2011 Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo

Skoda is celebrating the 100th year anniversary of the Monte Carlo Rally and the 110th year anniversary of the brand’s motorsport efforts with the launch of the special edition Fabia Monte Carlo Edition. This new version made its first public appearance at Rallye Monte Carlo back in January and has now been introduced at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show.

While we’re not completely enamored with these type of cars, we do have to give the boys over at Skoda some serious love for the way they designed this special edition Fabia.The powertrain may not be on the powerful side, but Skoda certainly makes up for it by designing the special edition Fabia with a very nice red and black two-tone finish, highlighting an aggressive rally-inspired exterior that completely masks the subdued engine under its bonnet.

It may not be the fastest car out of the block, but for a car that you can take to the city for some nice, little joy-riding, the Skoba Fabia Monte Carlo is about as good an option as any B-car segment vehicle.

Details on the Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo after the jump.

Exterior and Interior The Fabia Monte Carlo special edition will be distinguished by a piano-black body trim extending all the way from the wheel arches and down the full length of the car. It also comes with a black roof, black door mirror covers, a black radiator grille top, smoked headlamps, and rounding off the whole exterior look, a set of black 17" lightweight Trinity alloy wheels. As for the interior, the Fabia Monte Carlo will receive a choice between all black or red and black sports seats that go with additional side support. Both the red and the black versions will come with one black roof lining, a perforated leather steering wheel with red stitching, leather handbrake, and a gearstick gaiter with red stitching. Silver kick plates and steel pedals are also offered as standard features of the Fabia Monte Carlo. Performance Just like a standard Fabia, the special edition Monte Carlo will come with an extensive list of powertrain options, including a 1.2-liter engine that produces a choice of 68 horsepower, 85 horsepower, or 104 horsepower. Not satisfied with a gas engine, Skoda is also offering two diesel variants that produce an output of 74 horsepower and 104 horsepower, respectively. All variants of the Fabia Monte Carlo will be fitted with a standard transmission. Pricing The special edition Fabia just went on sale with prices starting at £12,755 - that’s about $17,000 based on current exchange rates - for the entry-level model. Prices will increase depending on the version until it hits £15,000 - or around $20,000 - for the top-of-the-line version of the Fabia Monte Carlo. Competition The Skoda Fabia compares favorably to a number of other vehicles, one of which is the new Opel Corsa. As competitors in the B-car segment, these two vehicles come with their own unique design so picking one over the other will be entirely up to what you feel like driving out on the city streets. As far as performance goes, the new Opel Corsa boasts of an EcoFlex 1.3 CDTI diesel engine that’s right around the same ballpark as that of the Fabia Monte Carlo and its pupu-platter of powertrains. The price of the Opel Corsa is priced at $15,750 based on current exchange rates, giving it the leg up on the Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo Edition.