MONTE CARLO: models with a sporting spirit

One ŠKODA tradition is to offer various models with specially focused trims. The popular MONTE CARLO variant has a sporting spirit. Do you know how to recognise it?

28. 6. 2022 Škoda World

MONTE CARLO is a specific trim standard that offers sporty design while losing nothing of ŠKODA’s renowned practicality. MONTE CARLO models are therefore not focused on extreme driving performance, but rather on creating an enjoyable, sporty atmosphere and preserving both driving and user comfort and convenience. MONTE CARLO versions are currently available for the SCALA, KAMIQ and, most recently, the fourth-generation FABIA.

The FABIA MONTE CARLO is a traditional model with a sporting edge in the brand’s modern history. It has been part of the range since 2011, when the FABIA was in its second generation. In the case of the FABIA it is all about the best a customer can get, regardless of the engine spec. MONTE CARLO models come with a wide range of engines.

The MONTE CARLO designation is a tradition for the Czech carmaker. It has appeared on ŠKODA cars for 86 years. In the spring of 1936, the company celebrated its success in the prestigious Monte Carlo Rally, still one of the most famous motor racing events in the world, with the POPULAR MONTE CARLO. The Pohl-Hausman crew’s success in their ŠKODA POPULAR Sport roadster not only confirmed the quality of ŠKODA cars, but also elevated to another level the brand’s enthusiasm for motorsport, which has endured since the Czech carmaker was founded.

The same applies to its SCALA MONTE CARLO and KAMIQ MONTE CARLO siblings. While the 1.0 MPI unit can also be selected for the FABIA in the Sport trim level, the popular 1.0 TSI engine is the basic spec in its larger siblings. Both larger models were launched in 2019. The SCALA is a sporty representative of the compact hatchback class, while the KAMIQ brings a dynamic design concept to the increasingly popular small SUV class. In addition to the FABIA, the CITIGO, RAPID, RAPID SPACEBACK and YETI have all been available in MONTE CARLO versions in the past. A MONTE CARLO version of the ŠKODA KUSHAQ designed for the Indian market was recently made available.

ŠKODA YETI MONTE CARLO

ŠKODA CITIGO MONTE CARLO

ŠKODA RAPID MONTE CARLO

ŠKODA KAMIQ MONTE CARLO

ŠKODA SCALA MONTE CARLO

The all-new ŠKODA FABIA MONTE CARLO

ŠKODA KUSHAQ MONTE CARLO

MONTE CARLO models are characterised by their sporty design details. “The MONTE CARLO trim has its own DNA, typified by the black exterior elements and a narrower selection of body colours that perfectly accentuate the car’s sporty look. The interior is distinguished by striking red details,” says Kateřina Vránová, Head of the Color & Trim department, listing the ingredients that make up the MONTE CARLO recipe. The black design elements typically include the radiator grille, front bumper spoiler, exterior mirrors, side sill covers, rear bumper diffuser and wheels.

Having said that, each MONTE CARLO model may have slightly different black details. The FABIA has the option of having black front body pillars in addition to the black roof; the KAMIQ features a more pronounced front spoiler and rear diffuser; and the SCALA opts for more subtle black detailing on the front instead of a black spoiler. And while the FABIA gives customers a choice of 16, 17 or 18-inch wheels (plus a new design), the KAMIQ and SCALA MONTE CARLO offer 17 or 18-inch wheels. However, the basic recipe always remains the same.

According to Vránová, for models such as the FABIA MONTE CARLO it’s all about matching the car’s exterior and interior. “We look at colours and the use of materials, which must complement each other and accentuate the car’s sporty character,” she explains. The designers essentially have a free hand when they put together the MONTE CARLO’s equipment. What’s crucial is the final effect and, in the case of MONTE CARLO, the overall sportiness of the car. “We try to apply a uniform strategy to each MONTE CARLO model and use the same or similar materials. But of course, the new generation of a model always takes us a little further,” says Vránová.

The all-new ŠKODA FABIA MONTE CARLO

This is also the case with the new FABIA MONTE CARLO. For the first time, a soft material with decorative stitching has been used on the dashboard trim, and the same material is found on the front door armrests. Specifically, it is leatherette with a carbon look. This material is then set off by details in metallic red, including the decorative trim on the dashboard, parts of the centre console and the door handles. The sports seats with integrated head restraints and new MONTE CARLO upholstery have also been re-fashioned. “We’ve managed to achieve a similar interplay of materials to that of the ENYAQ iV interior variants,” adds Vránová. The new FABIA MONTE CARLO, she says, is more dynamic and youthful than the previous generation of this version.

Interior of the all-new ŠKODA FABIA MONTE CARLO

Top-of-the-range equipment

In addition to dynamic design details, gorgeous colours and unique materials, the MONTE CARLO trim level is associated with top-of-the-range equipment. This includes automatic air conditioning, a leather multifunctional steering wheel and other leather features, and an array of safety and assistance systems. On the FABIA MONTE CARLO, for example, Bi-LED headlights and fog lights, stainless-steel-look pedal covers, ambient LED interior lighting, up to nine airbags and, as an option, Virtual Cockpit with a new sportier design of display modes, the Travel Assist package for semi-automated driving or Automatic Parking Assist.

The FABIA MONTE CARLO and the other models in the sporty family of cars deliver a great experience not only in terms of aesthetics, but also an enjoyable driving experience and modern tech.

A tourist’s eye view of Monte Carlo

Historically, the Monte Carlo Rally was actually a competition that straddled the whole of Europe. But its homeland has always been Monte Carlo, one part of the little Principality of Monaco. For the tourist, Monaco offers a breathtaking combination of spectacular scenery, luxury, gourmet dining and the ubiquitous atmosphere of legendary motoring competitions. Here you can walk the track of one of the most famous Formula 1 races and admire the climbs the cars negotiate when rounding the Sainte Dévote corner (it really is unexpectedly uphill, like the rest of Monaco, so be prepared for that). The city’s hilly terrain offers stunning views of the sea, and you can even spend some time at the famous local Oceanographic Museum. Or take a look at Prince Rainier III’s car collection.

In the past, the famous rally took place on the steep climbs of the streets of Monte Carlo. In its modern form, the stages take place a little further north, in the mountains above the French conurbations of Nice and Marseille in southeast France. From Nice or Monaco, you can easily make your way to the famous Col de Turini pass, for example, which is a legendary part of the famous rally’s modern event. The route is less than 60 kilometres long, but at a normal pace in light traffic it still takes about an hour and twenty minutes to cover, because the local roads, often lined with stone walls, are so twisting. Take the time to enjoy the drive and bask in the beautiful scenery.