Skoda Auto has begun production of the fourth-generation Octavia sedan at its Aurangabad-based facility. It will go on sale later this month with prices likely to start from around Rs 19 lakh (ex-showroom). Once launched, Octavia will battle it out with only the Hyundai Elantra, which retails between Rs 17.83 lakh and Rs 21.10 lakh (ex-showroom). For the people not in know, Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic have been discontinued from the Indian market.
The all-new Skoda Octavia will be powered by a 2.0-liter TSI turbocharged petrol engine, borrowed from its elder sibling Superb. This motor is good enough in producing 190PS and 320Nm of peak output. Transmission duties will be taken care of by a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic unit. The brand could also offer a locally assembled 150PS 1.5-litre turbo-petrol motor from the Skoda Kushaq at a later stage. It won't get any diesel engine options. However, Skoda has previously stated that it would evaluate the demand for diesel, and could probably bring back the CI motors for its larger offerings.
In terms of design, the 2021 Octavia will get an all-new styling. Upfront, it features Skoda's traditional butterfly grille flanked by sleek conventional type 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. Adding the finishing touch to the luxurious appeal of the sedan, the rear comprises split LED taillamps and bold ‘SKODA’ lettering at the centre. Based on the Volkswagen Group’s modular MQB platform, the new Skoda Octavia will be 19mm longer and 15mm wider than the outgoing model.
Inside, the new Octavia gets a completely redesigned cabin, featuring a new two-spoke steering wheel, a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and a 10.25-inch Virtual Cockpit digital instrument display. Features onboard are likely to include connected car technology, Apple Carplay & Android Auto support, a panoramic sunroof, ventilated seats, semi-auto parking assist, tyre pressure monitoring, a wireless phone charger, up to eight airbags, ISOFIX child seat anchorages, and many more.
