The new wave of COVID-19 outbreak has become one of the biggest menaces to the life and economy. Many state and UT governments are again imposing lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus and its impact has been once again started binding the automotive industry. Recently, Hero MotoCorp has announced to temporarily shut its all-manufacturing plant in a phased manner. Now, Skoda Auto has declared to postpone the launch of the fourth-generation Octavia sedan, which was supposed to launch by the end of April 2021.
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Zac Hollis, Director, Sales & Marketing, Skoda India said in his tweet- “Sometimes, it’s important to take a pause and come back stronger. We at Skoda Auto have postponed the launch of the all-new Octavia until the current situation improves. We will keep you updated on the launch developments. Stay safe and let us do our part to fight the virus.”
The new launch date of the upgraded Skoda Octavia is yet to be revealed, the brand will announce it once the situations become stable.
About 2021 Skoda Octavia –
The 2021 Skoda Octavia will come with an all-new design and features along with a revised powertrain lineup. Based on the VW Group’s MQB EVO platform, the fourth-generation Octavia will be bigger than its predecessor. It will be a petrol-only offering, borrowing the 2.0-liter TSI turbocharged petrol engine from the Skoda Superb. This engine is good enough in generating 190PS of max power and 320Nm of peak torque. Power will be transmitted to the front wheels via a 7-speed DSG (dual-clutch) automatic gearbox. While it is not official, the brand could also a more affordable 1.5-liter turbo-petrol engine option with the lower variants at a later stage.
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Design-wise, the new Octavia has undergone a complete makeover both inside and outside. Upfront, it features a lower and wider butterfly grille flanked by single-piece LED headlamps, replacing the older split-headlight setup. The side profile gets a sloping roofline along with the sharp character lines and newly designed alloy wheels. On the other hand, the rear sports split LED taillamps and bold 'SKODA' lettering at the center.
Compared to the previous model, the cabin of 2021 Octavia looks much cleaner and premium, featuring a new two-spoke steering wheel, a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and a 10.25-inch Virtual Cockpit digital instrument display.
Prices of the new Skoda Octavia sedan are likely to start from around Rs 19 lakh (ex-showroom). On arrival to Indian markets, it will battle it out with the Hyundai Elantra, which retails between Rs 17.83 lakh and Rs 21.10 lakh (ex-showroom).
