Skoda Fabia news - Estate modern - 2007

How tense, how curious, how unfulfilled we've felt since Skoda sent us the most coquettish glimpse of its new Fabia Estate a few weeks back.

It felt like getting a magazine in a plastic sleeve, spying the joys contained within but not... no, forget that one. We don't read any magazines that come in plastic sleeves. Apart from Top Gear, obviously.

Anyhow, to soothe your burning intrigue, we've finally got our hands on some proper photos of the Fabia Estate before its official Frankfurt launch.

And it looks, well, like a Fabia with a boot. But it's big: nearly five centimetres longer than the model it replaces, meaning that boot space is up 54 litres to 480 litres with the seats up. Drop 'em down and there's 1,460 litres of space - the biggest in class, according to Skoda.

The Fabia Estate will come with the choice of six engines - three petrol and three diesel - with the 1.9-litre turbodiesel still likely to remain the pick of the bunch. Expect trim levels to match those in the hatchback Fabia, with prices about £800 more.

We'll be on hand in Frankfurt to rip off the plastic shrouding and finally get our grubby mitts all over the Fab Estate. Well, if they will tease us...