Skoda “Octavia” Makes a Come Back To India. Full Coverage: Page.4

[rekharam]

Re: Skoda “Octavia” To Make a Come Back in India

Thanks 350Z. Eagerly waiting for your first hand report.

 

[350Z]

Re: Skoda “Octavia” To Make a Come Back in India

Thanks 350Z. Eagerly waiting for your first hand report.

I’m not attending the event. Superbad is. However, we expect to road test the New Octavia as soon as it debuts in the market.

Drive Safe,
350Z

 

[Superbad]

Coverage: Skoda Unveils New Octavia in India

​

The Octavia is back! Skoda has unveiled the much awaited all-new Octavia this evening in Mumbai. The official market launch is scheduled for this festive season and production has already commenced at the plant in Aurangabad alongside Laura, Yeti and Superb. Skoda although did not disclose the pricing, variant or engine related details but these are a few observations / pointers from the event:

> Skoda Laura will be soon phased out from the Indian market.

> New Octavia has a shorter front overhang while its wheelbase is 108mm longer than predecessor.

> The C-Pillar is far pulled back and therefore separates this sedan from the traditional three box cars.

> The interiors aren’t compromised due to the external sporty design. In fact, they’re claimed to be roomier than Octavia II.

> No official information on engine line up but expect a 1.4L / 1.8L TFSi (Petrol) and 2.0L (Diesel) with manual and automatic gearbox.

> Personally I found the appearance and overall feel more towards the Volkswagen Jetta. In some cases, even better with the MID.

Press Release:

The ŠKODA Octavia returns to India. Today sees the first of the latest generation of ŠKODA’s bestseller roll off the production lines from the Indian plant in Aurangabad. The new ŠKODA Octavia boasts of great roominess, high functionality and incorporation of latest technology, making it a fantastic value for money product. “The new ŠKODA Octavia is now being produced at purpose-built facilities in one of the international growth markets. By far our most important model in the Indian market is also an engine of growth for ŠKODA,” says ŠKODA CEO Prof. Dr.h.c. Winfried Vahland.

The third generation is the largest, most practical, safest, most comfortable and environmentally friendly Octavia ever. The Octavia boasts of unrivalled space, a timeless and elegant design, high functionality, innovative safety and comfort systems, economical consumption, many Simply Clever ideas and typical ŠKODA value for money. The car is in a class of its own and offers mid-class qualities for the price of a compact car. “The new Octavia is a great car that meets the needs of Indian customers perfectly: lots of space, modern design, excellent quality and advanced technology at an affordable price,” says Werner Eichhorn, ŠKODA Board Member for Sales and Marketing.

Sudhir Rao, Managing Director, ŠKODA Auto India, said, “The ‘Octavia’ model line launched ŠKODA in the country 12 years ago and has enjoyed a cult status in India ever since. The Octavia instantly became a game changer in the segment and revolutionized the Indian automotive industry. Since then ŠKODA has come a long way in the Indian market and the Octavia has always been the heart of our brand. Now, with the new-generation Octavia, which will be introduced in India during the festival season, we promise all of this and much more.”

With the launch of the new Octavia, the Czech car maker in India follows on from the success of the first-generation Octavia. Between November 2001 and October 2010,the Octavia inspired Indian customers and 44,900 Octavias were bought during this period alone. “At its premier in 2001, the first Octavia redefined its segment in India,” says Vahland. To date the car has enjoyed cult status in India. It owes this to its perfect engineering, commitment to quality and style as well as the combination of functionality and technology. This has ensured that ŠKODA has become a multi award-winning top brand in India.

The new ŠKODA Octavia is being produced at the Indian ŠKODA factory in Aurangabad, where the Superb, Yeti and Laura are already being manufactured. The Octavia is a key product in the largest model campaign in ŠKODA’s corporate history. This campaign lights the way as the manufacturer continues on its path to growth. The ultimate aim of this growth strategy is to increase annual sales worldwide to at least 1.5 million vehicles per year. ŠKODA has been present on the Indian market since 2001. In 2012 the brand increased their sales in the country by 14.2% to more than 30,000 vehicles. In the first seven months of 2013 alone, the Czechs sold 13,800 vehicles in the subcontinent. This means that around 178,300 ŠKODAs were delivered to Indian customers between 2001 and the end of July 2013.

 

[Superbad]

Coverage: Skoda Unveils New Octavia in India

 

[Superbad]

Coverage: Skoda Unveils New Octavia in India

 

[Superbad]

Coverage: Skoda Unveils New Octavia in India

 

[Superbad]

Coverage: Skoda Unveils New Octavia in India

 

[Raja]

Re: Skoda “Octavia” To Make a Come Back in India

The Octavia, when launched here in 2001, attracted a lot of attention. And for good reason – it was fast, frugal, well built and very comfortable. Most importantly for our market, it came with an affordable price tag. This was the car that made Skoda’s fortunes here. When the second generation car was launched, the Octavia name was ditched in favour of Laura. This was also quite a success, but did not manage to garner as much fan following. Now, with the latest Octavia, the carmaker hopes to recreate the hype around the first avatar. The plan Skoda has for India is pretty exciting too. There’ll be more powerful and updated versions of the ubiquitous 2.0-litre diesel and the fantastic 1.8-litre TSI petrol, and this time around, the range will include new, smaller engines like the 1.4-litre TSI. And that could mean a competitive starting price of something like Rs 12.5 lakh (ex-showroom). But is the new Octavia good enough to rise to the top?

Its clean-cut looks certainly are a good starting point. The bold, clean strokes and spot-on proportions help give it a stance that is difficult to fault. And that’s despite the bulk of the car. The focus of the design, of course, is Skoda’s new ‘butterfly’ grille, with its 21 high-gloss slats and two-tone flying arrow badge standing proud. Chiselled headlamps and a square jaw make up the rest of the nose. Detailing on the remainder of the car is minimal and almost Audi-like in its exclusion of the unnecessary. Still, a BMW-like flick is visible at the base of the C pillar, and a black splitter adds definition to the rear of the car. On the inside, the car is more practical and less overtly luxurious, with the profusion of chrome highlights and wood panelling missing. The design of the dash is neat and minimalist, with large chamfered surfaces making up the various layers. The vents have a flick in them that mirror the C pillar kink, and the wide centre console has been tilted back at a jaunty angle. A large colour touchscreen takes pride of place on the centre console and Skoda has used plenty of black lacquer-like plastic around it. A generous amount of aluminium has been used on the doors and around the gear lever too, and a smooth velvet-like finish has been employed for some of the larger swatches of plastic on the dash. Also adding substantially to the neat and crisply ironed look of the cabin are the white-on-black dials.

In terms of space, there’s plenty. The new Octavia is clearly larger on the inside now, with the wheelbase a massive 108mm larger than the Laura’s. And the cabin feels noticeably wider too. There’s massive space in the front of the cabin and legroom at the rear feels as generous as an Audi A6! The seats match the rest of the cabin, and are large and remain comfortable over a day behind the wheel. The rear seats, however, would’ve done better with a bit more support. Otherwise, space and comfort are right up there with full-size luxury cars. There’s even plenty of cubbyholes and storage areas, be it bins for larger bottles or space for essentials like phones. The boot offers a very generous 590 litres and with the the rear seats folded, there’s a full 1,000 litres more. One of the key differences between the new car and the old is the weight. The doors feel lighter to shut and the cabin lacks the heft and solid build of the earlier car. Weight saving, in fact, has been a key theme of the VW Group’s new crop of cars. The MQB platform, which this Skoda shares with VW and Audi, has been designed to be light and really efficient. Despite being larger, the use of high-strength steel has resulted in a weight saving of approximately 70kg, model for model. And this is good for performance, efficiency and tailpipe emissions.

The new Octavia is also lighter to drive than you’d expect. It’s easy to guide this 2.0 TDI with nothing more than your fingertips, and the electric power steering system also points the car in the right direction with a good amount of accuracy. It feels light and easy to drive around the city and feels quite Passat like. It turns with the same light, well-oiled feel from the steering and the ride of the big new Octavia is quite similar too; there is a bit of edge to it over sharper bumps but it’s generally pretty absorbent. What’s also familiar is the diesel motor under the hood. This 2.0-litre unit is probably the VW Group’s most popular motor in India, and here in updated form (now called the EA288), it puts on a good show. There’s plenty of punch in the mid-range as the big Octavia rides the torque curve, and it gathers pace briskly all the way up to speeds as high as 160 or 170kph. It’s not the most silent diesel around though, and it does tend to sound a bit gruff when pulled hard. And, at lower speeds, there is a bit of turbo lag that you need to drive around as well.

Source: New Skoda Octavia review, test drive | Review | Autocar India

 

[350Z]

Re: Skoda “Octavia” To Make a Come Back in India

Note: New Skoda Octavia Soft Launch Coverage Now Online (Post #33, 34, 35 36 & 37). Thanks Superbad!

Drive Safe,
350Z

 

[Sarvash]

Re: Skoda “Octavia” Makes a Come Back To India. Full Coverage: Page.3

Does anyone know what kind of suspension setup the 2013 octavia came on during the unveiling ?

 

[Gurrala74]

Re: Skoda “Octavia” Makes a Come Back To India. Full Coverage: Page.3

Nice coverage Superbad

My favorite car is back again which I always felt as a complete Sedan and with new "Avatar" it looks more aggressive than earlier version.

How about variants and prices

 

[Raja]

Re: Skoda “Octavia” Makes a Come Back To India. Full Coverage: Page.3

Nice coverage Superbad . The pics are great too . It gets launched in ganpati or Diwali ?

 

[Tornado]

Re: Skoda “Octavia” Makes a Come Back To India. Full Coverage: Page.3

Someone ,please provide full form of MQB here http://www.theautomotiveindia.com/f...tions-acronyms-short-forms-mnemonics-tai.html

 

[Raja]

Re: Skoda “Octavia” Makes a Come Back To India. Full Coverage: Page.3

Someone ,please provide full form of MQB here http://www.theautomotiveindia.com/f...tions-acronyms-short-forms-mnemonics-tai.html

Beginning in 2012, Volkswagen Group has marketed the strategy under the code name MQB, which stands for Modularer Querbaukasten, translating from German to "Modular Transversal Toolkit" or "Modular Transverse Matrix".[1][2] MQB is one strategy within VW's overall MB (Modularer Baukasten or modular matrix) program which also includes the similar MLB strategy for vehicles with longitunal engine orientation.[3]
Volkswagen Group MQB platform - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Modular Transverse Matrix < Innovations < Welcome to Volkswagen India


The beginning of a new era:The Modular Transverse Matrix platform (MQB).
Volkswagen AG will this year introduce the Modular Transverse Matrix platform, known as the MQB, for the Audi, Seat, Skoda and Volkswagen brands worldwide. In the last few years the entire company has been preparing for this moment. A thousand engineers at Volkswagen and many thousands more engineers at the suppliers have been involved in one of the biggest development initiatives in the creation of the matrix platform system, which is intended to secure the future of the Volkswagen Group and will be used in every segment from the Polo to the Passat. Everything has been optimised in recent years with an eye to the aspects which matter for the customer and for society, today and in the future: efficiency, safety, comfort, convenience, design and driving pleasure.
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Design and package benefit.

The forward relocation of the front wheels results in especially balanced proportions in the design, plus the optimised use of space for the vehicle's occupants: in other words, the package. In contrast to the platform concept, a modular matrix principle opens up much more scope for the design of all sorts of vehicles, including emotional niche models - thanks to variable wheelbases or track widths, for example.
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Lower fuel consumption and less pollution.

Thanks to the entirely redeveloped engine families, consistently trimmed for lower CO2 figures with start-stop recuperation systems as standard, the global innovation of active cylinder management in four-cylinder engines, EU-6 certification and a CNG option, emissions are significantly reduced. Several million new customers will benefit in the final development of the MQB. The MQB will reduce CO2 emissions by more than a million tonnes per year. And if you want emissions-free motoring you can get it from 2013 with a purely or largely (plug-in hybrid) electrically powered Blue-e-motion model.
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Reversal of the weight spiral.

Thanks to an intelligent mix of materials and ultra-modern construction principles, the MQB will also lead to a reversal of the weight spiral. Take the example of the Golf: In spite of tremendous advances in the areas of comfort and safety, the weight of the next-generation Golf will be on a par with that of the fourth-generation Golf (1997-2004). More driving pleasure, lower fuel consumption.
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More safety and comfort.

The modular matrix principle makes possible around 20 innovations in the areas of safety, driver assistance and infotainment which were previously reserved for the higher vehicle segments. This is not only a positive development for new customers but is also of benefit to other road users. For example, the MQB brings a new feature to the compact class as standard: the new multi-collision system. The same applies to the wide range of driver assistance systems which are now available in the compact class. The high number of vehicles based on the MQB means that we can expect a significant reduction in the number of secondary collisions in real traffic situations. Along with the new active safety systems, the MQB increases passive safety in all models thanks to an improved impact-absorbing structure.
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More versatile infotainment options.

The modular matrix principle has also been translated for all the infotainment systems. This provides the driver with access to functions which until now have only been familiar from higher vehicle classes, if at all. For example, vehicles can be equipped with a touchscreen which, thanks to an innovative surface, enables intuitive and safe use of the controls even while driving. This is made possible by a proximity sensor system especially developed for Volkswagen – with the look and feel of leading smartphones and tablet PCs.
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Sights firmly set on sustainability.

The modular matrix principle makes the latest sustainable technologies accessible to every new car buyer in emerging markets. Above all, a genuine positive effect for society is achieved by means of innovations that make road transport safer for all road users around the world, and developments which reduce air pollution in every market. The high flexibility of intelligent modular systems makes the implementation of regional requirements more feasible.
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Exploiting synergies for the present and for the future.

All these aspects help to secure the success of the Group from both economic and ecological perspectives. As a result of the high number of vehicles and customers that will benefit, as well as suppliers to the Volkswagen Group in Europe and worldwide, they also represent a contribution to meeting the social challenges of the present and of the future.

 

[Superbad]

Re: Skoda “Octavia” Makes a Come Back To India. Full Coverage: Page.3

Nice coverage Superbad . The pics are great too . It gets launched in ganpati or Diwali ?

they said festive season. probably its diwali.