Skoda Auto has officially taken the wraps off their all-new Octavia. The saloon-look-hatchback-design remains owing to its immense functionality, while there is a whole lot more equipment which will make it onto the new car.
The new Octavia is a larger car than its predecessor; the wheelbase has grown by 108mm and it is 90mm longer and 45mm wider while being considerably lighter. Skoda also claims that it offers much more passenger comfort than any car in its class. The knee room has been significantly improved while the boot space is now an even more astounding 590 liters. The design language appears much sharper than the outgoing model and there are several subtle details which make the car stand out as a cutting-edge and thoroughly modern creation. The revised front end features a more distinctly horizontal front grille, which bears a blacked out look that gels well with the look of the new headlamp clusters. The front overhang has been shortened and the C-pillar stretched further back with a characteristic upswept window line in the rear doors, or ‘fin’, lending a more purposeful look. Overall, the look is uncluttered and classy with an air of completeness about it.
On the safety front, the new Octavia is equipped to the hilt with safety features and intelligent add-ons. Part of the equipment list includes Adaptive Cruise Control, featured for the first time in a Skoda model. There’s the Multi-Collision Brake System which works together with the Electronic Stability Program. The addition of Front Assistant and City Emergency Brake takes preventive safety to a new level. Safety and convenience step up a notch with KESSY or Keyless Entry Start and Exit System.
The engine range for the new Octavia will include the 1.8L TSi petrol and the 2.0L TDi diesel that we’ve become used to. However, they are most likely to have uprated power figures at 180 PS and 150 PS respectively. The chance of the 1.6L TDi GreenLine diesel making it to our shores is also quite high. Although it produces 105 PS and 240 Nm of torque, its fuel consumption figures from the tests have been staggering; with a consumption of just 3.4L/100kms and CO2 emissions of 89 g/km. All models will be front wheel driven and have manual transmission. The top-end 1.8L TSi and 2.0L TDi will have an optional DSG automatic transmission. While there is talk of an all-wheel-drive model, it is highly unlikely that it will make it to India.
