Škoda Favorit

1987–1995
Overview
Manufacturer	Škoda Auto
Also called	Škoda Favorit Estate (Forman)
Production	1987–1995 (Favorit) 1990–1994 (Forman) 1991–1995 (Pick-up)
Designer	Bertone
Body and chassis
Class	Supermini
Body style	5-door hatchback 5-door estate 2-door coupé utility (pick up)
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel-drive
Related	Škoda Felicia Volkswagen Caddy
Powertrain
Engine	1,137 cc I4 (gasoline) 1,289 cc I4 (gasoline)
Transmission	5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,450 mm (96.5 in)
Length	3,815 mm (150.2 in) (Favorit) 4,160 mm (163.8 in) (Forman) 4,065 mm (160.0 in) (Pick-up)
Width	1,620 mm (63.8 in)
Height	1,415 mm (55.7 in)
Kerb weight	840 kg (1,852 lb)

The Škoda Favorit (Type 781) was a range of supermini cars produced by Czech auto manufacturer Škoda Auto from 1987 to 1995.

The Škoda Favorit as well as the estate variant Škoda Forman is a front-wheel drive compact car from the Czech brand Škoda , which was manufactured from 1987 and replaced the model series Škoda Type 742 , which was continued to be built until 1990.During the construction, the company name changed several times. The model came onto the market under the state-owned company AZNP . In 1990, the company was renamed to Automobilový koncern Škoda and in 1991 to Škoda automobilová 

It was Škoda'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 front-wheel drive. The Favorit was premiered in July 1987 at the Brno Engineering Fair. Like other models in the Škoda lineup, the name "Favorit" had been first used on an earlier vehicle - a large imposing luxury limosine produced between 1936 to 1941.

History

This latest Favorit eventually succeeded the ageing rear-engined, rear-wheel drive Škoda 105/120 Estelle, and was a considerable move towards the modern mainstream in design terms thanks to its Bertone-designed hatchback body and front-wheel drive. However, the Favorit initially took a long time to get to market - Škoda's then owner, the communist government of Czechoslovakia approved the development of this new front-wheel drive car back in 1982, with actual development not starting until 1983. Disputes between the government’s brief, and Nuccio Bertone, the designer, meant that the car was not designed until mid-1985, and full production wouldn't commence until 1987. Probably the worst aspects of this dispute is that a four-door saloon was fully designed, but was never allowed to go into production.

The Favorit proved itself as one of Central Europe's most popular cars, and was also exported to a number of countries including Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Perú, Israel, Poland, Russia, Turkey and other countries.

The Favorit was replaced in 1994 by the Škoda Felicia, which was developed in conjunction with Volkswagen Group, who were by then the owners of Škoda Auto.

It is perhaps comparable to the Volkswagen Polo (fuel injected versions share the Bosch Mono-Motronic 1.2.3 engine management system with the Volkswagen Polo Mk2 and Volkswagen Golf Mk3) due to its large engine compartment, contributing to the possibility of easy repair. Parts are very universal with other Eastern European cars. Its general design and mechanical functionality is very practical, especially in comparison to a Western car which requires expensive parts, or maintenance for simple knobs, buttons or other simple mechanical and rudimentary apparatus.

Body styles

The car body style of the Škoda Favorit was a five-door five-seater hatchback. Constructed from mild steel, it utilised the automotive industries' now well-established monocoque design.

A five-door estate version named the Škoda Forman (Type 785) appeared in 1990. This was known as the Favorit Estate in the UK from its launch in June 1991, two years after British buyers were first able to buy the hatchback. The name originates from the English word "wagoner", which in Czech is "forman", or someone who transports goods by wagon. It is a common misconception that the name is somehow related to famous Czech filmmaker Miloš Forman.

A two-door two-seat pick-up truck, called the Škoda Pick-up (Type 787), was introduced the following year.

Following the takeover of Škoda Auto in 1991 by the Volkswagen Group, new developments and upgrades were rapidly implemented on the Favorit. This included new fuel injected catalytic converter versions, marketed as the Li, GLi and the GLXi models were introduced. At the same time many cosmetic improvements were made to the Favorit, such as improved door hinges, Volkswagen seats and interiors, dashboards and instrumentation. Quality control improvements were also implemented, along with safety features such as strengthened beams in the doors, and a redesigned front.

During 1993, another range of modernizations took place, which included mechanical and electrical upgrades to the engine, a facelift of the bodywork, and bigger bumpers.

Luggage capacity in the hatchback was 251 litres with the rear seats in the upright position, and this increased to 1,038 litres with the rear seats folded. For more luggage, the back seat could be removed completely.

Special versions were made in limited numbers. "Black Line" was sold with a pop-up sunroof, Hella clear rear lighs, tinted windows all-around, power door locks, tachometer, digital clock in the center overhead console, smart intermittent wipers, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter knob, Hella headlight washer, and a Blaupunkt stereo with 4 speakers. The car is recognizable from the all-black paint, and the factory 13" Ronal F-Series alloy wheels. "Silver Line" was similar, only in metallic silver color with a black fascia around the back window and the B pillars. These packages were available with both hatchback and estate body styles. "Solitaire" was very rare, including all of the above plus spoiler on the rear door, factory alarm system, power front windows and fuel injection. The other special versions came with either carburetted or fuel-injected engines.

Powertrain

For all body styles, the powertrain of the Favorit used one internal combustion petrol engine, 1,289 cc (78.7 cu in), inline-four-cylinder, four-stroke, liquid-cooled, overhead valve, which was an upgraded version of the 998 cc (60.9 cu in) engine used in the Škoda 1000MB. This initially produced a rated motive power output of 46 kW (63 PS; 62 bhp) at 5,000 rpm. It originally used either a Pierburg 2E-E Ecotronic single-barrel carburettor, or a Pierburg Ecotronic dual-barrel carburettor. This engine had its combustion chambers redesigned by Ricardo Consulting Engineers in the UK, while German car maker Porsche helped engineer the engine mountings. Throughout its timescale in the Favorit, the engine was progressively upgraded with various iterations of emissions control systems, including two different types of catalytic converter, and also utilised improved fueling and engine control by way of Bosch Mono-Motronic single-point fuel injection. These changes had minor effects on the rated power (50kW) and torque outputs. The engine requires the cam chain changed every 60,000 km, but it can least over 200,000 km (cases of engines working 400,000 km without the change of cam chain are known, although with serious degradation of performance, respectively). The chain is relatively short, but has no tensioner.

This engine was also used in Škoda Felicia with BMM and MPI injection, and until 2003 as a 1.4 MPI unit in the Škoda Fabia, and a 1.0 version in the Škoda Fabia, Seat Arosa and Volkswagen Lupo.

The only transmission available 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.After the engines beginning with carburetors were fitted, was a 1993 Monomotronic - manifold injection used. The 54 hp engine was designed for regular gasoline. The consumption was between 6 and 7.5 liters per 100 km, depending on the driving style. The revised engine with central injection was characterized by reduced fuel consumption, consumption values ​​of less than 6 liters per 100 km were quite achievable. The engine has a camshaft below (camshaft on the side of the engine block), which is driven by a timing chain. Only the 54 hp machine was equipped with a regulated (135 LE / LSE) or unregulated (135 L / LS) catalytic converter.