India-bound 2020 Skoda Octavia spotted for the first time

-    After the Superb, the Skoda Octavia will be the next car to be updated.

-    It will get cosmetic updates, added features and revised powertrain.

-    The Combi (estate model) spotted here will differ from the sedan version in the rear design. 

While Skoda is busy teasing the Superb facelift, a production-ready prototype of the updated Octavia Combi was spotted for the first time in Czechoslovakia. The Octavia is Skoda’s highest selling car and it was spotted in the station wagon guise, covered up in a smartly deceiving camouflage. 

This would be a new generation of the Octavia rather than a mid-life update. So the split headlamp design introduced almost two years ago with the midlife update would go away. They would be replaced by a Superb inspired single-piece headlamp units. Although the test mule has heavy taping around the headlamp with faux DRLs, we know now that the new facia of the Octavia will match the family design. Also, Skoda’s characteristic moustache grille carries the new sleeker design while the front bumper is akin to the one seen on the all-new Scala. At the back, the clever camouflage is hiding the complete taillight design, but from what we could see, the LED taillights matches the current car rather than adopting a new design. 

As with Skoda’s new naming strategy, the brand logo on the tailgate will surely be replaced with SKODA lettering. On the other hand, the new-generation model is also expected to grow in size as well, in order to distance it from the Scala. If rumours are to be believed, the Octavia IV might have an increased footprint owing to the updated MQB platform. Thus, there will be an increase in the cargo volumes by almost 20 litres. There are no words on the new equipment or the powertrain. But being a new generation model, we expect hardware from the more expensive Superb and Kodiaq to trickle down to the new 2020 Octavia. 

The new Skoda Octavia is still a few months away though. However, since the carmaker will be celebrating the model’s 60th anniversary this year we expect to see some form of reveal or teaser in the coming months. Keep watching this space for more.

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