Škoda Octavia

 

The Škoda Octavia is a small family car (C-segment in Europe) produced by Czech automaker Škoda Auto since 1996. Its name is revived from a model originally produced between 1959 and 1971. The current Octavia is available in five-door liftback and station wagon models.

 The car is based on a Volkswagen Group platform shared with the Volkswagen Jetta. There have been two generations of the Octavia model to date. A high performance version, the RS or vRS is also available.

First generation 
 
The first generation Octavia was released in November 1996 and was built at the modernized Škoda factory in Mladá Boleslav, Czech Republic. In the United Kingdom, sales began in 1998 and the mid-size car was an instant success with buyers who appreciated its solidity, refinement and value for money, though it could not quite match the success of established large family car favourites such as the Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Vectra. The car was widely used in the UK taxi trade, due the large number of private hire drivers who used the vehicle due to its low price, space and reliability.

The first generation Octavia had a facelift in 2000, and was still manufactured and marketed in some markets, even after the second generation was introduced in 2004. In Germany, and other parts of West Europe, as well as Asia, the first generation model was marketed as the Octavia Tour, while the newer model is marketed as the Octavia. In some markets, the first generation Octavia was still known as Octavia, and the newer model was referred to as the new Octavia, Octavia5 (Greece) or Laura (India).

The major improvements of the facelifted model are the independent rear suspension and improved interior, in terms of space, design and quality of materials.

 The facelifted Octavia featured a 4x4 wheel drive version both for the estate and more popular liftback models, and used the Haldex Traction clutch, like other Volkswagen Group A platform based cars (Golf IV, Audi A3 and Seat Leon Cupra R4). It had higher ground clearance and a bigger fuel tank carrying 63-litre (17 US gal; 14 imp gal) compared to the 55-litre (15 US gal; 12 imp gal) standard front wheel drive versions. The 4x4 option was only available with the 1.8 T 150 bhp (112 kW; 152 PS) petrol engine, the 1.9 TDI 90 bhp (67 kW; 91 PS) diesel engine, or the 2.0 L petrol engine, all coupled with a 5-speed manual gearbox, and with the 1.9 TDI-PD (Pumpe-Düse) 100 bhp (75 kW; 101 PS) diesel engine which came with a 6-speed manual gearbox.

 The other 6-speed manual model was the 1.9 TDI-PD 131 bhp (98 kW; 133 PS), only available with front-wheel-drive.

The vRS was the top-level and quickest specification and used a 1.8-litre straight-4 turbocharged engine which produced 180 bhp (134 kW; 182 PS). Škoda made a limited number of 100 WRC Replica Cars worldwide in 2002. These differ from normal vRS Octavias, as they are produced in white, have rally decals and have additional accessories as standard (such as ESP, xenon lights, heated front seats). The vRS model was also popular with the UK police, both as a traffic car and as an unmarked Q-car, due to its low cost, reliability, performance, and understated styling.



Second generation

The second generation Octavia was introduced in March 2004, based on the Volkswagen Group A5 (PQ35) platform also used by other Volkswagen Group cars, such as the Audi A3 Mk2, Volkswagen Golf Mk5, Volkswagen Jetta Mk5, SEAT León Mk2, etc.

Responsible for the design were Thomas Ingenlath and Peter Wouda. Along with a new internal combustion engine range, also shared with other models of the Volkswagen Group, body changes included more legroom for rear seat passengers (a weak point in the original model) and increased ground clearance at front and rear to reduce the risk of grounding on steep ramps or facing kerbs.

 In addition to the Czech factories in Mladá Boleslav and Vrchlabi, from 2008 the Octavia has also been produced at a factory in Bratislava, Slovakia, and in Shanghai, China, under the joint venture of Shanghai Volkswagen.





Skoda Octavia Combi 4x4

The Škoda Octavia Combi 4x4 continues Škoda's tradition of four-wheel drive cars. It provides an exceptional combination of comfort, power, safety and steering control even in poor road conditions.
Škoda Auto has applied its new model strategy with the Škoda Octavia Combi 4x4. The unique character of the Škoda Octavia Combi 4x4 is further enhanced by the fact that it now stands as a separate model in addition to the range of three equipment specifications of the Škoda Octavia cars. The standard equipment on all Škoda Octavia Combi 4x4 cars includes, among other things, the following items:

• four airbags (a front and side airbag each for the driver and the front passenger)
• ESP
• Helios 15" alloy wheels
• central locking
• electrically-adjustable and heated door mirrors
• height-adjustable driver's seat
• height- and reach adjustable steering wheel
• trip computer on the instrument panel
• folding and split rear seats 1/3 to 2/3
• front passenger's airbag deactivation (when a child seat is fitted on the front passenger seat)
• roof rails
• outside mirrors and door handles in body colour
• chrome plated interior door handles
• tinted glass

In addition a wide range of optional equipment items are available, which include among other things:

• Apollon 16" alloy wheels (exclusively for the 4x4 version)
• Climatronic two-zone electronic air-conditioning
• Jumbo Box storage box between the front seats with an adjustable armrest, cooled inner space and outlets for air distribution to the rear seats at the back of the box
• electric front and rear windows with a bounce-back feature and child safety latches
• sump guard

Adventure Onyx and Adventure Achat interior trim and upholstery are available exclusively with the Škoda Octavia Combi 4x4. The interior of the four-wheel drive version has a chrome-plated plaque with the 4x4 symbol on the gear lever.
The sophisticated design of the 4x4 drive assembly has not decreased the luggage compartment of the Škoda Octavia Combi which is an exceptional 580 litres that can be increased up to 1,620 litres with the rear seats folded.
The range of engines supplied with the Škoda Octavia Combi 4x4 includes one petrol and one diesel engine. Customers preferring economical operation will choose the flexible and economical 1.9 TDI-PD/77 kW diesel engine. Customers who want something more dynamic will be pleased with the powerful new 2.0 FSI/110 kW petrol engine with direct fuel injection. Both engines come with manual six-gear transmission.

The chassis design remains the same as the rest of the Škoda Octavia model range. The front axle with McPherson struts and the multi-element rear axle combined with four-wheel drive provide excellent driving characteristics and a high level of active safety. The rear axle drive uses a similar solution to that of the current model with a Haldex electronically-controlled multi-disc clutch. This proven concept allows the rear axle drive to be connected quickly and reliably whenever needed. Another advantage of the 4x4 model is a slightly increased fuel tank with a capacity of 60 litres.

Škoda Octavia je automobil nižší střední třídy vyráběný českou automobilkou Škoda od roku 1996. V modelovém roce 2001 prošla Octavia faceliftem. V roce 2004 byla na trh uvedena druhá generace vozu, která modernizací prošla na sklonku roku 2008. První generace byla po představení následníka dále úspěšně prodávána pod názvem Octavia Tour. V závěru roku 2010 byla její výroba ukončena a pod názvem Octavia Tour se do nabídky dostala Octavia druhé generace.

Technicky je totožná s modernizovaným provedením, ale vnější vzhled odpovídá stavu před modernizací v roce 2008. Kromě klasického liftbacku se Octavie prodává i jako kombi (Octavia Combi), kombi s náhonem všech kol (Octavia combi 4x4 I. a II. generace a oplastovaná verze Scout II. generace), liftaback s náhonem všech kol (Octavia 4x4 I. generace) nebo designově mírně odlišená sportovní verze s výkonnějším motorem (Octavia RS).



Škoda Octavia est un modèle d'automobile de gamme moyenne, construit par la compagnie tchèque Skoda de 1959 à 1971, puis à partir de 1996 sur la base d'une plate-forme de Volkswagen Golf.




La Škoda Octavia è una berlina a tre volumi di fascia media costruita dalla casa ceca Škoda dal 1996 ad oggi. Per quanto fosse il primo modello della casa dopo la sua acquisizione da parte di Volkswagen, nella scelta del nome l'azienda decise di riprendere la denominazione già in uso su una serie di autovetture prodotte dal 1959 al 1971. Le nuove serie prodotte, derivate in parte dal progetto in comune con Volkswagen Golf, Audi A3 e SEAT León, sono due. 

La prima è stata prodotta dal 1996 al 2004, anno in cui viene presentata la versione attualmente in commercio ed aggiornata nel 2008. Sul mercato greco la vettura è chiamata Octavia5 mentre sul mercato indiano diventa Skoda Laura.