The subcompact hot hatch class may not be dead yet, but it's quickly losing ground to sporty crossovers. As a result, certain car manufacturers have withdrawn from this segment, including Skoda, whose fourth-gen Fabia hasn't received the hot hatch treatment. Or has it?
Well, as it turns out, Skoda has just made a sporty version of the supermini, and quite strangely, it doesn't feature the RS (vRS in the UK) suffix. The reason is that ABT Sportsline was involved in its creation, and since the model honors Jose Antonio 'Cohete' Suarez, the tinner of the Spanish Rally Super Championship in 2021 and 2023, the vehicle adds the Rally2 suffix instead.
The famous VW Group tuner took the 1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder engine and boosted its output and thrust by 39 hp (40 ps/29 kW) and 30 lb-ft (40 Nm). The result is 187 horsepower (190 ps/140 kW) and 214 pound-foot (290 Nm) of torque, channeled to the front wheels through a DSG auto 'box. That's a bit less than you’d get in the rivaling Hyundai i20 N and VW Polo GTI, yet plenty for quick drives.
Photo: Skoda Spain
Besides the punchier four-banger, the 2024 Skoda Fabia Rally2 also features a tweaked chassis. It sits 0.6 inches (15 mm) closer to the asphalt and rides on 17-inch OZ Racing Superturismo WRC wheels shod in Michelin Pilot Sport 5 tires for enhanced grip. A rear spoiler, matte black mudguards, and a Mamba Green paint finish that can usually be found in the Czech company's RS family and also matches the rally-spec model that Jose Antonio Suarez and Alberto Iglesias Pin drive, are other highlights of this car.
ABT Sportsline's involvement is represented by a dedicated badge on the front fenders. 'Rally2' and 'Cohete' logos are also visible on the outside, alongside special logos on the rear pillars. Another 'Rally2' emblem was added inside, next to a serial-numbered plaque that displays Suarez's signature. The cockpit features black upholstery and a sports steering wheel with paddle shifters.
Predictably, Skoda chose to limit the production of the all-new Fabia Rally2. Only 100 copies of this car will see the light of day, and deliveries will commence in March 2025. On top of that, the model is limited to the Spanish market, where it kicks off at €30,900 (equal to $32,437). This makes it the priciest version of the car.
By comparison, the base Skoda Fabia Essence begins at €20,500 ($22,165) in Spain. The mid-range Selection and Design trim levels start at €21,500 ($23,247) and €23,700 ($25,625), respectively, whereas the Monte Carlo sits at the top of the family, carrying a recommended retail price of €25,600 ($27,680). To better put these numbers into perspective, we'll remind you that the 2025 Ford Mustang has an MSRP of $31,920 (equaling $29,517) in the United States.
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
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