Just when we finished reviewing the Skoda Laura vRS, we were hit by another good news from the Skoda camp. The Czech auto company has rolled off 1.5 millionth Skoda Octavia II (Laura for us Indians) from company’s main plant in Mladá Boleslav on Wednesday donning a white outfit.
For the past 15 years, the Octavia has been a brand shaper for the company not only in the Indian market but also for the international regions.
The Octavia single handedly established Skoda presence in India which was later enjoyed by siblings Fabia, Superb Yeti and Rapid.
In India, nobody knows whether the Octavia is dead or still kicking. The company’s new all-rounder sedan is called the Rapid. The Octavia II is sold as the Laura in India and is doing very well in its segment. So is it safe to assume that our beloved ‘Octavia’ has been confined to the pages of history or is there something we haven’t seen yet?
WhatCar reports that Skoda will bring a concept bigger than Fabia to the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. In the production form, the hatchback will sit between the Fabia and Octavia. Besides this, Skoda will unveil the Vento-based Rapid to the global audience expected to hit our market next year.
Above the Fabia there’s a wide open space. There’s no model, in India and internationally between the Fabia and the Laura (branded Octavia in Europe) which is based on the previous-generation VW Golf except for the Roomster.
As the Laura is roomy and big vehicle, a smaller car is in need. The Rapid and the XL hatch will sit at two different points between 6-12 lakh rupees.
We hope Skoda doesn’t bring out a Laura hatchback as that won’t make any sense for India, a key market for Skoda. A source has told WhatCar that the concept car is about 85% production-ready meaning it will be similar to the Etios concept – nothing drastic will change or leave when it turns into a real-world car.
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Unlike the Indian scenario, Skoda has always been perceived as the common man’s car. It does its job and quietly sits in the corner of the VW home without drawing too much attention. The reason being if it attracted too much attention, it would invade big daddy VW’s target market. Most Skodas are essentially nothing but skimped up VWs. And the place where the cost cutting is more evident is [ Read More ]
The Skoda Laura gets a new diesel engine with CRDI technology
Skoda will fit its Laura and Superb vehicles with a 2-liter CRDI engine that appears when you open the bonnet of the VW Passat.
The PD engine found in the bay of those cars at the moment don’t meet the Bharat Stage IV norms that is the norm starting April 1, 2010 in 13 cities across India.
CRDI engines are slightly more powerful, less noisy and better at power delivery. The Skoda saloons will no doubt benefit from the magic of CRDI technology. Prices are not yet announced and the launch of the new models is expected in the coming days.
Skoda Laura utilizes VW’s engine and gearbox. Skoda should send them to India
Czech Auto major Skoda has added VW Group’s seven-speed dual clutch gearbox to the Laura (known there as Octavia).
The Skoda Laura also gets the renowned 105bhp 1.2-litre TSI engine which is used on the Yeti. This engine is coupled to either the six-speed manual or the new seven speed DSG gearbox. The new TSI engine is capable of delivering great performance like the 0-60 time – takes less than 11 seconds to achieve.
The Laura’s 105 bhp 1.6-liter TDI engine also comes coupled to the seven-speed DSG transmission.
Will the DSG or the 1.2-liter TSI engine accompany the Indian range? Skoda’s always bringing in new variants, and like they did on the Superb, they should bring these Laura variants to India too.
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We have tried and answered questions that magazines and blogs could not have even thought of. Though readers might term this comparison useless and pointless, for someone really confused as to which car is better, that one answer, that one defining moment might be reached while reading this review.
Parking Space! Oh no! Why didn’t we think of that?
Ritesh’s Mumbai condo garage has space only for two cars. While his very own Honda Civic occupies half of the garage space, the other half is the prize for the Jetta or the Laura to win!
We were granted cars by the respective manufacturers, but were left with space for only one car. So we devised a simple contest- only the car worthy to occupy the parking space stays.
Sources tell us the Skoda Laura, which will be launched in India on the 22nd 20th of this month, will be set free with the 1.8-liter TSI engine used on the Superb. Inside, the list of changes include a new dashboard, seat fabric and a 6-speed manual gearbox. Diesel variants and the vRS variants will follow suit, before the end of this year.
Sources have confirmed to us that the Skoda Laura facelift (Skoda Octavia to foriegners) will be launched in India on the 22nd 20th of this month. Engine options are rumored to be no different. The launch function is also said to happen in Mumbai.
For the past 15 years, the Octavia has been a brand shaper for the company not only in the Indian market but also for the international regions.
