A PIECE OF CAKE; motors.

Byline: BY TONY LARNER Motoring Editor

THE invention of the TV remote control must have been like a dagger to the heart of advertising boffins.

The late Robert Adler, a US electrical engineer, designed the first zapper in 1956 - and the couch potato was born.

Before then people had to sit through mind-numbingly boring ads as they couldn't possibly get up from the settee to switch channels.

But post Adler they could flick instantly and advertising chiefs had to raise their game to get people to WANT to watch their TV promos.

Mostly, they failed.

But occasionally an advert comes along that is pure genius - like the one for the Skoda Fabia.

You would have to question the sanity of the person who came up with an idea to try to sell a car by turning it into a big cake.

But the TV advert is simply mesmerising as a production team assemble a lipsmacking Fabia from sponges and sweets, including liquorice wheels and jelly headlights.

But of course the proof of how good this car is, is not in the pudding - it's in the test drive.

I had the Fabia 1.9 TDi vRS for a week and was won over by its thrilling performance, stylish looks and sheer funabilty.

The attractive styling, inside and out, remains both contemporary and uniquely Skoda.

And generous standard equipment includes spider alloys, chrome exhaust, tinted glass, immobiliser, side impact protection and climatronic dual zone air-con - as well as a cooled glovebox and drinks compartment!

But most attractive of all is the price which ranges from a rock-bottom pounds 6,990 for the entry level 1.2 HTP Classic, rising to pounds 12,375 for the top-of the-range TDi.

My souped-up model came with a whopping pounds 4,000 of extras, including retro-fit leather seats (pounds 1,300), a sat-nav system (pounds 1,800) and a six-change CD player (pounds 275). To be honest, I'd keep the figure-hugging seats and quality stereo, but you could easily swap the expensive sat-nav for a cheaper version to save some cash.

Driving the car is - er, hmm - a piece of cake.

The 130bhp engine, the same as used in some Octavias and VW Passats, provides real acceleration through the smoothas-silk gears.

The lowered suspension also gives the car a real sporty feel, while the terrific handling and excellent ABS brakes ensure you are never in danger of losing control.

The hatchback also offers supreme practicality with 260 litres of boot space with rear seats up, and 1,016 litres folded.

More than 130,000 British motorists have so far bought the Fabia which was first launched in 2000.

Sales, on the back of the advertising campaign, are predicted to hit record levels this year.

A tasty car indeed!

FAST FACTS

Skoda Fabia vRS 1.9 TDi

Price: pounds 16,275

Mechanical: 130bhp, 1,896cc, 4cyl diesel engine, driving front wheels via 6spd manual gearbox

Max speed: 128 mph

0-62 mph: 9.5 secs

Combined mpg: 52.3

Insurance group: 9

CO2 emissions: 146g/km

BiK rating: 18%

Warranty: 3 yrs/unlimited mileage; 10yrs anti-rust; 3yrs paint

CAPTION(S):

ADVERTISING DREAM: the Skoda Fabia 1.9 TDi vRS