After numerous teasers including the ones with headlamp and tail lamp details earlier this week, the Czech manufacturer has finally revealed the all-new 2013 Octavia. The new D-segment sedan will be on sale in Europe by March 2013 and is expected to replace the Laura in India a little later.
Based on the VisionD concept, the third-generation Octavia looks bigger, rounder and classier than the current model. The design philosophy of the sedan resembles that of the European Skoda Rapid, but the larger dimensions are obvious. This model is 90mm longer and 45 wider than its predecessor, with 108mm longer wheelbase adding to the cabin space. Despite all the extra size, this Octavia is 102 kilos lighter.
Skoda will be offering this new model with choice of four petrol and four diesel engines. The petrol range includes 1.4TSI in two states of tune – 120bhp and 138bhp. The bigger units include the 1.8TSI pumping 177bhp and 2.0-litre TSI for the vRS version. The diesel options are 1.6-litre TDI developing either 103bhp or 108bhp, along with 2.0-litre TDI available in 147bhp and 181bhp guise.
The new features list includes Green Tec Start/Stop system as standard across all variants, nine airbags for top-end variants, Lane departure warning system, Driver assist, touch-screen media player, cruise control and few others. The European prices for the car have not been announced as yet and they are expected closer to the launch date.
The second generation of the sedan was sold in India as the Laura, as Skoda offered the previous model with Octavia badge simultaneously. Now that the badge is free, we believe that the upcoming model will once again be christened Octavia in India. Though Skoda India has not revealed any details, we expect the sedan to be available in India as early as June 2013.
