2007 Skoda Fabia Scout Concept

Those who wonder why Skoda isn’t offered on theU.S. market will have another reason to grump after spotting the Czech automaker’s Fabia Scout Concept. This “space concept” is a show car pretty much in name only, as a virtually identical model of the new Scout will make its full and official debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Think of the Fabia as a tall wagon, but a much more attractive and well-executed one than the oddly odd-of-kilter designs that emerged from Japan, with unnerving regularity, in the 1980s and '90s. Marking the 100th anniversary of the Škoda brand, the Fabia Scout is roomy and stylish, finding a niche somewhere between wagon and SUV.

The new production model is about three inches longer than the old car and about four inches higher. That yields a “space miracle,” in the words of Detlef Wittig, the maker’s CEO. Consumers will more likely praise the unexpected amount of leg room in the otherwise compact footprint, as well as the vast cargo compartment, which holds 16.2 cubic feet of “stuff” behind the SUV-sized tailgate.

There are cargo compartments tucked everywhere, it seems, including one hidden beneath a fold-out seat in the rear cargo bay, perfect for tailgating parties.

Along with the Spanish Seat division, VW’s Skoda targets entry buyers, particularly those, in its case, in emerging Eastern European markets. The production Scout starts out at a base price of just $14,700.

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