India-bound 2020 Skoda Octavia spied undisguised

-    New-generation Skoda Octavia takes its styling cues from the Vision RS Concept.

-    Expected to break cover in a few weeks’ time. 

-    India launch might take place in 2020 alongside the updated Superb and the Karoq.

Skoda is on a roll this year. The Czech carmaker first unveiled the Rapid's replacement, Scala as a rival to the Golf early this year. It then introduced the Kamiq as its third new SUV and now a few days ago, the updated Superb broke cover. Meanwhile, Skoda also launched the iV sub-brand focused on hybrid and electric vehicles. Now, the carmaker was spotted testing the new-generation Octavia in the estate guise almost undisguised.

However, on closer examination, we could see that the 2020 Octavia prototype is wearing the same clever covering previously seen on all the near-production ready prototypes from the Volkswagen Group. Although the camouflage has been taped over the entire bodywork, it fails to hide the newly designed grille and headlamps, which clearly have been inspired by last year’s Vision RS Concept. 

The split headlamp design introduced almost two years ago with the midlife update are gone and they have been replaced by Superb-like single-piece headlamp units. The rear is comprehensively redesigned, but since this is an estate body style, we’ll have to wait and see how much the sedan has changed in terms of the taillight and boot lid design. There’s no view inside the cabin yet. But this being a completely new model, we expect hardware from the more expensive Superb and Kodiaq to trickle down to the new 2020 Octavia.

In terms of powertrain, the 2020 Octavia will house the same powertrain that is featured in Skoda's line-up of cars. Additionally, the iV brand version of the Octavia might also come with a proper hybrid, or at the least the 48V mild hybrid powertrain. Meanwhile, the exciting vRS model will perhaps become the fastest Skoda to date. 

The Octavia nameplate will be celebrating its 60th anniversary later this year, and perhaps that would be an apt time to introduce the new-generation model. The public debut might take place at Frankfurt Motor Show. Meanwhile, an Indian debut is likely to happen only in 2020 after the updated Superb and much awaited Karoq are launched in India.