Skoda Unveils Its First Ever Mild Hybrid Model!

• The 48V mild-hybrid system fitted to the 1.0-litre TSI petrol and 1.5-litre TSI petrol engines.

• This mild-hybrid system allows braking regen for a 50Nm electrical boost as well as coasting when the engine is shut off.

• India-spec Octavia likely to get 1.5-litre TSI and 2.0-litre TSI petrol engine options

• e-TEC variants could come to the India-spec Octavia at a later stage.

• The next-gen Octavia is slated for an early 2021 India launch.

 Ever since Skoda Auto took the wraps off the fourth generation Octavia back in November 2019, the carmaker has been expanding its range with the introduction of the RS iV plug-in-hybrid as well as the G-Tec CNG variants. And the carmaker has expanded the Octavia lineup in Europe again with the e-TEC mild-hybrid variants. This makes the Octavia the first Skoda model to offer a mild-hybrid system.

The main talking point is under the hood of course. The Euro-spec model gets the option of either a 110PS 1.0-litre TSI petrol engine or a 1.5-litre TSI petrol engine pushing out 150PS of grunt. The 48 volt mild-hybrid setup features a Li-ion battery pack and a combined belt-driven starter-alternator which allows energy recovery during braking and stores it in the battery.  It also provides an electric boost of upto 50Nm to the Octavia and enables coasting with the engine completely switched off for extended periods. Only a 7-speed DSG gearbox is available for the mild-hybrid Octavia variants. 

Back home, the India Octavia could be offered with the 150PS 1.5-litre TSI unit with cylinder deactivation technology and a 190PS 2.0-litre TSI engine. Both engines are likely to be paired with a DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission only. It is unlikely to get a diesel engine as Skoda has decided to take the petrol-only route in the BS6 era. It is yet to be known whether the mild-hybrid setup will be added to the lineup.

Recent spy shots of the next-gen Octavia on the outskirts of Pune reveal simialr styling bits from its Euro-spec counterpart. Expect a similar cabin too, with features like a touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual-zone climate control, a digital instrument display, branded sound system and connected car tech. Safety kit could include multiple airbags, ABS with EBD, front and rear parking sensors, and electronic stability control.  

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Skoda’s fourth-gen Skoda Octavia is slated to reach Indian showrooms by early 2021 at a premium over its predecessor which retailed from Rs 17.99 lakh (ex-showroom). It will take on the likes of the Hyundai Elantra and Honda Civic.