Czech car maker Skoda, a part of the Volkswagen group, is all set to bring back its Octavia on India roads.
Skoda will introduce the third-generation Octavia in the sub-continent auto market in October with three engine options - 1.8-litre turbo petrol variant, 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine and a smaller petrol 1.4-litre TSI engine. The new Octavia which is slated for a launch during season will be marketed in the country alongside Laura, which replaced the first-generation Octavia in the domestic market.
The Octavia, which made its Indian debut in 2001, stopped its sales in the country in 2010. The company had sold 44,900 units of the first-generation Octavia in the country between November 2001 and October 2010. The car had created history worldwide by creating a sales record in the Skoda's history.
"The new generation Octavia is the heart of our brand and we are betting big on it to spur sales," Sudhir Rao, managing director of Skoda Auto India, told Financial Chronicle adding that "The Octavia range launched Skoda in the country 12 years ago and has enjoyed a cult status in India ever since. Now, with the new-generation Octavia, which will be introduced in India during the festival season, we promise all of this and much more."
The 1.8-litre turbo petrol engine will churn out a power of 177bhp and 250Nm of peak torque, while the 2.0-litre diesel engine will deliver 150bhp and 320Nm torque. The new Octavia, which is based on Volkswagen's new MQB platform, is said to be longer and wider than the current model Laura and will come with a new Skoda logo.
The price of the car is yet to be revealed, but it is believed said it will be priced lower than Laura in the domestic auto market. According to a Cardekho report, the next-generation Octavia will pack safety features like ABS, lane assistance, fatigue detection system, adaptive cruise control, nine airbags, intelligent light assistant and traffic sign recognition.
