Maybe I am out of kilter here, but this series of posts rather remind me of the 'Emperor's New Clothes'. The 'rendering' is the front end of a present Octavia with a different lower bumper. The headlights aren't new, no new grille and so no changes. Is everyone seeing something I am not?

The mid life change will almost certainly see a Roomster/Fabia/Superb style grille and headlamps. The photo here shows nothing of the sort.

It seems you were expecting too much!

This is merely going to be a "Facelifted" Mk2 Octavia - they won't make any major changes to the design - they will come with the next model, Mk3 Octavia shall we say?.

This is to make some slight changes to keep the design a bit fresh. There will likely be more changes spec wise and maybe inside the car - they may also add/drop a couple of trim levels or engines for newer revisions.

This is the link for "spy shots" of the possible Mk3 Octavia

Motor Authority Spy Shots: 3rd Generation Skoda Octavia

No I am not expecting too much. Midlife refreshes are usually a bit more than a lower bumper change. All the motoring press, apart form Motor (little or no) Authority (and even less believability) are saying the midlife will have Superb/Fabia/Roomster style grille and headlamps like the new Superb. Your link rather proves my point. The pictures on that are of the Mkll (identical body shell, even unchanged rear lamps and hatch) with new headlamps, grille and bumpers, not a new car as it suggests!!!!!!!!!!!! I am sorry this site is not giving me any indication that they have any credibility.

Take the Vectra as an example, they changed the whole front end on the facelift. They did it to make it fit in with the rest of the family.

The Octavia currently has a similar problem, the Fabia/Roomster have the same front end and the Superb II will follow leaving the Octavia sticking out somewhat.

I think they will soften the front end a little, mainly headlamps, front bumper and grille.

Maybe the LED rear lights that Visteon showcased some time back will make an appearance on higher models and/or the vRS....................

Cheers Colm, cant afford wait till the facelift anyway, but really hope the changes are not to BIG :(

Right there with ya fella.... mine's arriving at the end of Jan / beginning of Feb :eek:

When they did the mid life facelift to the MK1 octavia, all they changed were the rear lights, and changed the headlights to projector lamps. They also made the front grill chrome a bit thicker and that was it.

When they facelifted the Fabia MK1, all they changed was the rear lights, and made some minor changes to the front bumper, deleted the rear door pins and changed the material the dash was made from.

I dont really think the facelift to the mk2 will be dramatic, maybe new rear lights, and some minor changes to the bumpers or something along those lines.

When they did the mid life facelift to the MK1 octavia, all they changed were the rear lights, and changed the headlights to projector lamps. They also made the front grill chrome a bit thicker and that was it.

Manny, the changes to the front end were extensive, new wings, bonnet, bumper and headlights completely changed shape, as did the grille.

I agree though, the changes to the Octavia will be minor cosmetics at best...

Manny, the changes to the front end were extensive, new wings, bonnet, bumper and headlights completely changed shape, as did the grille.

I agree though, the changes to the Octavia will be minor cosmetics at best...

I reckon there will be a change to the lights and grille to match the other three cars in the range.

The Mk1 facelift was impressive the way they managed to change so many components and end up with it looking so similar to the older cars

from the Budapest Times....

Skoda, which closed 2007 successfully despite the difficulties of the automobile industry in previous years, will this year unveil the updated Superb, its flagship car. Skoda, which released factory photographs at the end of last year, will exhibit the Superb in March at the Geneva Car Show, and it is likely to go on sale in Hungary from July. The new Fabia Combi version introduced at the end of last year will enter car showrooms from January, and the Octavia model will arrive at the end of the year having undergone a facelift. In addition, the economical Green Line environmentally friendly diesel model, and the leisure car adapted from the combi, the Scout version, will also arrive