The Monte Carlo badge appears on the Slavia. We not only drove the car but also followed that up with a few laps around the Buddh International Circuit (BIC).
The Monte Carlo badge is special for Škoda and fans of the brand alike. This time their Slavia sedan wears it with pride. Motor sport enthusiasts, particularly rally buffs, will know that the “Monte Carlo” badge is associated with Škoda’s success at the Rallye Monte-Carlo, often described as the “Queen of Rallies”. That and their association with one of the oldest car clubs in the world are among the reasons why the royal family of Monte Carlo have given them permission to use the badge. At least, that is what Škoda told us.
To experience this update for the popular Slavia sedan, we arrived at the BIC for a few hot laps and some handling tests. Before we get to that, you should know that the Slavia Monte Carlo is offered in two colours: red or white. Both have complementing black treatment as well on a few elements, including the grille, roof, mirrors, windows, door-handles, rear spoiler, diffuser, and the lower edges of the car’s profile. Then, of course, there are the Monte Carlo badges and black lettering. Wheels are 16-inch units, also black in colour.
The exterior is largely similar to the Monte Carlo editions from the past and so is the interior. The red-black dual-tone treatment has been executed tastefully for the dashboard, seats, door-handles, and front arm-rests while the aluminium finish on the pedals adds to the sporty character. Front seats are ventilated and offer electric adjustability. The Monte Carlo is not the top-end model, so it does not come as packed with features as the Prestige trim.
Those are the salient attributes of the Monte Carlo edition because under the hood, the engine is the same and so is the chassis. One can opt for the manual or automatic transmission with the 1.0-litre engine but the 1.5-litre TSI is offered only with the seven-speed DSG and that was the car we drove. Nothing new to report on the performance and handling front but what we can tell you is how it feels when properly let loose, which is something we would not even think of attempting on public roads.
On a circuit built for F1 cars with long straights, flowing corners, slow uphill turns, and demanding braking zones, one would not expect much from an urban sedan with a 1.5-litre engine that makes 150 hp but the Monte Carlo was far from boring. When throwing the car into corners after braking from speeds in excess of 120 km/h, it was easier to appreciate the balance of the chassis that usually goes unnoticed when driving around town. During our few hot laps around the BIC, the Slavia was a reminder of how much fun can be had in a sedan without breaking the bank. Even in the flat-out corners, the car performed without complaint, easily living up to our expectations of a fun sedan.
Powerful brakes, grippy tyres and a direct, communicative steering made us look forward to the fast, flowing corners. The slow ones were no trouble because once pointed in the right direction, there was enough power and torque to send the Slavia towards triple-digit speeds enthusiastically. So much fun was had with the paddle-shifters that, at times, we caught ourselves wondering why Škoda did not bother with a manual for the 1.5 too.
The tight autocross-type track highlighted the dynamic ability of the car to good effect. Slaloms that caused us to thread a needle through the cones were intuitive because of the seamless connection between brain and bitumen. They also had a mock-up of the famous “moose” test set up for us; although in our case, it is best to call it a “cow test”. It involves making a swift change of lanes at over 70 km/h, which could happen to you tomorrow on the way to work. Any car will change lanes quick enough but not many will execute the manoeuvre as confidently as the Slavia.
At the end of our time with the Slavia Monte Carlo, it was clear that this is a car for a Škoda enthusiast who is easily defined as someone who loves driving but prefers to do said activity in a Škoda. Such a person will appreciate it best. For the regular driving enthusiast, there are the Sportline cars, available in both the Slavia and Kushaq. In a nutshell, they offer the same driving capability minus the fancy badging and premium interior.
The Monte Carlo is priced from Rs 15.79 lakh, going up to Rs 18.49 lakh, and the Sportline Slavia starts at Rs 14.05 lakh, going up to Rs 16.75 lakh (all prices ex-showroom).
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