Skoda will launch its facelifted Octavia in India around July 10. The company has made cosmetic changes both inside and out. The Octavia now has a quad-headlamp setup similar to the old Mercedes E-class.
The Octavia will now look and feel more upmarket, according to the company. There is more kit now - it will get all-LED lights, a new infotainment system with an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system with WLAN connectivity for smartphone integration, two umbrellas tucked into the doors, a driver fatigue detection system, ambient lighting with adjustable colours, a rear-view camera and a hands-free parking system.
Mid-level variants of the new Octavia will get additional airbags, taking the count to six from the current four. The top trim will get eight airbags. The car sits on larger 17-inch alloy wheels as opposed to the current 16-inchers.
The facelifted car abroad features a radar-based obstacle detection system or wireless charging pads for phones, but the Indian cars won’t feature these options. The current range of engines will continue - the same 1.4- and 1.8-litre petrol and 2.0-litre diesel engines, mated to a choice of manual or DSG automatic gearboxes. The onset of the new GST rates might mean that this model could even be priced lower than the current Octavia.
The company will also launch the updated vRS version of the Octavia around Diwali this year. The vRS is powered by a 230hp, 2.0-litre, turbo-petrol engine and will be fitted with a more aggressive body kit, blacked-out trim bits and larger alloy wheels. It will also feature an updated suspension setup.
