2016 Skoda Superb India review, test drive

Skoda recently launched the new Superb in India. We find out if it lives up to its legacy.

What is it?

 

One of India's most popular luxury cars, the Superb appeals to Indian car buyers as it is a full-sized luxury car that's relatively affordable. It has seen widespread acceptance as its strengths mesh perfectly with the needs of Indian luxury car buyers. The Superb is big and attractive, while the space and comfort inside are as good as cars costing more than twice its price.

 

Skoda offers the new Superb with two engines and transmissions options. The 1.8-litre petrol that outputs 177bhp, comes mated to either a manual six-speed gearbox or a seven-speed DSG auto. The 2.0-litre diesel engine comes with only a six-speed twin clutch automatic gearbox and develops 174bhp and a massive 36kgm of torque. 

 

 

The Superb is available in five versions, with two basic trim levels – Style and Laurin & Klement. 

The base 1.8 TSI manual starts at Rs 23.82 lakh. This version is quite loaded with features like bi-xenon headlamps, electronic stability control, eight airbags, a panoramic sunroof, 12-way electric adjust driver seat, a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment unit with SmartLink, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto among a host of other features. The Style trim can also be had with the 7-speed auto for Rs 25.13 lakh, and with the diesel 6-speed automatic, it costs Rs 27.73 lakh (all prices ex-showroom, Delhi). 

 

The higher trim level, Laurin & Klement comes with a premium Canton sound system, ambient interior lighting, driver fatigue detection system, remote opening and closing boot lid, 12-way electric adjust passenger seat and a three-zone climate control system among others. The model with the petrol auto box in this trim will cost Rs 28.25 lakh and the diesel auto will cost you Rs 30.85 lakh. Question is, how good is it? Does it take the entry luxury game forward, and by how much?

 

 

What’s it like on the inside? 

 

Comfy. Yes, the Superb’s calling card has always been the seating comfort, specifically at the rear where the seats are large and offer good thigh support. But what’s really neat is the nicely angled footrest attached to the floor mats at the bottom. However, the only negative here is the middle seat, which is narrower, harder and higher up putting you closer to the roof, thus limiting headroom; there is also a large central tunnel to contend with. The rear AC vent unit is neatly done and has its own temperature control (but no blower control), which makes this the only Skoda with a three-zone climate control unit. The system also has a humidity sensor that prevents the interiors from fogging up. 

 

 

With the Superb being based on VW's MQB platform, Skoda has borrowed many components from other cars on the inside, and this does tend to make it feel not so special in parts. There are too many components from the Octavia, and while these are not bad in themselves, you tend to expect more from the Superb. 

 

Being a Skoda, there are a few clever touches in the cabin, like the bottle holder that can grip the botlle allowing you to open the cap. Another feature is the boot release –  if the key is on you, you just need to kick your foot below the bumper sensor and the boot swings open. There is a system that prevents the tall hatch from fouling the ceiling (limits the opening height). The boot itself is a huge 625 litres that can be extended to 1,760 litres with the rear seat back folded down. It also holds fine details such as a side luggage box, loads of hooks, the option of cargo nets. 

And of course, it’s a Superb, so like the old car this one gets the umbrella too, but this time around there's one on both front doors.

 

 

What's it like to drive?

 

The Superb comes with good stability and a fair amount of agility. As a result, it feels completely at ease at speed despite the suspension being quite pliant, helping you can stay relaxed behind the wheel. What also helps, especially on the way into corners, is that the brakes are nicely set up, so you can shave speed at will. The soft setup, however, means there is quite a bit of roll, some amount of float and it does pitch a bit as well. So while it does make its way around corners quite nicely, it isn’t a car in which you enjoy carving up corners in.

 

You do need an extra bit of steering lock into corners, but once you’ve turned in, it feels light on its feet and goes around quite willingly. The steering, however, lacks the heft and feel of the earlier car, though for accuracy it’s right up there with the best of them. The Superb also comes with a ‘smart’ differential for the front wheels, but because the setup is soft, you don’t really feel the benefit.

 

 

That aside, the ride is absolute dynamite. The raised-for-India suspension is pillow-soft, even over the roughest roads, and the long wheelbase and big tyres lend a helping hand too. What makes the ride even nicer is the fact that the suspension works silently, no knocks or whacks filtering in, and that is important for what will predominantly be a chauffeur-driven car.

 

Adding to the level of refinement is the smooth and slick petrol motor. An absolute delight both at low and high engine speeds, it is both extremely refined and very powerful at the same time. Idle is near silent, there’s a nice shot of torque when you take off, and what makes driving this car even more gratifying is that it always feels eager to deliver more performance. Incredibly, rev it past 2,500rpm, and it smoothens up even more, and as you spin it faster the punch is even more manic. The engine and gearbox work fabulously together, delivering a slingshot-like performance every time you mash your foot down. And the gearbox is quick, even when you want to come down the gears. 

 

 

Should I buy one? 

 

We can’t think of a big enough reason not to. Sure, the touchscreen is small at 6.5 inches (people have phones bigger than this today) and it misses the in-built navigation. The instrument dials are a bit plain-looking and the middle rear seat is not that comfortable, but look at these against the Superb's rock-solid build, entertaining engines, excellent ride, and the space and equipment that's far ahead of what other manufacturer's offer. It’s hard not to give this car a serious consideration. And if you are still sitting on the fence, Skoda has priced this car so competitively that making a case against it will be really quite difficult.

 Fact File

Price Range (in lakhs)*

Ex-showroom price

Rs 23.82 lakh to Rs 30.85 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)

Engine

Fuel	Petrol / Diesel
Installation	Front, transverse
Type	4 cyl 1798cc turbo petrol / 4 cyl 1968cc turbo diesel
Power	177bhp / 174.3 bhp
Torque	32.63kgm (MT), 25.49kgm (AT) / 35.69kgm

Transmission

Type	Front-wheel drive
Gearbox	6-speed manual, 7-speed DSG / 6-speed DSG

Dimensions

Length	4861mm
Width	1864mm
Height	1483mm
Wheel base	2841mm

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New Skoda Octavia review

The Octavia nameplate is set to make a comeback here soon. And this may just be the car to rile up the competition in this segment. 

 

 

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.

This diesel, however, comes with a non-independent rear suspension. So, while straight-line stability is impressive and confidence from behind the wheel is good, agility isn’t great. The front and rear suspension feel quite disconnected when you drive enthusiastically and the Octavia doesn’t really respond well when you attack a section of corners.

The level of agility is much higher on the 1.8 TSI-powered version. Skoda says cars above a certain horsepower will get an independent, multi-link rear suspension and that makes a huge difference to the way the car drives. On a suitably fun road, the 1.8 TSI will have enthusiastic drivers beaming. It’s like a completely different car. It darts into corners with the agility of something half its size, the rear feels totally in sync with the very grippy front, and the really fast steering rack makes punting this car around a real joy. It feels light, agile and very modern from behind the wheel. What ups your confidence is the truly great set of brakes, which allow you to carry higher speeds into a corner with a bit more confidence. So complete is the transformation, it even rides better over poor patches. The electric steering system still feels a bit dead around the centre and there isn’t very much in the way of weight or feel, but the rest of the car is so good, you actually tend to forget the steering and enjoy the drive.

What’s even better is the updated and uprated 177bhp 1.8 TSI direct-injection, turbo-petrol motor. Under the hood of the Superb and the Laura, this is already one of our favourite engines, and now with more power and torque and greater responsiveness, it feels even better. It’s really smooth, it enjoys a bit of stick, and it integrates so well with the twin-clutch gearbox that it’s an absolute joy to pull up and down the rev band. And it’s punchy too. Peak torque on this motor starts as low down as 1250rpm, which is nuts for a petrol, so you can either pull the left-hand-side paddle and ask for explosive performance or just sit in a higher gear and let all that torque do the work. In fact, if anything, this motor feels punchiest in the mid-range, and that spurs you on even further. What we’ll miss is the six-speed manual – Skoda plans to launch this car in India with only the DSG automatics.

What Skoda has on its hands is a potential winner. Its freshly chiselled looks will appeal to most, space and comfort are from a segment above, and the cars are likely to be well specified and priced as well. The 1.4 TSI (not driven here) is likely to start at Rs 12.5 lakh (ex-showroom), the 1.8 TSI will cost a bit more, and you should be able to get a decently specified diesel for Rs 14 lakh. The clever bit is that the diesel and petrol versions each have different characters, perfectly suited to their use. The 2.0 TDI is more comfort oriented and not as fun to drive. The 1.8 TSI, on the other hand, is agile, exciting and comes with an engine that can deliver explosive bursts of power. All Skoda India has to do now is cross the T’s and dot the I’s and make sure it improves its aftersales service experience.

 

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Skoda Yeti facelift revealed

Updated Skoda Yeti to get a softer yet elegant look. 

 

Here are the first official pictures of the updated Skoda Yeti.
As you can see, the Yeti gets a much-required minor styling update. The front styling now follows the design language seen in newer Skoda models such as the international-market Rapid, the new Octavia and the updated Superb. The front is now more angular, featuring a new-style signature Skoda grille with the logo that recently made its debut in India with the unveiling of the new Octavia.
Also new are the square-ish headlamps, and gone are those chunky, round fog lamps. These have been replaced by conventional-looking units shaped like those on the new Octavia.

The hood is also all-new, as are the front bumper and chin, which are now re-profiled with straighter lines that go well with the new signature Skoda grille and headlamp combo.

Skoda will sell the updated Yeti in two variants, namely the the Yeti City and the Yeti Outdoor.
In the City version, Skoda has got rid of the rugged-looking black plastic bits on the Yeti in favour of body-coloured elements – this gives the updated Yeti a softer and more upmarket look. The Outdoor variant will be offered with black plastic bits on the exterior for a more rugged look.

Moving on to the sides, the overall profile remains the same, but gets a smoother appearance. The alloy wheels also get new designs.

Rear styling sees updates in the form of the trunk-lid getting the new triangular kinks which are also seen on the Indian-market Skoda Rapid. The tail-lights are re-profiled and now come with familiar C-shape inserts which could house LED units.  Additional styling update on the rear includes a smoothened bumper with re-styled reflectors.

Interior updates include a new steering wheel, and minor revisions to the seat fabric and shades.  There is no news on any mechanical update and the Yeti is expected to continue with the same engine lineup as earlier.
 
Skoda will showcase the updated Yeti at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show.

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Skoda Superb facelift revealed

Updates include revisions to the exterior and interior; expect it to be launched here by the end of 2013.

Skoda has revealed its updated Superb saloon, which features revisions on the inside and out.

On the outside, the new Superb gets a new grille, logo, head- and fog-lights, bumpers, front fenders and bonnet. Skoda has also added bi-xenon headlights with integrated LED daytime running lights, and the rear lights have also been redesigned.

The changes in the cabin include a new four-spoke steering wheel, a new gear lever, new colour schemes and the front passenger seat can also be moved from the rear electronically. There’s also an automatic reverse parking system.

The facelifted Superb will continue to be offered with the same engine choices when it is launched here. This includes a 1.8-litre TSI petrol engine, a 2.0-litre TDI and a 3.6-litre V6 petrol engine. The TSI motor comes with the option of a six-speed manual or a seven-speed DSG auto ‘box, while the 2-litre diesel and the 3.6-litre V6 is available with a six-speed DSG only.

"The Skoda Superb is the pinnacle of our model line-up and proves its capability as a manufacturer. The present comprehensive facelift has made our top model even more attractive,” says Skoda CEO Winfried Vahland. “The Skoda Superb offers comfort beyond the middle-class standard. This means lots of room, excellent functionality, high comfort, top safety, great value for money and timeless elegance. We are always intent on offering our customers a little bit extra car.”

An official launch date hasn’t been announced yet, but the facelifted Superb is expected to hit showrooms here by end-2013.

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New Skoda Octavia spied in India

New Octavia will be launched in the coming months.

Skoda is preparing to launch the new Octavia in the coming months. We have recieved a picture of the all-new Octavia being tested in India. 

Built on VW’s new MQB variable platform that allows for almost infinite variations in length, wheelbase and width, the new Octavia is 90mm longer and 45mm wider than the Laura. The wheelbase now stands at 2686mm, and that is just shy of the one used for the VW Passat.

The fit and finish on the inside has also been stepped up. Seams are almost invisible, the quality of plastics is improved for the most part, and the neat and simple design of the dash is quite appealing. Boot space stands at a generous 590 litres.

The new Octavia will also come with a range of new safety features such as lane assistance, automatic braking system and also fatigue detection system. It will also get as nine airbags. The new Octavia will also come equipped with adaptive cruise control and intelligent light assistant that switches automatically between low and high beams, and traffic sign recognition as well.

Though the car has a much larger footprint, prices are expected to be even more competitive than they are now (the Laura currently starts at Rs 12.9 lakh for the 1.8 TSI). The EA888 1.8 TSI engine will be upgraded and will now make around 175bhp in India. There will also be a new automatic version that is sure to attract a whole new set of customers. The base petrol, however, will be a 140bhp version of the 1.4 TSI, the engine seen on the VW Jetta, and is likely to be even more affordable. As earlier, there will also be two diesel versions. Both will use the same 2.0-litre TDI engine, but power outputs could be upped to 120 and 150bhp, respectively. Other engine options for the future include a 105bhp 1.6 diesel and possibly a 200-plus-bhp petrol vRS version, which could hit a top speed of 250kph. A diesel vRS is also likely to make it to Indian shores later.

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New Skoda Octavia coming this year

Skoda Laura replacement will be called the Octavia. We take a detailed look at whether it has what it takes to shake up the established order.

Skoda created nothing short of a sensation when it launched the Octavia in India back in 2000. The Mark I Octavia came to India at a time when the only real luxury car present was a Mercedes E-class, and its combination of size, build quality, price and incredible fuel economy meant customers made a beeline for it. And Skoda hasn’t looked back since.

Today, 12 years down the road, the company has five distinct model lines on sale here, and though not all of them are resounding successes, the Rapid, Superb and to some extent the Laura have sold in sufficiently large numbers. Look closely at the success these cars have enjoyed and an interesting trend emerges. Both give you an incredible amount of space and size for the money and Skoda now, logically, wants to apply this simple but very effective formula for success to the new Octavia.

 

 

Built on VW’s new MQB variable platform that allows for almost infinite variations in length, wheelbase and width, the new Octavia is 90mm longer and 45mm wider than the Laura. The wheelbase now stands at 2686mm, and that is just shy of the one used for the VW Passat.

 

 

As a result, the new Octavia is likely to set the benchmark for interior space. Climb into the car and the feeling of spaciousness is what appeals to you first. And this is especially true of the rear seat, which feels almost as spacious as that of a Mercedes E-class. The seat back is perfectly angled, support for your lower and upper back is really good, and legroom is huge. The seat squab is a bit short, which may detract from thigh support to some extent though. Skoda has, however, softened the seat cushioning considerably; the seats are much more comfortable and not extra hard as on the Laura.

 

The fit and finish on the inside has also been stepped up. Seams are almost invisible, the quality of plastics is improved for the most part, and the neat and simple design of the dash is quite appealing.

Skoda’s new design language is clearly visible on the new Octavia. Sharper, cleaner and more technical, the SK371 (its internal codename) has also been designed to have a long shelf life. The detailing is fatigue free, the bold, confident lines on the bonnet give the snout a chiselled look, and the kick up towards the end of the rear door gives the car a new identity. And this is an Octavia, so it gets a hatch at the rear and an incredible 590 litres of boot space. LED tail-lights, drawn out in the shape of a ‘C’ of course, complete the look, which without a shadow of doubt looks as clean-cut and fresh as anything from Audi. 

The new Octavia is also full of new and interesting safety systems. There’s a lane assistant that warns you if you stray out of your lane, an automatic braking system that helps you avoid multiple collisions, a fatigue detection system and up to nine airbags. There’s adaptive cruise control, an intelligent light assistant that switches automatically between low and high beams, and traffic sign recognition as well.

 

 

The Octavia III is also around 85kg lighter than the old model thanks to the use of higher-strength steels, and this impacts both performance and economy. Lower-powered Octavia models will get a lower-spec beam axle rear suspension, which, though not as dynamically adept as an independent setup, also happens to save another 16kg of weight.

 

 

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 (the Laura currently starts at Rs 12.9 lakh for the 1.8 TSI). The EA888 1.8 TSI engine will be upgraded and will now make around 175bhp in India. There will also be a new automatic version that is sure to attract a whole new set of customers. The base petrol, however, will be a 140bhp version of the 1.4 TSI, the engine seen on the VW Jetta, and is likely to be even more affordable. As earlier, there will also be two diesel versions. Both will use the same 2.0-litre TDI engine, but power outputs could be upped to 120 and 150bhp, respectively. Other engine options for the future include a 105bhp 1.6 diesel and possibly a 200-plus-bhp petrol vRS version, which could hit a top speed of 250kph. A diesel vRS is also likely to make it to Indian shores later.

 

Skoda is keen to kick start sales of the new Octavia in India and it is pretty bullish on the prospects of the new car. And that’s despite the fact that the segment it competes in is shrinking. However, after getting up close and personal with the car, we have to say it looks like Skoda is onto yet another potential winner. The car appears to be just what Indian car buyers want.

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New Skoda Octavia revealed

Skoda has taken the wraps off its third-generation Octavia. It is based on the VW Group’s new modular MQB platform.

Skoda has unveiled the third-generation Octavia – the successor to the car we know as the Laura here in India. It is larger than before and the company claims that it provides class-leading interior space.

Based on a stretched version of the Volkswagen Group’s new MQB platform, the Octavia is now 4659mm long, an increase of 90mm over its predecessor. Width is up by 45mm to 1814mm, but the real gain is in the wheelbase, which has grown by 108mm to 2686mm. These figures better even the VW Jetta, which is currently one of the biggest cars in this class.

 

The new Octavia has what Skoda claims is class-leading interior space, with 1782mm of interior length, and increased head, knee and legroom for front and rear passengers. Boot space is also up, albeit by just five litres to 590. 

 

The entry-level petrol engine will be a 1.4 TSI with 120bhp and 20.3kgm. There will also be a more powerful 1.4 with 138bhp and 25.4kgm of torque. The range-topping petrol model will be the 1.8 TSI, with 177bhp and 25.4kgm. A few months after launch however, a 2.0-litre turbo engine (borrowed from the VW Golf GTI hot hatchback) will be introduced in a new Octavia vRS. 

 

The diesels kick off with a 103bhp 1.6, and there will also be a frugal 108bhp Greenline version of the 1.6. Two 2.0-litre TDIs will also be on offer, with 147bhp and 181bhp. However, which of the motor options will be brought to India still remains unclear.

 

The vRS will surface next July at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. As with the outgoing car, both petrol and diesel vRS models will be offered, and it will be interesting to see if Skoda brings the diesel version to India instead of the petrol this time around.

 

Six-speed manual and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearboxes will be available, and it’s thought that the DSG has been redesigned to take higher torque outputs.  International markets will get estate and four-wheel-drive models, including a rugged ‘Scout’ version, at a later stage, but it’s unlikely that these will make it to India.

 

Inside, the new dashboard is much crisper than today’s. There’s a touchscreen multimedia system, keyless entry and go, and plenty of small, clever touches, such as rubbish bins in the doors and a reversible boot floor, with carpet on one side and rubber on the other. Higher equipment levels include a lane departure warning system and a pop-up bonnet to improve pedestrian safety.

 

The new Octavia will come to India next year.

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Skoda Octavia vRS images leaked

First images show styling details of Skoda’s new Octavia vRS

These are the first images of the forthcoming Skoda Octavia vRS, which have appeared online prior to the car’s official debut.

The pictures of the range-topping Octavia appear to be screenshots from an online car configurator and show the styling details that will differentiate the vRS from the rest of the range.

 

As with the current Octavia vRS, the visual upgrades are subtle. More prominent bumpers front and rear give the car a more sporting stance and there are new twin trapezoidal tail pipes.

 

Propeller-style alloy wheels, as seen on the new VW Golf GTI are also fitted, covering brake calipers that are finished in red. A small spoiler on the boot lid completes the makeover.

 

The Ocatavia vRS is expected to use the same 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine as found in the new Golf GTI. Developing 217bhp, power is up 20bhp over the outgoing model. It is likely to be offered with a choice of six-speed manual or seven-speed DSG twin-clutch gearboxes.

 

The vRS is due to arrive in the some global markets by July after the regular Octavia, which will be available from March. 

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Skoda teases new Octavia

Ahead of an official unveiling expected in the next few days, the Czech manufacturer has released teaser images of the new 2013 Octavia.

Skoda has released a number of images of its new Octavia ahead of an official unveil expected over the coming days.

The shots give little away as to the design of Skoda’s C-segment challenger, but it will carry the same front grille treatment as the Rapid, as well as similar taillights with an exaggerated C-shaped graphic. It will also feature a kick-up line in the side window line for the first time.

Built on the Volkswagen Group’s flexible MQB platform, the 2013 Octavia will be slightly larger than before, to further distance itself from the recently-introduced Rapid. The most revealing image is of the dashboard, which features a range of familiar VW Group components. Skoda has previously said it will introduce more upmarket versions with more luxurious cabins.

The Octavia’s international engine line-up will likely be a 138bhp 1.4 TSI petrol and a 104bhp 1.6 TDI diesel. A 220bhp vRS version is scheduled for a reveal globally next summer. India is likely to get the 2.0-litre diesel and a 1.8-litre turbo petrol motor which are likley to be carried forward from Skoda's current Indian lineup. 

The biggest question is how Skoda will position the new Octavia in our market, especially considering the Laura continues to be a strong seller even after all these years. 

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