Skoda Octiva To Hit Indian Stores In 2013
Back in 2000 when Maruti Suzuki was churning out Maruti 800s in large numbers and the only option for luxury car buyers was the Mercedes E class, a little known Czech car manufacturer made a silent entry into the Indian car market.
It was Skoda, one of the most popular and widely admired car-makers of Europe.
The auto giant entered the Indian market with the Octavia. This car had everything going for it- it boasted great space, superb build quality and an incredibly powerful engine.
So, it was no surprise that the car got overbooked within months of its launch, and since then Skoda never looked back.
After more than of a decade of its presence in India, the company has its hand full with models in almost every segment in the market.
Though the Yeti and the Fabia could never really take off, other models like The Rapide, Laura and Superb have been sold in decent numbers. And yet, none could replicate the success that Octavia brought to the company.
Now in 2013, Skoda wants to repeat the same success of the year 2000 and plans to launch a brand new Octavia in India.
The new Octavia is built on Volkswagen’s new MQB variable platform. It is 90mm longer and 45mm wider than the present Laura. The wheelbase now stands at 2686mm, which is just a little less of shy of the one used for the Volkswagen Passat.
Despite all this, Skoda engineers have managed to make the car lighter by up to 102kg depending on engine and variants.
As far as power under the go, the new Octavia will be available with a choice of eight power trains and two transmissions – 6-speed manual and DSG boxes. The petrol range starts with the 1.4-litre TSI taken from the Indian Jetta in two power outputs, 122PS and 140PS.
The existing 1.8-litre will now make approximately 180PS while the vRS version which will be launched later will have a 2.0-litre engine.
The diesel engine range starts with 1.6-litre engine making 105PS and 110PS while the more powerful 2.0-litres produces an estimated 150PS and 180PS respectively. There is also an all-wheel drive and estate version in the works. Apart from the entry-level petrol and diesel
models, every other version comes with start-stop system.
The new Octavia is expected to hit Indian shores by the middle of this year. Though the car has a much larger footprint, prices are expected to be even more competitive than they are now. It seems like that the old stalwart from Skoda is going to come all guns blazing when it gets
launched.
