Octavia 3 launch - full press release

[RapidRonnie]

Mladá Boleslav, December 11th, 2012 – The new ŠKODA Octavia sets standards in the compact segment. The Octavia’s third generation more than ever confirms the car’s unique position in its vehicle segment, impressing with an unrivalled space offering, new design, high functionality, innovative safety and comfort systems, low fuel consumption, wide range of ‚Simply Clever‘ solutions and a ŠKODA-typical price-value ratio.

?“The ŠKODA Octavia is the heart of the ŠKODA brand,” says ŠKODA CEO Winfried Vahland. “It embodies the good ŠKODA genes in the best sense of the word: lots of room, quality, precise workmanship, modern, mature technology, timeless design, high functionality and the best price-value ratio. Our customers’ expectations have grown. Our aim was to make this car even better for its third generation. This is reflected in the values of the new Octavia – it is a class of its own.”

The ŠKODA Octavia in its overall package has always been about offering that little bit extra. This is down to the generous space offering, but also the fusion of an elegant saloon shape with the practical advantages of car with a large hatch, a fusion that is unique in this segment. The new generation confirms this uniqueness. “The new Octavia shows us resolutely continuing down a ŠKODA-typical road. It is a car with middle-class qualities at a compact-car price. It is an ideal car for demanding, confident customers expecting a modern Octavia with all its good values. It is our best,” says Frank Welsch, ŠKODA board member for technical development.

Unrivalled space offering, optimum functionality

The new ŠKODA Octavia sets benchmarks in its class in terms of its space offering. “The new Octavia offers space such as is otherwise found only in higher classes,” says Welsch. No other car in the compact segment offers more interior length (1,782 mm), more knee room (73 mm) and more headroom at the back (980 mm). Also best in class is the boot volume at 590 litres. Other interior dimensions have also increased significantly compared to the Octavia’s second generation: front head room: + 8 mm, front elbow width: + 39 mm, rear elbow width: + 26 mm.

New refinement: a distinctive, clear and timeless design

The new ŠKODA Octavia is not just roomy and functional, it looks good, too. ŠKODA design chief Jozef Kaba? and his team revised the car from head to toe, creating enthusiasm at first sight. Never before has a ŠKODA Octavia appeared as dynamic and at the same time as timelessly elegant, as distinctive, refined and assured on the road as this bestseller's third generation. “Each line and gap breathes love of precision and detail. The new Octavia is an unmistakable face in the automobile crowd,” says Welsch.

Compared to its predecessor, the Octavia has grown significantly in length and width. The new model is 90 mm longer and 45 mm wider than the second-generation Octavia. At the same time, the wheelbase has grown by 108 mm, mainly benefiting the interior and space on the rear seats.

The front of the car is assured and confident thanks to an emphasis on horizontal lines and a new location for the ŠKODA logo. The side aspect of the new ŠKODA Octavia has become markedly more dynamic when compared to its predecessor. This is down to the long wheelbase as well as to the shortened front overhang and a C pillar pulled far backwards. The high, sharp tornado line provides the car with optical stretch and distinctively highlights its coupé-like silhouette. A special new characteristic is an upswept dynamic window line in the rear doors, the so-called “fin” - a small, but effective design idea providing the car with a forceful appearance and direction.

Its rear aspect is also about precision, classiness and perfect proportions. Everything is in the right place, well-positioned and tidy. ŠKODA’s typical lighting graphic with its distinctive C-shaped lighting contour is executed in uncompromising brilliance.

Tidiness, elegance and especially lots of space are what the new Octavia’s interior is about. ŠKODA designers have completely redone the car’s insides.

Safety at the highest level

In developing the new ŠKODA Octavia, an important goal was to make the car even safer. Accordingly, ŠKODA engineers developed a host of cutting-edge safety systems for the new Octavia including Front Assistant/emergency braking function (from May 2013), Lane Assistant, which keeps the Octavia on track, multicollision-braking/automatic brake actuation in an accident, Crew Protect Assistant/securing of the vehicle in an accident situation, Driver Activity Assistant (fatigue detection) or an active front hatch for pedestrian protection. These systems help avoid accidents or mitigate their consequences for occupants and other road users.

In addition, a precise chassis, a long wheelbase and a rigid and light body structure combine to ensure an extremely stable handling in ŠKODA’s most recent offspring. In the event of an accident, a comprehensive package of passive safety elements provides optimum protection for driver and occupants. In the area of passive safety, up to nine airbags, finely interacting with 3-point safety belts, shield occupants from injury. Knee airbags (standard in EU countries) and rear side airbags are available for the first time in a ŠKODA Octavia.

New efficiency: CO2 emissions from 89 g/km

Engineers achieved significant improvements in the ŠKODA Octavia’s consumption and emission figures thanks to newly developed petrol and diesel engines, a low drag coefficient and reduced vehicle weight.

The GreenLine version of the new ŠKODA Octavia (1.6 TDI/81 kW) achieves CO2 emissions of only 89 g/km and consumes a mere 3.4 litres of diesel per 100 km. In all, four petrol engines, all with cutting-edge TSI technology, and four modern TDI common-rail diesel engines are available, with a natural-gas version planned for later. Except for the relevant entry-level petrol and diesel option, all engines now are available in a Green tec version with a start-stop system and recuperation. The line-up runs all the way to the top option, the 1.8 TSI with 132 kW. Modern manual and automatic DSG transmissions are available, with all-wheel-drive versions in the works. A sporty-trim ŠKODA Octavia RS is also in the pipeline.

Despite its increased size and larger amount of technology on board, ŠKODA engineers have still succeeded in making the car up to 102 kilogrammes lighter than the ŠKODA Octavia’s second generation. This was achieved thanks to resolute lightweight engineering, a progressive body design, utilisation of high- and ultra-tensile steel and a careful selection of materials. Actual weight reduction will vary depending on buildability of each vehicle configuration.

Supreme comfort through innovative technology

In addition, the new ŠKODA Octavia offers numerous new comfort functions such as hitherto available only in higher-segment vehicles. In addition to making their debut in the new Octavia, some of them are even becoming available for the first time ever in a ŠKODA. In this context, use of new technologies is no end in itself, but seeks to provide tangible added value to customers, meaning no fanciful knickknacks, but technology for people’s sake, technology that makes mobility safer and more comfortable for people.

Available for the first time in a ŠKODA is the Adaptive Cruise Assistant, which automatically maintains a pre-set distance to the car ahead. The new Intelligent Light Assistant will switch to high beam and back automatically, increasing comfort and safety in traffic. The Automatic Parking Assistant makes parking the Octavia in and out easier. Also available for the first time in a ŠKODA will be in the future traffic-sign recognition as part of the ‘Traveller Assistant’ package. Driving Mode Selection enables drivers to set certain vehicle driving characteristics at the push of the button. Another first is the electric panoramic sliding/tilting sunroof: a transparent panorama roof enhancing comfort and wellbeing on board the Octavia. The new Octavia is also available with KESSY (Keyless-Entry-Start-and-Exit-System), the automatic door- and ignition-lock system.

New generation of infotainment systems

The new ŠKODA Octavia impresses with an all-new generation of radio and radio navigation systems. Touch displays with proximity sensors and swiping functionality will be available in higher-level systems, while the new CANTON sound system and an acoustically optimised passenger space provide pure listening pleasure.

Practical and functional thanks to ‚Simply Clever‘ solutions

As in every ŠKODA, life for occupants is made easier by a range of ‚Simply Clever‘ features in the new Octavia. Depending on trim level, the following items are available either as standard or as an option. They include foldable cargo elements for the boot, enabling safe anchoring of objects on the floor. A double-sided floor covering in the boot can be found for the first time in a ŠKODA Octavia. An ice scraper is placed inside the filler flap. A warning vest holder is located underneath the driver’s seat and a rubbish bin inside the door panel. A multimedia holder has space for an iPod, a mobile phone and the like. A large overhead sunglasses compartment is just one of many storage bays, holders und hooks that make for an intelligent and clean organisation of interior and baggage space of the new ŠKODA Octavia. Also on board are the fuel-error prevention function and a boot cover folding away behind the rear seats.

[CFB]

Adaptive cruise control. No more switching cruise on and off all the time on the motorway

Intelligent light assistant. Quite like the idea of that too.

Quite a lot of other electronic wizardry going on too.

So what do you think to the idea of a driverless Skoda within the next 10 years?

[RapidRonnie]

Mladá Boleslav, December 27th, 2012 – The third generation of the ŠKODA Octavia uses a newly developed generation of modern petrol and diesel engines. Compared with their predecessors, fuel consumption and emission values of the engines are lower by up to 23 per cent. All in all, there will be eight engine versions available: four TSI petrol engines and four TDI common-rail diesel engines.?

The range of available engines for the new ŠKODA Octavia includes eight units, from the 1.2 TSI/63 kW to the top performance engine, the 1.8 TSI with an output of 132 kW. An economical GreenLine version is on offer too. A natural gas version as well as a sporty Octavia RS are in the pipeline. The GreenLine sustainable version of the new Octavia, a 1.6 TDI with a power output of 81 kW, has a CO₂ emission value of only 89 g/km and uses less than 3.4 litres diesel for 100 km. In EU countries, all engines - except for the basic engines – come standard with a start/stop system and brake energy recovery via the starter generator (Green tec/GreenLine models). Transmissions include modern manual gearboxes and the automatic DSG double-clutch transmission.

Four Petrol Engines with 63 to 132 kW

The petrol engines in the new ŠKODA Octavia are all turbocharged and direct-injection TSI engines with a four-cylinder, four-valve layout.

The entry-level petrol engine of the Octavia is the 1.2 TSI with 63 kW (86 hp) with a combined-cycle fuel consumption of 5.2 l/100 km and CO₂ emissions of 119 g/km. Turbocharging produces a maximum torque of 160 Nm (at 1,400 to 3,500 rpm). This entry-level engine comes with a manual 5-speed transmission.

The improved performance version of the 1.2 TSI Green tec, which includes a start/stop system and brake energy recuperation, manages an output of 77 kW (105 hp) and is even more economical with a combined-cycle fuel consumption of 4.9 l/100 km and CO₂ emissions of 114 g/km. The TSI engine provides a maximum torque of 175 Nm at between 1,400 and 4,000 rpm. As an alternative to the manual six-speed, the engine can be ordered with an automatic DSG seven-speed transmission.

The 1.4 TSI Green tec with 103 kW (140 hp) can be combined with a manual six-speed or an automatic DSG seven-speed transmission. Fuel consumption of the 1.4 TSI is 5.3 l/100 km and CO₂ emissions are 121 g/km in combination with manual transmission and start/stop technology. The engine achieves its maximum torque of 250 Nm at 1,500 to 3,500 rpm.

The highest-performance petrol engine for the Octavia is the 1.8 TSI Green tec with 132 kW (180 hp). Maximum torque of 250 Nm is available between 1,250 and 5,000 rpm. In combination with a 7-speed DSG direct shift gearbox, combined-cycle fuel consumption is 5.7 l/100 km and emissions are 131 g CO₂ per kilometre.

TDI Diesel Engines with up to 320 Nm

All diesels available in the new Octavia are turbocharged TDI direct injection engines with four cylinders and four-valve technology.

The entry-level diesel engine for the new Octavia is the 1.6 TDI with 66 kW (90 hp), with a combined-cycle consumption of 4.1 l/100 km and emissions of 109 g CO₂ per kilometre.

Fuel consumption of the 1.6 TDI Green tec with 77 kW (105 hp) with start/stop and manual five-speed transmission is 3.8 l/100 km and CO₂ emissions amount to 99 g/km. The engine delivers a maximum torque of 250 Nm at between 1,500 and 2,750 rpm. In addition to the manual gearbox, this engine can also be ordered with the automatic DSG seven-speed transmission.

The GreenLine-Version 1.6 TDI with 81 kW (110 hp) is the most economical diesel engine, emitting only 89 g/km CO₂ and a fuel consumption of only 3.4 l/100 km. It is available with a manual six-speed transmission.

The most powerful diesel engine for the new Octavia is the 2.0 TDI Green tec with 110 kW (150 hp). This high-performance engine with a six-speed DSG achieves excellent environmental values with a fuel consumption of only 4.5 l/100 km and CO₂ emissions of 119 g/km. In addition, the engine impresses with its outstanding smooth running characteristics and makes its maximum torque of 320 Nm available at as low as between 1,750 and 3,000 rpm. Customers can choose between a six-speed manual and an automatic DSG double-clutch transmission.

Technology Highlights of the new Generation of Engines

The petrol engines of the new Octavia belong to Volkswagen Group’s EA211 model series. These TSI four-valve four-cylinders set new standards regarding energy efficiency, lightweight design and pulling power. Reduced internal friction and weight as well as optimised thermal management provide for up to 23% lower fuel consumption and emissions.

The EA211 engines are a completely new development. Compared to its predecessor the EA111, the EA211 series is significantly more compact, with installation length 50 mm shorter, thus offering more interior space. The installation position of the engines has also been optimised. Just as in the diesels, the petrol engines are now mounted with the exhaust side facing backwards and tilted at an angle of 12 degrees.

The weight of these petrol engines made of die-cast aluminium is only 97 kg for the 1.2 TSI and 106 kg for the 1.4 TSI. Compared to the EA111 predecessor engines used in the Octavia, this is a reduction of up to 22 kg. The crankshaft alone became lighter by 20 per cent; the connecting rods lost 30 per cent of their weight. In addition the connecting rod bearing journals are now hollow-drilled and pistons now come with flat bottoms, all of them optimised for lower weight.

Regarding thermal management, the EA211 petrol engine is equipped with a modern dual-circuit cooling system. That means that a high temperature circuit with a mechanically driven cooling pump cools the basic engine, while a low temperature circuit flows through the intercooler and the turbo-charger casing. The cylinder-head circuit heats the cabin's interior. The exhaust manifold is integrated into the cylinder head, enabling the engine to warm up more quickly, in turn making heat available quickly for the passenger cabin. At high loads, the exhaust is cooled by the coolant, lowering fuel consumption.

The particularly economical diesel engines are from the EA288 model series. Compared to the previous generation, the fuel consumption of the new engines is lower by up to 0.8 l/100 km. Exhaust-relevant components, such as the injection system, the charging and the intercooling systems have been improved. Components for exhaust-gas aftertreatment, such as the oxidation catalyst and the diesel particulate filter, are now located closer to the engine. Piston rings with a lower pretension and particularly low-friction roller contact bearings are used for the camshaft to reduce friction in the engine.

The new diesel engines also feature innovative thermal management. During the warming-up phase of the engine, separate circuits cool the cylinder head and the engine block, enabling the engines to reach their operating temperature much faster and the interior warms up much more quickly in winter.

[vrs777]

Adaptive cruise control. No more switching cruise on and off all the time on the motorway

Intelligent light assistant. Quite like the idea of that too.

Quite a lot of other electronic wizardry going on too.

So what do you think to the idea of a driverless Skoda within the next 10 years?

I've used an e90 BMW with these features and can tell you they work 100% perfect, ie. you don't actually notice them working - they just work. The high beam assist is so accurate it's untrue and the adaptive cruise is a god-send over the standard cruise control that is a total waste of time in this country with busy congested roads and people always cutting infront of you etc.

It's a shame the adaptive cruise won't be standard like it is on the Golf MK7.

[Stuart_J]

Its a shame its bigger