One of the worst kept secrets of automobile history was finally unveiled today and it looks great, at least on the outside. The inside is another story.
The outside is a clear evolution of the previous model and gives continuation to the style used in other models of the Czech brand, and it looks better than we thought.
The car is bigger in every way compared with the previous version, it is longer 4,659m (90mm), wider 1,814m (45mm) and has a larger wheelbase 2,686m (+108mm) and as we know it uses the new Volskwagen platform, the MQB. On the inside it is also more spacious, with larger interior length (1,782 mm), more knee room (73 mm) and more headroom at the back (980 mm). Also the front head room increased by 8mm, the front elbow width 39mm and rear elbow width 26mm. It also has a larger boot, with 590 litres.
The car is also more secure and technologically evolved. It has front Assistant/emergency braking function (from May 2013), Lane Assistant, which keeps the Octavia on track, multicollision-braking/automatic brake actuation in an accident, Crew Protect Assistant/securing of the vehicle in an accident situation, Driver Activity Assistant (fatigue detection) or an active front hatch for pedestrian protection., and up to nine airbags, finely interacting with 3-point safety belts, shield occupants from injury. Knee airbags (standard in EU countries) and rear side airbags.
In relation to new technologies used in the third generation of the Octavia we have the Adaptive Cruise Assistant, Intelligent Light Assistant, Automatic Parking Assistant, Traveller Assistant which will recognize traffic signs, and the KESSY, Keyless Entry Start and Exit System. Also available will be a new generation of radio and navigation systems. Touch displays with proximity sensors and swiping functionality will be available in higher-level systems and the new CANTON sound system.
The vehicle is 102kg lighter and together with the 1.6TDI (81 kW) which achieves CO2 emissions of only 89 g/km it has a fuel consumption of only 3.4litres of diesel each 100 km. There will be available 4 diesel and 4 petrol engines connected to a manual or a DSG gearbox. A sportier Octavia RS will also be available and even a four wheel drive is in the works.
Source: Skoda
