New generation Skoda Octavia launch in the next two months confirmed

After the Kushaq, Skoda plans on bringing back the Octavia to the Indian market. In fact, the launch has been confirmed by the Director himself. The new car will be in its fourth generation and will feature a diesel drivetrain.

In a tweet, Zac Hollis, Director, Skoda Auto India, has confirmed that the fourth-generation Octavia will be launched in India by May 2021. The upcoming sedan (essentially a notchback) will be based on a new platform and offered with a new powertrain. Although the engines on offer will be exclusively petrol-powered, the lower variants might get the 1.5-litre turbocharged unit seen in the Skoda Karoq. The higher trim levels could possibly benefit from a 2.0-litre (187bhp) turbocharged petrol unit. The possibility of the new Octavia coming with a 48V mild-hybrid system cannot be ruled out as well.

Other mechanical bits, such as the gearbox on offer could be the same six-speed manual unit similar to the Skoda Kushaq. The higher variants might get a dual-clutch automatic as an option. Just as the Skoda Kushaq, the fourth generation Octavia could see up to 90 – 95 per cent of localisation, which would most likely mean more affordable ownership and service costs.

The generation upgrade has also brought aesthetic changes to the car. The grille at the front gets chrome surrounds, and the headlamps follow a slimmer design. The rear of the sedan also gets similar styling updates. The side profile remains largely unchanged. Also, expect the new Octavia with newly designed alloy wheels.

The third-generation Octavia went off sale in March 2020, at the same time when the nation transitioned into the BS6 era. Owing to the pandemic, Skoda’s plan to introduce the new Octavia was postponed. However, after the global debut of the Skoda Kushaq, the Octaiva will be on Skoda India’s priority list.

Another tweet by Zac mentions that Skoda is currently evaluating if the next generation Octavia vRS could be brought to India or not. However, only time can confirm if the sporty notchback will soon follow the launch of the fourth generation Octavia.

Also Read,

2021 Bentley Bentayga V8 launched at Rs 4.10 crore

Mercedes-Benz E-Class LWB facelift launched in India