Skoda Auto India has finally unveiled the all-new Octavia. The new car will go on sale later this year during the festive season.
For now, no details about specification, variants or pricing have been announced.
Given the drivelines available in Europe and the UK right-hand drive market, the most likely engines appear to be the 1.6-litre TDi diesel with 105 PS and 250 Nm, or the more powerful 2.0-litre TDi diesel with 150 PS and 320 Nm; the latter which may also be offered with the DSG twin-clutch automatic transmission, while a 6-speed manual transmission will be standard. There’s also the possibility of the 1.4-litre TSi petrol with either 120 PS or 140 PS and 200~250 Nm. Considering the new Octavia weighs just under 1,200 kg with the 1.4 TSi unit, and that the 2.0 TDi with the auto’box weighs in at 1,275 kg, we can expect solid build quality and performance; typically Skoda then. The boot space is also typical Skoda, with a massive 590 litres available with the seats up! That number rises to an even more impressive 1,580 litres with the second row folded down. The new Octavia will also features cutting-edge communication, entertainment and safety equipment. There’s also a high-performance vRS model which was unveiled with a 2.0 TSi engine making 220 PS and 350 Nm; it too should make it to India soon after the launch of the standard car.
The new car is an important one for Skoda. The Honda City, Hyundai Verna and Ford Fiesta, apart from the higher priced Chevrolet Cruze and Hyundai Elantra, have been steadily gnawing away at their market share. Skoda will be pinning their hopes on the new Octavia, given the demise of the Fabia and the falling sales of the Laura, which in essence, is the previous generation Octavia.
That’s all for now, but stay tuned for more updates about final numbers regarding specs and of course, pricing.
