Skoda Octavia - In Depth

Press Release

World debut at Paris Motor Show

Å koda Auto is proud to present the new Å koda Octavia Estate at the Paris Motor Show. In addition to the Octavia model, which had its debut this spring, the estate version extends the Octavia model range.

The new Å koda Octavia has been modified and enhanced in virtually every aspect. Similarly the new Å koda Octavia Estate incorporates the best aspects of its predecessor and all the benefits of the new Octavia model while simultaneously bringing a new look to estate cars.

The new Å koda Octavia Estate is known mainly for its outstanding luggage compartment capacity of 580 l (up to 1,620 l with the rear seats folded). The new Octavia Estate excels not only in its carrying capacity, however. Its balanced characteristics and, in particular, its elegant design will attract many customers not originally looking for an estate model. For them the new Å koda Octavia Estate will definitely be an interesting and attractive car.

The new Å koda Octavia excels with a spacious and flexible interior, high-quality workmanship, excellent driving characteristics and top-quality materials that further increase the feeling of interior comfort. It has an extremely advantageous price/value ratio represented by its comfort, generous space and the range of equipment.

Design

The new Å koda Octavia Estate clearly shows that even an estate model can attract attention with its elegant design and eye-catching appearance. At the same time, it evokes the feelings of reliability and dignity typical of Å koda. The car has a very progressive and dynamic appearance that simultaneously creates a sensation of natural elegance and charm. Compared to the current model, the new Octavia's D pillar is much more inclined, emphasising the design of the new car. The highly usuable design has, however, been fully preserved.

The overall attractiveness of the Å koda Octavia Estate is further enhanced by carefully designed details. The design of the C and D pillars is a perfect example, producing rounded corners in the lower section of the side windows, just like the B pillar. Also the transition between the bumper and the rear boot lid is impressively designed. The upper part of the bumper has a slightly domed design that makes the gap between the bumper and the boot lid hardly noticeable, making the transition smooth and elegant.

The rear light units of the Octavia Estate are shaped to match those of the Octavia and they blend perfectly with the elegant sporty streamlined rear section of the Estate model. The direction indicators and the reverse lights have been included in the sophisticated rear light design so that they can be seen from all angles. Unlike the Octavia hatch, the white part of the rear lights, with the direction indicator and reversing lights of the Combi, is vertically divided. The outer area contains the direction indicator and the inner area the reversing light. The rear lights of the Estate have a "C" shaped illuminated area also used for direction indicators.

Luggage compartment

The luggage compartment remains one of the main advantages of the Octavia in the estate version. With an outstanding luggage compartment of 580 litres, the new Estate is larger than the overwhelming majority of current estate cars including many cars from higher classes. In addition to its large capacity, the advantages of the luggage compartment include its protrusion-free shape, its flexibility and its carefully thought-out design.

The luggage compartment volume can be increased when the rear seats are folded. The car has one-third/two-thirds split rear seats for this very purpose. Both backrests and bases can be folded so that the luggage capacity is increased up to 1,620 litres. A payload of up to 660 kg (depending on the engine and equipment specification) further improves the capabilities of this car.

As with the entire car, the luggage compartment includes a number of clever innovations which make everyday use of the car more convenient:

• the strip below the side windows includes folding hooks for shopping bags etc.
• the luggage cover can be easily unlocked simply by pressing on it
• (e.g. with an elbow if the hands are busy with luggage), the cover rolls up automatically and provides easy access to the luggage compartment
• storage boxes in each side of the boot have removable doors, increasing the size of the luggage compartment by the space of the recesses behind them
• a total of twelve fixtures (three on the floor and three in the upper part
• of each side of the luggage compartment) can be used to safely fasten items and provide a number of alternatives for fastening dividing nets
• the easy to remove luggage cover has a storage compartment (as an option) to hold an umbrella that is easy to get at from the rear seats.

Interior and equipment

In principle, the interior design and scope of the Å koda Octavia Estate equipment remains the same as in the Octavia hatch. The estate version comes in three equipment specifications - Classic, Ambiente and Elegance. Standard equipment includes four airbags (front and side on the front seats), ABS, central locking and split rear seats. The Elegance includes Climatic automatic air-conditioning, the Jumbo Box storage box between the front seats with its adjustable outlets for air distribution to the rear seats and external mirrors with lights illuminating the door area. A special feature for this estate is a longitudinal roof rack available as an option.

Power units and transmissions

The range of available engines and transmissions for the Å koda Octavia Estate is identical to that of the Octavia model. Shortly after the market launch, the car will be supplied with the most powerful petrol power unit fitted in the Octavia model range, the progressive 2.0 FSI/110 kW engine with direct fuel injection. The complete range includes these engines:

• 1.4 MPI/55 kW (75 bhp)
• 1.6 MPI/75 kW (102 bhp)
• 1.6 FSI/85 kW (115 bhp)
• 2.0 FSI/110 kW (150 bhp)
• 1.9 TDI-PD/77 kW (105 bhp)
• 2.0 TDI-PD/103 kW (140 bhp).

All petrol and diesel engines - and now also the 2.0 TDI-PD/103 kW diesel engine - comply with EU IV in advance.

In addition to standard five or six-gear transmissions (depending on the engine) all engines (except the 1.4 MPI/55 kW) can be supplied with Tiptronic automatic transmission, which has a manual gear-changing regime as an option. Cars fitted with petrol engines have a normal automatic six-gear transmission with a hydrodynamic torque converter. Cars fitted with diesel engines are supplied with the progressive DSG transmission. Using two clutches, DSG maintains power through the gears with little of the normal drop in engine revs when shifting, and provides low consumption in the economical driving mode.

Chassis

One of the most significant advantages of the Octavia model range is its progressive chassis that has a differently adjusted suspension system for individual body specifications. The front axle with McPherson struts and multi-element rear axle gives safe and comfortable driving characteristics. Precise direct rack-and-pinion steering with the new electro-mechanic power steering provides easy and sensitive control of the car and also makes driving more enjoyable.

World debut: Å koda Octavia Estate 4x4

In addition to the new Å koda Octavia Estate, Å koda Auto presents its four-wheel drive alternative. The Octavia Estate 4x4 continues Å koda's tradition of four-wheel drive cars. It provides an exceptional combination of comfort, power, safety and steering control even in poor road conditions.

Å koda Auto has applied its new model strategy with the Å koda Octavia Estate 4x4. The unique character of the Å koda Octavia Estate 4x4 is further enhanced by the fact that it now stands as a separate model in addition to the range of three equipment specifications of the Octavia cars. The standard equipment on all Å koda Octavia Estate 4x4 cars includes, among other things, the following items:

• four airbags (a front and side airbag each for the driver and the front passenger)
• ESP
• Helios 15" alloy wheels
• central locking
• electrically-adjustable and heated door mirrors
• height-adjustable driver's seat
• height- and reach adjustable steering wheel
• trip computer on the instrument panel
• folding and split rear seats 1/3 to 2/3
• front passenger's airbag deactivation (when a child seat is fitted on the front passenger seat)
• roof rails
• outside mirrors and door handles in body colour
• chrome plated interior door handles
• tinted glass. In addition a wide range of optional equipment items are available, which include among other things:
• Apollon 16" alloy wheels (exclusively for the 4x4 version)
• Climatronic two-zone electronic air-conditioning
• Jumbo Box storage box between the front seats with an adjustable armrest, cooled inner space and outlets for air distribution to the rear seats at the back of the box
• electric front and rear windows with a bounce-back feature and child safety latches
• sump guard.

Adventure Onyx and Adventure Achat interior trim and upholstery are available exclusively with the Å koda Octavia Estate 4x4. The interior of the four-wheel drive version has a chrome-plated plaque with the 4x4 symbol on the gear lever.

The sophisticated design of the 4x4 drive assembly has not decreased the luggage compartment which is an exceptional 580 litres that can be increased up to 1,620 litres with the rear seats folded.

The range of engines supplied with the Å koda Octavia Estate 4x4 includes one petrol and one diesel engine. Customers preferring economical operation will choose the flexible and economical 1.9 TDI-PD/77 kW diesel engine. Customers who want something more dynamic will be pleased with the powerful new 2.0 FSI/110 kW petrol engine with direct fuel injection. Both engines come with manual six-gear transmission.

The chassis design remains the same as the rest of the Octavia model range. The front axle with McPherson struts and the multi-element rear axle combined with four-wheel drive provide excellent driving characteristics and a high level of active safety. The rear axle drive uses a similar solution to that of the current model with a Haldex electronically-controlled multi-disc clutch. This proven concept allows the rear axle drive to be connected quickly and reliably whenever needed. Another advantage of the 4x4 model is a slightly increased fuel tank with a capacity of 60 litres.

Description of the Å koda Octavia model range

Note: The technical data and equipment list relate only to Å koda Octavia and Å koda Octavia Estate. Information about the Å koda Octavia Estate 4x4 model is provided in the preceding chapter.

Body

Design

The new Octavia is easily identifiable as a Å koda, with its timeless design, whilst more energy and informal charm have been added. The car has a reliable and attractive appearance.

Exterior design

The dominating feature of the car's front section is the recognisable Å koda radiator grille with a chrome frame, vertical fins and the Å koda logo. The grille blends perfectly with the car's design and forms an integral part of it.

A Å koda tradition is the horizontal lines on the bonnet running from the logo and the radiator grille. The bonnet itself, which is "V" shaped, creates the image of a larger car and its winged design symbolises its speed and power. In addition, the bonnet makes the wings look wider which produces a feeling of strength and robustness.

The clear-optic headlights extend as far as the body sides making the car visually wider. This effect is more apparent at night due to the location of the sidelights. The fog lamps are perfectly located in the bottom part of the bumper. Their shape, location and size clearly emphasise the design of the car's bonnet and nose. The solid body has been lightened by a side rim that runs from the headlight to the rear lights. The extended doorsills reinforce the strength of the Octavia's solid base. The side indicators have been integrated into the door mirrors contributing to the smooth design of the wings.

An original design element which clearly distinguishes the new generation Å koda Octavia from other current vehicles is the newly conceived B pillar. It uniquely highlights the typical Å koda design - a coloured B pillar that tapers upwards. Its taper is however even more pronounced in the new car and it is further emphasised by the rounded window corners. The shape of the B pillar stresses the impression of the solid monolithic design of the body. In addition the Estate model has C and D pillars with a similar design.

As with the front bumper, the rear bumper has been clearly integrated into the overall design of the car and has an opening for the tailpipe.

The shape of the rear lights and the way they are illuminated are a typical feature of the new car. When the lights are on, the overall red area, which is "C" shaped, frames the white central part incorporating the direction indicator and the reversing light. This produces a characteristic eye-catching impression. The braking and fog lamps have been incorporated in the rear lights. Because their shape extends to the sides of the car the rear lights have a remarkable spatial effect. The compound rear lights are set high and are perfectly visible.