The Wait For The New Octy Just Got Longer

• The fourth-gen Octavia was supposed to launch this month.

• Production was underway and the model had started reaching dealerships.

• The worsening pandemic situation has forced this delay.

• The new Octavia is expected to be priced from Rs 20 lakh onwards.

The fourth-gen Octavia was supposed to launch by the end of April. But the Covid-19 pandemic’s second wave has played spoilsport, delaying the new Octy’s arrival. With the country in the firm grip of the wretched virus, Skoda has decided to wait it out till the situation improves.

Zac Hollis, the Director of Sales, Service and Marketing at Skoda Auto India, confirmed this via a tweet saying, “Sometimes, it’s important to take a pause and come back stronger. We at ŠKODA AUTO have postponed the launch of the all-new Octavia until the current situation improves. We will keep you updated on the launch developments. Stay safe and let us do our part to fight this virus.”

There are quite a few changes to the fourth-gen model. The sedan is 19mm longer than its predecessor and is now based on the VW Group’s MQB EVO platform. It will be a petrol-only offering, utilising a 190PS 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine with a 7-speed DSG. A more affordable 1.5-litre turbo-petrol option could be introduced later.

Up front, the fourth-gen sedan gets Skoda’s traditional butterfly grille (that’s lower and wider than the previous model) flanked by single-piece LED headlamps. At the back, it gets split C-motif LED tail lamps and an angular tailgate. The cabin looks much cleaner due to the minimal controls, thanks to the bigger infotainment display and digital instrument cluster. 

The new Octavia gets Skoda’s new two-spoke steering wheel. Other likely features include connected car tech, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, ambient lighting, and powered front seats. Safety will be taken care of by multiple airbags, ABS with EBD, electronic stability control, and front and rear parking sensors.

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Hopefully the situation improves soon so we don’t have to wait for too long. The upcoming Octy will likely be priced from Rs 20 lakh (ex-showroom) onwards. Keep following this space for more updates.