Having tried the stereo on a recent test drive I found the standard system a little lacking compared to what I've been used too, whilst leafing through the current Octavia brochure on page 16 in the picture showing the curtain airbags you can make out additional speakers in the doors.

Obviously this was of interest yet I have been unable to find any reference in the brochure or on the website. Searching this forum there are references to 12 speaker and Amp upgrades which sound just the ticket, however I have also seen threads saying that it is no longer available.

As my vehicle will be a company vehicle a factory upgrade would have fitted the bill.

Is anybody able to clarify what if any upgrades are available? Was it an option, and is it still available?

many thanks in advance.

Order the new SATNav unit. Sounds great.

AFAIK the 12 speaker system upgrade is no longer available and is incompatible with the older MFD2 sat nav system or the new MFD3.

Like Stu says, the new MFD3 (aka Columbus) system is available as a factory option now and I strongly recommend you order it.

A brief tech spec:

Touch screen sat nav

DVD compatible

30gig hard drive built in

Memory card reader built in

Have a look here:

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/new-octavia/new-generation-sat-nav/92018/

That looks great, sadly it would wipe out my budget for any other options at all, which when I already have an Ipod and a Tom Tom doesn't add up financially.

Shame that Skoda have deleted the other options.

AFAIK the 12 speaker system upgrade is no longer available and is incompatible with the older MFD2 sat nav system or the new MFD3.

No, as I know, in Germany customers may order MFD3 Colombus with 12 speakers and amplifier:

There are two packets:

Radio DVD-Navigation "Columbus" I

- DVD-Navigation mit 6,5"Color-Touch-Screen

- Dynamische Navigation mittels TMC

- Kartendarstellung aus der Vogelperspektive

- Festplatte mit 30 GB davon 20 GB für MP3 oder WMA

- SD Speicherkartenschacht

- Video-DVD Wiedergabe (nicht im Fahrtbetrieb)

- Doppeltuner für sehr guten Empfang

- DVD für Westeuropa

(Details bei Ihrem Skoda Berater) EUR 1.950,-

Radio DVD-Navigation "Columbus" II

- Soundsystem mit 12 Lautsprechern

- DVD-Navigation mit 6,5" Color-Touch-Screen

- Dynamische Navigation mittels TMC

- Kartendarstellung aus der Vogelperspektive

- Festplatte mit 30 GB davon 20 GB für MP3 oder WMA

- SD Speicherkartenschacht

- Video-DVD Wiedergabe (nicht im Fahrtbetrieb)

- Doppeltuner für sehr guten Empfang

- DVD für Westeuropa

(Details bei Ihrem Skoda Berater) EUR 2.320,-

Irrespective of this the 12 speaker system is not currently available in the UK with any of the sat nav systems.

This may change in due course now the Columbus system is here and the compatiblity of the sound system has come to light.

There is no mention of the Columbus and/or 12 speaker system on the UK site, miles behind the times or what???

Skoda could be missing out on countless orders for this unit.

The engine tech spec for the vRS TDI is still mostly unavailable, how long has this model been available????