In the second half of 1894, a small bookseller from the Czech town of Mlada Boleslav, which was then on the territory of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, wrote a letter to the local branch of the German company Seidel und Neumann with a request to repair his bicycle.

The letter was written in Czech. And he received an answer that if the client wants to make some kind of order, he must write his request in some other, more understandable language. Such an answer forced the merchant to turn to an unknown mechanic from the nearby town of Turnova. they not only met, but also opened their own Czech workshop Slavil for repairing bicycles, and then they themselves began to make them. But at that time, the first self-propelled carriages had already appeared on the streets, and both owners of Slania did not want to stand aside.

Soon a motorcycle of the Werner brothers appears in Mlada Boleslav. Onto served as a prototype for the first Czech two-wheeled carriage, which was fundamentally different from the French. For him, they made a new frame, carburetor and ignition system. In fact, it was the first motorcycle in Austria-Hungary and throughout Central Europe. In 1898, he received the brand name Laurin and Klement "- by the names of both creators. The son of a postman, the former bookseller Vaclav Klement (1868 - 1938) and the former bicycle mechanic Vaclav Laurin became the founders of a new company, which was destined to lead the Czechoslovak automobile industry.

Born in Austria-Hungary, "Laurin and Klement" (1906) became the founder of the Czech automobile industry

Two-cylinder 2-seater "Laurin and Klement-A" (1906) - the first in the family famous cars"Skoda"

The first motorcycle was only the beginning of the vigorous activity of the two pioneers of motor transport. Motorcycles "Laurin and Klement" participated in many competitions and brought the Czech athlete the title of world champion in 1905; licenses for their production were bought by many other companies, including the same Dresden bicycle company, which at first did not want to deal with V. Kpement.

In the first 6 years, Laurin & Klement built as many as 19 types of motorcycles. Gradually, the workshop, where in 1896 only 4 people worked, turned into a large factory of motorized carts. By 1905, Laurin and Klement already employed 320 people, and the number of machines in the machine shop reached 170 units.

As often happened in automotive history, the direct path from a motorcycle lay to a tricycle, from it to a quadricycle, and from there it was already a stone's throw to a real car. This path was passed by our hero! In 1901, Laurin and Klement built a light three-wheeled cart with a single-cylinder engine of 3 forces on the basis of an ordinary motorcycle. It was a combination of a motorcycle rear end and a two-wheeled front bogie with a seat for one passenger. A few years later, a four-wheeled car with a two-cylinder water-cooled engine was made on its basis. The usual motorcycle handle here was replaced by a round wheel. After that, there was nothing left but to make a real car.

It was built at the end of 1905 and named "Laurin and Klement" type A. It was a light four-wheeled vuaturette for two people with open body and convertible top. New car immediately became popular in the country: especially among the Czechs and Slovaks, who always considered themselves oppressed and humiliated under the yoke of Austria-Hungary. The machine had an elegant shape, was light and compact, it was considered a reduced copy big car. Therefore, the first "L and K" received three medals one after another at prestigious salons in London: Milan and Vienna.

Laurin and Klement - A had a V-shaped two-cylinder engine with 7 forces, water-cooled and an upper inlet valve. The cylinder block was cast iron and the crankcase was light alloy. Both connecting rods acted on one common crankshaft journal. The carburetor of the Laurin design had an atomizer and float chamber, that is, fundamentally not different from modern ones.

Thermosiphon cooling without water pump. This system had a four-blade fan) driven by a flat belt. Ignition by low voltage magneto with adjustment of the ignition timing using a handle mounted on the steering wheel.

Lubrication was the simplest - by spraying, and every 5-10 kilometers it was necessary to additionally supply oil using a hand pump. Conical clutch with leather lining and two release springs. The box had 3 gears forward and one back. The shift lever was outside the body, to the right of the driver's seat, as was customary then. The frame is steel from channel profiles with crossbars, and the suspension of both axles is on semi-elliptical springs. The foot brake acted on the transmission drum, and the hand brake acted on the rear wheels. between salon and engine compartment fuel and oil tanks were placed, and luggage could be placed under the seats or in a small box behind it. This whole design was quite simple and traditional for most light and inexpensive cars of the beginning of the century.

One of the first models of the A series by Laurin and Klement at the start of the run in Stara Bela (1905)

The successor of model A is the racing "Laurin and Klement-BSC" with a 1.4-liter engine of 10 hp. (1908)

The steady demand for the Model A since its introduction has contributed to the young company's rapid success in the automotive business. After the first-born in 1906, a model B with a power of 9 hp appeared, a year later - a model C, etc. They were already produced in small batches of 1000 pieces, but models A until 1911 were made only 55 copies. High quality This car was confirmed by the English magazine Augocar, which tested it in May 1907 on a 430 km long track. All this gave an additional surge of strength and energy to the designers of Laurin and Klement. Model A was followed by more advanced and powerful machines "Laurin and Klement" series B, C, D, etc. Some of them became the basis for racing cars:, developing speeds up to 130 km / h. Three high-speed cars in 1908 successfully participated in the race Saint Petersburg- Moscow.

In subsequent years, one after another, cars, racing, sports, trucks, special cars and buses began to appear with the monogram "L & K" on the emblem. Almost all the letters of the alphabet were used up on them. Until 1914 alone, 40 types of cars and 20 engines for them were developed. On the account of "Laurin and Klement" victories in the largest races and runs, including in Russia. Many of these cars were imported to our country before the revolution. In 1911, these cars were in first place in terms of quantity in 13 Russian cities, and in Moscow they were in fifth place, although there were only 41 of them.

Gradually, a small bicycle workshop "Laurin and Klement" grew into one of the largest automobile factories Europe. It exists today, although the former name has almost been forgotten, but the new one is no less famous - this is the famous Czechoslovak Skoda. True, the last years of unity with Volkswagen make it doubtful that this brand will be preserved.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CAR "LAURIN AND CLEMENT - A" (1906)

Number of seats - 2. Two-cylinder V-shaped water-cooled carburetor engine. Volume - 1005 cm 3. Power - 7 hp at 1500 rpm. Number of gears - 3. Weight - 485 kg. Max speed- 45 km/h. Fuel consumption - 7-8 liters per 100 km.

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Possibilities for connecting external devices

Already in basic modification There are two USB ports available which are on the front. Connect external players and smartphones and use the functionality of the devices to the maximum!

Emergency Call - an assistant you can rely on

Stylish crossovers are equipped with an emergency call function: in the event of an accident, communication with the emergency center will be established automatically. The system will tell you where the car is, where it was moving, how many passengers are in the cabin, and whether the car is badly damaged.

Emergency Call can also be used by passengers - for example, if they witnessed a car accident. The connection is active until the emergency crew arrives at the scene of the accident.

SmartLink+

The SmartLink+ system will allow the driver to safely use the phone without being distracted from driving. The platform is equipped with the SmartGate option, thanks to which you can connect your smartphone via a USB connector and check, for example, information about fuel consumption, vehicle speed, and maintenance information.

Feel unique

High quality materials, original design solutions, ergonomic placement of control systems - give in to temptation and enjoy the exclusive interior of the crossover. Pay attention to the high-tech equipment of the interior: relax in a comfortable chair, touch the leather steering wheel and set the mood with the background lighting installed around the cabin.

Interior space design

Car enthusiasts can choose from two available interior design options - spectacular black or stylish beige with the Laurin & Klement logo embroidered on the backs of the seats.

Thanks to the ergonomic seat, you will be comfortable even on a long journey. Already in the car of the initial configuration, a driver's seat is installed that can remember the settings.

Innovation to Excellence

The ŠKODA KODIAQ L&K is not only about amazing functionality, but also about stylish looks. The touchscreen of the infotainment complex imitates a glass surface, which makes the interior of the crossover even more futuristic. The cars are equipped with Columbus navigation, which is recognized as a leader in its segment. The system is equipped with a 9.2-inch display and a Wi-Fi hotspot. An LTE module is optionally available.

14.03.2018

Family Skoda Kodiaq replenished with another copy in the most luxurious configuration. "Laurin and Klement" got its name in honor of the founders of the brand, and the first photographs appeared on the network on March 6 after the Geneva presentation. The public warmly welcomed the novelty in the premium configuration of the Skoda Kodiak Laurin Clement.

Debut of a new modification Laurin Klement

Skoda Laurin Clement was far from the only innovation of the manufacturer. According to official information, the engine range will also undergo changes. TSI will be replaced by 1.5 TSI of similar power, while the power of the two-liter gasoline engine will increase to 190 l / s.

The manufacturer also announced its intention to complete two-liter gasoline and diesel engines box . However, such a decision was made exclusively for European cars, while for the Russians the situation remains ambiguous. Everyone is waiting for the start of the assembly of the Skoda Kodiak locally within the framework of GAZ.

Distinctive features of the Skoda Kodiak Laurin and Clement

The manufacturer decided to distinguish its premium equipment from the rest with a radiator grille, original 19 rims, multifunctional steering wheel and LED optics. Complete set Lauryn Clement will be the first model in history to receive a virtual dashboard. Interior trim skoda laurin klement will be made in leather, including the steering wheel. According to the manufacturer, the skin tone will be available to choose from, either light beige or dark gray. No more official information about the finish has been reported.

PeculiaritiesLandK

As you know now, officially optional equipment for this configuration has not been announced. However, the manufacturer said that this package includes almost all the add-ons that were purchased by the owners of other variations for separate funds. Laurin Klement will be available in Russia, however, the assembly of this configuration in Russia will not be carried out. Those who wish will be able to purchase a modification of Laurin and Clement only of Czech production in the third quarter of 2018. Salon Skoda Laurin Clement should get a finish quality materials and aluminum pedals.

hope dies last

In view of latest news about the production of SUVs in Russia, more and more buyers are interested in buying a Czech crossover affordable price. Unfortunately, only those who purchased a car in 2017 had such an opportunity. Since the beginning of 2018, rising prices have greatly reduced the demand for vehicles from the Czech manufacturer. In this regard, the Skoda representative office in Russia decided to consider the option of issuing Vehicle local. In this regard, the GAZ plant was chosen, which recently received the necessary production capacity.

At crossover Skoda Kodiaq already has a "sports" version and an "off-road" version, both of which have recently been available in Russia. And at the Geneva Motor Show, the most luxurious version will premiere under the brand's traditional name Laurin & Klement - in honor of Vaclav Laurin and Vaclav Klement, the founders of the automobile factory in Mlada Boleslav, which later turned into Skoda.

The new version features extra chrome on the grille, standard LED headlights, 19-inch wheels, revised rear bumper and additional nameplates with the name of the configuration. But the main changes are still in the cabin: this is upholstery in expensive leather, two-tone trim, electric front seats, as well as rich standard equipment, which is offered for a surcharge for other versions. In addition, Kodiaq Laurin & Klement is the first in the family to get a virtual instrument cluster.

But that's not all. Along with the advent of the road Kodiaq versions went through a minor technical update. A 1.5 TSI petrol turbo engine (150 hp) appeared in the European engine range, which will replace the 1.4 TSI engine of the same power. And the output of the 2.0 TSI engine has been increased from 180 to 190 "horses", although China has long had it. In addition, there was a new version seven-speed "robot" DSG, which is installed on cars with gasoline engines 2.0 TSI and a 150-horsepower 2.0 TDI diesel.

We will find out how all these changes will affect the cars for Russia after the launch of local production in Nizhny Novgorod: crossovers Russian assembly should appear in the spring. But the complex and expensive 1.5 TSI engine will almost certainly not get us.