Third generation Skoda Octavia launched in China

The third generation Skoda Octavia has been launched in the Chinese market at prices starting from 119, 900 Yuan (Rs 11.22 lakh), going up to 179,900 Yuan (Rs 16.86 lakh). It was unveiled for the European market in December 2012. The car is based on the Czech automaker’s Vision D Concept and is underpinned by the parent company VW’s MQB platform. It was officially unveiled for the Indian market on August 9 and then launched on October 3 at prices starting from Rs 13.95 lakh onwards (ex-showroom Delhi).

The China-spec Octavia is manufactured locally at the Shanghai-Volkswagen plant where other cars of the German automaker are also assembled. It gets the same feature list that we have in India as our (India and China) demands from the vehicle are pretty much the same.

The feature list includes touch screen display, Bluetooth streaming for music and phones, parking assist, leather interiors, new LED daytime running lamps (Elegance and Ambition) and obviously a new badge complete with Skoda’s new logo.

The Chinese market gets two engine options and both are petrol units. The newer unit is the 1.4- litre turbocharged unit while the second engine is a 1.6-litre naturally aspirated petrol unit that produces 110bhp. The former engine can be had with a five-speed manual or a seven-speed DSG while the 1.6-litre unit is offered with a five-speed manual. It is offered in five variants of which the 1.4-litre unit powers four and the 1.6-litre unit powers one variant.

The Octavia is currently Skoda’s best-selling car in China and this new model is expected to help them gain good numbers in the future.

Skoda Octavia first drive