Dynamic, elegant, timeless, and emotive: The all-new ŠKODA OCTAVIA launched in India

Mumbai, 10th June, 2021 - ŠKODA AUTO India unveiled the all-new OCTAVIA at an attractive ex-showroom price starting at INR 25.99 lacs nationwide – taking forward the ‘One Nation. One Price.’ philosophy. The OCTAVIA marked the beginning of ŠKODA AUTO’s model offensive campaign for India, conceptualized two decades ago. The fourth generation, with its timeless design, exquisite interiors, class-leading safety, and intelligent connectivity features, pushes the yardstick further.

Mr. Zac Hollis, Brand Director - ŠKODA AUTO India, said, “When it was introduced twenty years ago, the OCTAVIA changed the dynamics of the executive sedan segment – one that continues to offer significant growth potential, catering to a burgeoning class of discerning buyers with a penchant for luxury, as well as the right value proposition. Having retained its characteristics of design, safety, technology, performance, space, and comfort, the all-new OCTAVIA is a compelling combination and will continue to drive ŠKODA AUTO’s success in the Indian market.”

The all-new OCTAVIA has been completely redeveloped. It boasts of a new design, which now demonstrates a more powerful and masculine character. Each and every body panel of the new generation OCTAVIA is new, it does not share anything with its predecessor. The body design not only sharpens the all-new ŠKODA OCTAVIA’s visual appearance but also enables excellent aerodynamics. With a drag coefficient (Cd) of 0.24, the all-new OCTAVIA is one of the most aerodynamic cars in the world in its segment. The all-new OCTAVIA is 4,689 mm long, 1,469 mm tall, 1,829 mm wide, and comes with a wheelbase of 2,680 mm.

In the OCTAVIA’s front section is a classic robust grill, with its striking chrome frame, that grabs all the attention. Following on from the grill are razor-sharp, narrower, new headlights featuring Bi-LED technology and daytime running lights (standard), which are a visual delight. Even the front LED fog lights have been completely redesigned to give the car a sleeker look. The top-of-the-range L&K variant is given an extra touch of elegance by the tasteful chrome line that encircles and links them.

The side profile of the fourth-generation OCTAVIA reflects ŠKODA AUTO’s evolutionary design language fluently. The expressive shoulder line lengthens the vehicle visually and emphasizes the coupé-like silhouette – an effect intensified even further by the tapered rear window. The signature feature on the outside of the OCTAVIA is the design function tornado line, which encircles the entire car and, in the front section, separates the wing from the bonnet. The ingenious fusing of surfaces, divided by crisp edges, create a light and shadow game to lend the car an added visual appeal. From the side, the expressive shoulder line visually stretches the body and lends the car a dynamic look. The two-part rear lights, with dynamic turn indicators extend into the tailgate to get tied in with the spirit, in which the new ŠKODA models have been designed with the ŠKODA name in letters on the tailgate.

The all-new alloy wheel design accentuates the dynamic appearance of the OCTAVIA even further. The L&K variant will feature 43.18 cm (R17) Pulsar Black alloy wheels, whereas the Style variant gets 43.18 cm (R17) Rotare silver alloy wheels.

The all-new ŠKODA OCTAVIA is available in five paint schemes: Lava Blue, Candy White, Magic Black, Brilliant Silver, and Maple Brown, with the last two exclusively available at the Laurin & Klement.

The interior welcomes one into a perfect harmony of style, functionality, comfort, and space. The OCTAVIA has premium, beige suedia leather upholstery, gracefully complemented by chrome highlights.

The multi-level dashboard has been completely redesigned and is now characterized by its elegant finish. The infotainment display is positioned high on the dashboard and in the driver’s immediate field of sight, which creates a pleasant symmetry. The integrated Phone Box offers wireless mobile phone charging as well as a pair of USB C ports.

The touch-control slider below the display unit aids the multimedia function, sliding one finger across turns up / down the volume. There is also a new button bar, with select functions like hazard warning lights, air-conditioning controls, vehicle settings, and so forth, placed in the driver’s field of vision.

The two-spoke multifunction black leather steering wheel with a paddle shift lends the vehicle an emotive and authentic appearance with a strong identity of its own. The twelve-way electrically adjustable driver and front passenger seats, with lumbar support and three programmable memory function, clearly suggests that ŠKODA AUTO always offers a bit ‘more car’ for your money.

The novel LED-ambient lighting system on the OCTAVIA is a visual delight. The passengers can choose from different shades of colours, called the ‘mood tiles’, or customize a colour, precisely to his or her liking, on a bar. One can even assign a different colour palette to the dashboard and footwell. The new lighting system also assists in safety and turns red when the front doors open.

The all-new OCTAVIA’s bold styling and class leading space may grab the headlines, but the vehicle’s inner workings tell an equally compelling tale. A seven-speed DSG gearbox automatically adapts to one’s driving style while taking road conditions into account.

A first for the Czech auto manufacturer in India, the fourth-generation OCTAVIA features a ‘shift by wire’ technology. A rocker switch with a minimalist design, integrated into the centre console, controls, and electronically conveys the gear selection to the transmission unit. The electromechanical parking module is activated and deactivated by a button on the centre console between the front seats, and this comes as standard across the all new OCTAVIA range and has replaced the mechanical handbrake lever.

The turbocharged 2.0 TSI petrol engine is at the core of the all-new ŠKODA OCTAVIA. It delivers 190 PS (140kW) of power and a peak torque output of 320Nm while delivering fuel efficiency figures of 15.81 km/l (ARAI)

The all-new ŠKODA OCTAVIA has a plethora of the most technically advanced and intelligent connectivity features that add a practical twist to elegance and opens up new vistas with the next generation Virtual Cockpit – a customizable digital instrument panel that offers a fresh perspective on driving data.

The all-new ŠKODA OCTAVIA sports the new 25.4 cm display infotainment system that comes with innovative touch slider for adjusting the volume, and SmartLink™ technology - ŠKODA connectivity bundle supporting MirrorLink™, as well as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, that mirrors a smartphone for seamless connectivity and undistracted drive. It also supports voice command control, new ‘Type C’ USB ports, and Bluetooth® GSM telephony and audio streaming options. By placing a smartphone, face up, over the wireless charging pad, the mobile device automatically connects and starts receiving power - now that’s ‘Simply Clever’.

The premium Canton Sound system on the all-new OCTAVIA Laurin & Klement features 12 speakers, including a subwoofer, and has a power output of 600 plus watts.

The Two-Zone Climatronic air-conditioning system, with the Air Care function, enables different temperatures settings to be set for the front passengers.

The hands-free parking feature minimizes the hassle of parking in tight spots by automatically selecting an appropriate parking place in a row of parallel or perpendicularly parked vehicles. In today’s space-starved streets, hands-free parking is a blessing indeed.

With a capacity of 600 litres, expandable to 1,555 litres with the rear seat backrests folded down, and a 60:40 split, the OCTAVIA is at the top of its class. It transcends to maximized space and practicality for all business, pleasure, and practical essentials. In addition, the Virtual Pedal enables contact-free access to the luggage compartment. The upper position of the powered tailgate can be adjusted to one’s need.

The ‘Simply Clever’ features are defined by attention to details and are as ingenious as they are intuitive. The OCTAVIA comes with a sophisticated, gesture-operated LED reading light unit, smartphone pockets on the front seat backs, a storage compartment in the front doors for an umbrella, easy open-cup holders, a pair of USB C Ports in the Centre Console, a USB C port behind the IRVM, smart cargo elements, hooks, and net restraints for the luggage compartments, roller sun blinds, and so forth. Another “Simply Clever” feature for the all-new OCTAVIA includes a funnel integrated into the lid of the windscreen washer tank. The windscreens now have water ducts, which allows rainwater to drain optimally.

At ŠKODA AUTO, safety is a priority. The standard safety equipment on the fourth- generation OCTAVIA Laurin & Klement includes a wide range of features such as eight airbags: dual front airbags, side airbags at front and rear, and curtain airbags at front and rear, which remains the segment benchmark.

The latest ŠKODA AUTO offering comes equipped with the iBuzz Fatigue Alert that detects signs of fatigue in the driver and prompts him or her to take a break.

The Bi-LED headlights of the new OCTAVIA come with the AFS (Adaptive Front-lighting System) function for optimum illumination of the road and its surroundings. These headlamps can respond to speed changes, as well as to various light and weather conditions. The AFS system includes headlamp swivelling and cornering functions.

In addition, a host of security equipment and safety support functions include ABS (Anti-lock Braking System), ESC (Electronic Stability Control), EBD (Electronic Brake-force Distribution), MBA (Mechanical Brake Assist), MKB (Multi Collision Brake), HBA (Hydraulic Brake Assist), ASR (Anti Slip Regulation), EDS (Electronic Differential Lock), tyre pressure monitoring system, acoustic warning signal for overrun speed, engine immobilizer with floating code system, Parktronic sensors and speakers at the front and rear, and KESSY (Keyless Entry, Start, and exit System) on all doors.

The all-new OCTAVIA is now equipped with “MyŠKODA Connect”, an intelligent solution that provides a safe, convenient and smart driving experience to stay connected with your car and your family. MyŠKODA Connect has inbuilt technology that helps one in case of an emergency with features such as Road Side assistance and SOS. It also helps keep the car secure in the owner’s absence with features like Geo fence, Time fence etc. Not only this, but MyŠKODA Connect also offers Driving Behaviour and Trip Analysis and many other functions, which are required for daily usage. In other words, MyŠKODA Connect is the connectivity solution for your family and car safety in day-to-day life, especially developed for ŠKODA AUTO in India.

In January 1959, the very first OCTAVIA rolled off the production facility in Mladá Boleslav. The marque derived its nomenclature from the Latin word ‘Octavia’ that meant ‘the eighth’. It was the eighth vehicle in ŠKODA AUTO’s product portfolio post the second world war, as well as the eighth vehicle to feature state-of-the-art independent suspension for all wheels. In the following year, the Geneva Motor Show, saw the premiere of the sporty ŠKODA OCTAVIA Touring Sport (TS). The much-powerful iteration secured a hattrick in the Monte Carlo rally with class victories in 1961, 1962, and 1963.

The nameplate resurrected; the first-generation OCTAVIA of the modern era was introduced in 1996 - after ŠKODA AUTO had become part of the Volkswagen Group. In 2001, the Czech auto major made way into the INDIAN subcontinent with the OCTAVIA. It soon proved its mettle as a perfect blend of the brand’s timeless design ideals, unbending performance, superior built quality, enhanced safety modules and European craftsmanship - all at a competitive price point, thereby establishing a unique ‘value luxury’ position for the brand among the domestic audience. The OCTAVIA marked ŠKODA AUTO India’s foray into the popular executive sedan segment and garnered appreciation from brand loyalist and auto enthusiasts from across the nation.

The success story continued with the second generation of the ŠKODA OCTAVIA, introduced in 2006. The new OCTAVIA, a model range that had become synonymous with the brand, pushed the innovation envelope much further, more so with the introduction of direct injection technology on petrol vehicles as well as automatic dual clutch transmission (DSG). The third-generation ŠKODA OCTAVIA set new benchmarks for functionality, practicality, and spaciousness in its segment, and the RS model combined unparalleled value proposition with pulse-racing like none another.

About 6.5 million units of the ŠKODA AUTO’s bestseller, the OCTAVIA, have been produced the world over – across manufacturing facilities in China, India, Russia, and Kazakhstan.