body styles
The Felicia came in a variety of body stylesCar body style
Automobiles' body styles are highly variable. Some body styles remain in production, while others become less common or obsolete. They may or may not correlate to a car's price, size or intended market classification. The same car model might be available in multiple body styles comprising a...
, both for personal and professional use. The base model was a five-door hatchback
Hatchback
A Hatchback is a car body style incorporating a shared passenger and cargo volume, with rearmost accessibility via a rear third or fifth door, typically a top-hinged liftgate—and features such as fold-down rear seats to enable flexibility within the shared passenger/cargo volume. As a two-box...
, and from June 1995, was accompanied by an estate
Station wagon
A station wagon is a body style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door , instead of a trunk lid...
— replacing the Favorit-based Forman - now redubbed as the Felicia Combi (Typ 795). There was also a pick-up
Pickup truck
A pickup truck is a light motor vehicle with an open-top rear cargo area .-Definition:...
version, the Felicia Pickup, (Typ 797) and a panel van
Panel van
A panel van is a form of solid van, smaller than a lorry or truck, without rear side windows...
called a Felicia VanPlus. The pick-up version was also imported to some countries re-branded as the VW Caddy pick-up. The pick-up model also had a lifestyle edition named the Felicia Fun, (Typ 796) conceived mostly for the Western European market. The rear screen section hinges out into the loadbay, allowing 2 extra seats to be folded out, giving comfortable seating for 4 adults. A tonneau cover is available to cover the rear seats, which are otherwise open to the elements. A Truckman top is also available which encloses the rear seats and loadbay, making for a more practical bad weather conversion.
Luggage
Trunk (automobile)
The trunk or boot of an automobile or car is the vehicle's main storage, luggage, or cargo compartment. Trunk is used in North American English and Jamaican English; boot is used elsewhere in the English speaking world. Trunk is also primarily used in many non-English speaking regions, such as...
capacity in the hatchback was 272 litres with the rear seats in the upright position, and this increased to 976 litres with the rear seats folded. For the Combi (estate version), this was 447 and 1,366 litres respectively.
In 1998, the Felicia and Felicia Combi received a minor facelift
Facelift (automobile)
The automotive facelift comprises changes to a car's styling during its production run — often including new sheetmetal and/or interior design) with minimal changes to its underlying mechanicals — allowing a carmaker to freshen a model without complete redesign.A facelift retains the...
. The most obvious visual change was a redesigned radiator grille
Grille
A grille or grill is an opening of several slits side by side in a wall or metal sheet or other barrier, usually to let air or water enter and/or leave but keep larger objects including people and animals in or out.-Spelling:In the United States, "grille" is used to differentiate the automotive...
and larger bumpers, but changes also included minor upgrades to the chassis and bodyshell to improve crash safety.
United Kingdom sales
In April 1998, some three years after its launch onto the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
market, it made the headlines with an excellent rating in a Top Gear customer satisfaction survey for N-registered cars (sold from August 1995 to July 1996), and as the only Skoda-badged car sold in the United Kingdom for that period it saw the Skoda brand make headlines as the most satisfying brand of car to own. By the time British sales ended in late 2000, more than 76,000 had been sold, and by 2011 almost 30,000 examples were still registered on the road.
Powertrain
All internal combustion engineInternal combustion engine
The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer in a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine, the expansion of the high-temperature and high -pressure gases produced by combustion apply direct force to some component of the engine...
s used in Felicia are inline four cylinder designs, operate on the four-stroke cycle, are fuel injected
Fuel injection
Fuel injection is a system for admitting fuel into an internal combustion engine. It has become the primary fuel delivery system used in automotive petrol engines, having almost completely replaced carburetors in the late 1980s....
, and water cooled.
The fundamental layout
Automobile layout
In automotive design, the automobile layout describes where on the vehicle the engine and drive wheels are found. Many different combinations of engine location and driven wheels are found in practice, and the location of each is dependent on the application the vehicle will be used for...
of the Felicia's powertrain
Powertrain
In a motor vehicle, the term powertrain or powerplant refers to the group of components that generate power and deliver it to the road surface, water, or air. This includes the engine, transmission, drive shafts, differentials, and the final drive...
included engines
Internal combustion engine
The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer in a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine, the expansion of the high-temperature and high -pressure gases produced by combustion apply direct force to some component of the engine...
mounted at the front of the vehicle
Front-engine design
A front-mounted engine describes the placement of an automobile engine in front of the vehicle passenger compartment.Historically, this designation was used regardless of whether or not the entire engine was behind the front axle line...
, and orientated transversely
Transverse engine
A transverse engine is an engine mounted in a vehicle so that the engine's crankshaft axis is perpendicular to the long axis of the vehicle. Many modern front wheel drive vehicles use this engine mounting configuration...
. The line-up included the old 1.3 litre overhead valve
Overhead valve
An overhead valve engine, also informally called pushrod engine or I-head engine, is a type of piston engine that places the camshaft within the cylinder block , and uses pushrods or rods to actuate rocker arms above the cylinder...
(OHV) Škoda petrol engine
Petrol engine
A petrol engine is an internal combustion engine with spark-ignition, designed to run on petrol and similar volatile fuels....
s, now with Bosch
Robert Bosch GmbH
Robert Bosch GmbH is a multinational engineering and electronics company headquartered in Gerlingen, near Stuttgart, Germany. It is the world's largest supplier of automotive components...
Mono Motronic
Motronic
Motronic is the trade name given to a range of digital engine-management systems developed by Robert Bosch GmbH, commonly known as Bosch.-Motronic ML1.x:Motronic ML1.x was one of the first digital engine-management systems developed by Bosch...
single-point fuel injection
Fuel injection
Fuel injection is a system for admitting fuel into an internal combustion engine. It has become the primary fuel delivery system used in automotive petrol engines, having almost completely replaced carburetors in the late 1980s....
(up until 1997), and Siemens
Siemens AG
Siemens AG is a German multinational conglomerate company headquartered in Munich, Germany. It is the largest Europe-based electronics and electrical engineering company....
multi-point fuel injection, with two rated power
Power (physics)
In physics, power is the rate at which energy is transferred, used, or transformed. For example, the rate at which a light bulb transforms electrical energy into heat and light is measured in watts—the more wattage, the more power, or equivalently the more electrical energy is used per unit...
outputs of 40 kW and 50 kW. There was also two engines sourced from Volkswagen Group: a 55 kW 1.6 litre petrol engine with Magneti Marelli multi-point fuel injection, and a 47 kW 1.9 D diesel engine
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
. The 1.6 litre model served as a homologation
Homologation
Homologation is a technical term, derived from the Greek homologeo for "to agree", which is generally used in English to signify the granting of approval by an official authority...
basis for the Škoda Felicia Kit Car
Škoda Felicia Kit Car
Škoda Felicia Kit Car was the successor to successful racing version of the Škoda Felicia. Its engine was based on serial 1,3l engine with improved suction and new exhaust and it was available in two versions - 1,3l and 1,5l with different cylinders and bigger stroke...
used in the World Rally Championship
World Rally Championship
The World Rally Championship is a rallying series organised by the FIA, culminating with a champion driver and manufacturer. The driver's world championship and manufacturer's world championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system. The series currently consists of 13...
's F2 class.
The only transmission
Transmission (mechanics)
A machine consists of a power source and a power transmission system, which provides controlled application of the power. Merriam-Webster defines transmission as: an assembly of parts including the speed-changing gears and the propeller shaft by which the power is transmitted from an engine to a...
was a five-speed manual gearbox
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
, which was of a transaxle
Transaxle
In the automotive field, a transaxle is a major mechanical component that combines the functionality of the transmission, the differential, and associated components of the driven axle into one integrated assembly....
design, and contained the differential and final drive units. Drive was through the front wheels
Front-wheel drive
Front-wheel drive is a form of engine/transmission layout used in motor vehicles, where the engine drives the front wheels only. Most modern front-wheel drive vehicles feature a transverse engine, rather than the conventional longitudinal engine arrangement generally found in rear-wheel drive and...
.
| engine designation | displacement Engine displacement Engine displacement is the volume swept by all the pistons inside the cylinders of an internal combustion engine in a single movement from top dead centre to bottom dead centre . It is commonly specified in cubic centimeters , litres , or cubic inches... , valvetrain Valvetrain Valvetrain is an all-encompassing term used to describe the mechanisms and parts which control the operation of the valves. A traditional reciprocating internal combustion engine uses valves to control air and fuel flow into and out of the cylinders, facilitating combustion.-Layout:Valvetrain: The... , fuel Fuel Fuel is any material that stores energy that can later be extracted to perform mechanical work in a controlled manner. Most fuels used by humans undergo combustion, a redox reaction in which a combustible substance releases energy after it ignites and reacts with the oxygen in the air... system | max. power Motive power In thermodynamics, motive power is an agency, as water or steam, used to impart motion. Generally, motive power is defined as a natural agent, as water, steam, wind, electricity, etc., used to impart motion to machinery; a motor; a mover. The term may also define something, as a locomotive or a... @ rpm Revolutions per minute Revolutions per minute is a measure of the frequency of a rotation. It annotates the number of full rotations completed in one minute around a fixed axis... | max. torque Torque Torque, moment or moment of force , is the tendency of a force to rotate an object about an axis, fulcrum, or pivot. Just as a force is a push or a pull, a torque can be thought of as a twist.... @ rpm | years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| petrol engines | ||||
| 1.3 | 1289 cc Cubic centimetre A cubic centimetre is a commonly used unit of volume extending the derived SI-unit cubic metre, and corresponds to the volume of a cube measuring 1 cm × 1 cm × 1 cm... , 8v overhead valve Overhead valve An overhead valve engine, also informally called pushrod engine or I-head engine, is a type of piston engine that places the camshaft within the cylinder block , and uses pushrods or rods to actuate rocker arms above the cylinder... (OHV) Bosch Robert Bosch GmbH Robert Bosch GmbH is a multinational engineering and electronics company headquartered in Gerlingen, near Stuttgart, Germany. It is the world's largest supplier of automotive components... Mono Motronic Motronic Motronic is the trade name given to a range of digital engine-management systems developed by Robert Bosch GmbH, commonly known as Bosch.-Motronic ML1.x:Motronic ML1.x was one of the first digital engine-management systems developed by Bosch... single-point fuel injection |
50 kW @ 5,000 |
94 N·m (69 ft·lbf) @ 3,250 |
1994-1997 |
| 1.3 | 1289 cc, 8v overhead valve (OHV) Siemens Siemens Siemens may refer toSiemens, a German family name carried by generations of telecommunications industrialists, including:* Werner von Siemens , inventor, founder of Siemens AG... multi-point fuel injection (MPI) |
50 kW @ 5,500 |
100 N·m (74 ft·lbf) @ 2,600-3,750 |
1997-2001 |
| 1.6 | 1598 cc, 8v single overhead camshaft (SOHC) Magneti Marelli multi-point fuel injection (MPI) |
55 kW @ 4,500 |
137 N·m (101 ft·lbf) @ 3,500 |
1995-2001 |
| diesel engine | ||||
| 1.9 D | 1896 cc Cubic centimetre A cubic centimetre is a commonly used unit of volume extending the derived SI-unit cubic metre, and corresponds to the volume of a cube measuring 1 cm × 1 cm × 1 cm... , 8v single overhead camshaft (SOHC) Lucas AEF distributor injection pump Injection pump An Injection Pump is the device that pumps fuel into the cylinders of a diesel engine or less typically, a gasoline engine. Traditionally, the pump is driven indirectly from the crankshaft by gears, chains or a toothed belt that also drives the camshaft on overhead-cam engines . It rotates at half... , indirect injection with whirl chamber |
47 kW @ 4,300 |
124 N·m (91 ft·lbf) @ 2,500-3,500 |
1995-2001 |
External links
- Škoda-Auto.com - official corporate website
- Felicia Klub
- Škoda Fan site