The new Octavia was finally launched in NL today, so I went to see the spectacle at Amsterdam's main dealer. It attracted an amazing number of people, so didn't get to drive one - will do so very soon, hopefully.

Anyway, my thoughts and hopes based on your experiences were well and truly confirmed - the car's a class act.

The exterior actually looks much more swish and stylish than on photographs, and the interior is well out-doing that of the Golf V - the materials look better, the lay-out is brilliant and the finishing is, well, on Audi level, both inside and out. IMO this will be the car that will shake off the remaining bits of Skoda's image problem.

They are still slow with the petrol models here but I was drawn to a Black Magic 2.0 TDI Elegance with half-leather sports seats, leather multi-function steering wheel, satnav, 6CD MP3 player, 17" Pegasus wheels and sports suspension - the ultimate Autobahn rep mobile!

There were unconfirmed noises from my dealer on the new RS carrying the 200hp 2.0T FSI with DSG/Tiptronic, but very very probably FWD again. He didn't expect a new 4x4 until 2006, and sadly, the 2.0T FSI looked highly unlikely to be part of its engine line-up. Fastest petrol engine is likely to be the atmo 150hp 2.0 FSI, so the next ultimate stealth machine will no doubt be a chipped 2.0 TDI 4x4...

The main dealer is right opposite the city's main VW dealer, so I suspect he'll be having lots of incidental traffic from across the street!

Oh, parked the 4x4 right in front of the showroom, so had to answer a few questions on what that BRISKODA.net thing was doing on my rear window!

Norway is getting them next week, and my dealer has already invited me to a private session with the new Octavia. I can't wait. Has Skoda allowed an Elegance model to have Ambient trim?? The car I have in mind is an Elegance Black Magic 2.0 TDI, DSG, sport seats, sunroof, 17" wheels, with grey leather interior matching the greay ambiente interior.

I saw an black audi A3 with grey leather interior and it loooked veeery nice, much better than black or beige leather...

Well the Uk is quicker in getting the Mk2 than the Mk1, it took 2 years (and a change of dash design) before the RHD version was avaliable.

Has Skoda allowed an Elegance model to have Ambient trim?? The car I have in mind is an Elegance Black Magic 2.0 TDI' date=' DSG, sport seats, sunroof, 17" wheels, with grey leather interior matching the greay ambiente interior.

I saw an black audi A3 with grey leather interior and it loooked veeery nice, much better than black or beige leather...[/quote']

inquirer, the Elegance model allows for six types of trim:

- grey fabric, grey interior

- grey fabric/black leather, grey interior

- black leather, grey interior

- beige fabric, beige interior

- beige fabric/beige leather, beige interior

- beige leather, beige interior

The grey (Onyx) is quite a bit darker than the Ambiente grey (the lightest tone but only in fabric) or the Ambiente Achat grey (also available in half-leather), so it could be quite an expensive choice choosing an Ambiente while paying big money for all the Elegance options...

But the grey half-leather interior is very chic too, believe me.

I looked 'round a Mk II Octavia Elegance today. I'd popped into the dealer to get a Black Magic touch-up stick, and there it was in the showroom.

The interior is of far higher quality than my current car. The plastics look and feel better. The seats are nicer (although they were the optional heated leather ones) and I was impressed to see a bottom-hinged accelerator pedal - and much nicer than the BMW variety too!

The controls were better laid out - I was especially impressed with the dual-zone climate control and the high quality feel of the switches. The exterior looked nicer, more modern and of higher quality. The whole thing feels like a premium product - like a 3 series BMW that has had a generous visit to the options list.

My only concern is that the vRS will be the spec you suggest. 200 BHP through the front wheels via an auto-box isn't my idea of a top-notch hot-hatch. Perhaps if it were four wheel drive I'd be willing to forgive them for giving us another weedy four cylinder engine.

I suspect the DSG will be optional, if it will be available on the next-gen vRS at all... (Might have been more of the dealer's wish than actual future truth.)

Hmmm... I guess only time will tell. If the engine can be chipped nicely, then I think I might go for it. I'm still miffed though - 225 BHP is the new standard for the hot-hatch or sports saloon.

Couple of interior shots, from an Octavia Elegance IIRC

i hope the sound system is better

I got a test drive of a 1.4 version of the New Octavia yesterday.

I must say I'm well impressed with the layout and materials used inside. The seats are really comfortable, the base of them look very similiar to that pictured on the Golf GTi link posted earlier. With the seat fully lowered and put fully back I didn't think there was any more leg room than my own, I actually thought there was less. The basic 1.4 now even comes with a nice arm rest which extends, and air vents to the rear passangers. The roof lining has a lowered piece down the middle, a bit strange looking as it looks as if it feeds cables back to the back light (a bit too big), I wonder what will happen when you order a sunroof.

The sound system seems to be better , the speakers have improved a lot.

I thought the accelerator pedal was a bit odd, I dunno what you call it but its pivot point is the ground (again see the picture of the Golf GTi to get an idea), it also seems to be a bit further to the left than that of the current one with a lot of plastic to the right of it.

The clutch pedal is seriously light, there doesn't seem to be any resistance. I actually thought mine was very heavy when I got back in my own car. The gear change was nice.

The boot lid opening seems similiar to the old model, and I'd say theres a very good chance that the problem of water running into the boot hasn't been cured.

The bonnet is in more of a V shape now, with the 2 wings coming into the engine bay a lot more, see the link for more of an idea http://www.skoda-auto.com/global/showroom/newoctavia/octavia/technology/

I found the ride very comfortable, the engine was quiet (didn't get much of a chance to open it up, not that there'd be too much opening up in a 1.4). The suspension seemed to be very solid but still comfortable, it would be nice to try it on some back roads to get a better idea of the handling.

I think the apperance will take some time to grow on me. I don't think it looks as long, although it does look very high and the door windows seem to got smaller.