Octavia facelift to launch in June

Skoda launched the Octavia facelift in Europe earlier this year. The updated model is all set to launch in India in June and the dealers have already started accepting bookings for a token amount of Rs 1 lakh.

The new Octavia gets split LED headlights incorporated with a wider radiator grille. The honeycomb air inlets in the front bumper give it a streamlined look. At the rear, the clear C-shaped tail lights are the only major change. Similar story continues on the inside with the all-new Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integrated 9.2-inch infotainment getting a glass makeover. The same treatment has also been applied to the air conditioner knobs. The doors come with optional ambient lighting which can be adjusted in 1 of the 10 available colours. There is also inductive phone charger provided as an option. Skoda Connect is a part of the standard package as well. The new Octavia has grown a few millimetres in length, and the width of its rear track has increased by 20 or 30 mm (depending on engine and rear axle), which means the space on the inside is even more than the earlier car, as claimed by Skoda.

Skoda will continue to offer the Octavia with the existing 1.4-litre TSI, 1.8-litre TSI and 2-litre TDI powertrains in India, while a more powerful 230bhp RS variant is expected to launch later this year. The Octavia goes up against the likes of Hyundai Elantra, Chevrolet Cruze and Toyota Corolla Altis.

Clearly, the Octavia facelift borrows several design elements from the soon-to-be-launched SUV, Kodiaq. Skoda also revealed details about the Koraq recently (Yeti’s replacement) which is expected to debut later this year as well. With so many launches slated to happen in 2017, Skoda India is already on a roll.