Skoda will unveil the next generation version of its Octavia sales champion later today, giving us our first look at how it's been re-engineered to take on rivals like the Ford Focus and Mazda 3.
Last week, the firm published design sketches that show how the interior has been radically overhauled.
UPDATE: The 2020 Skoda Octavia has been officially revealed - read the full story here
Highlights of the redesign include a new multi-level instrument panel - a first for the Octavia - a reshaped, two-spoke steering wheel, and a free-standing central screen that has been positioned to reflect the recognisable silhouette of the brand's corporate grille design. Elsewhwere, the gear selector has been replaced with a small switch unit, while the Volkswagen Group's Climatronic three-zone air conditioning system makes its Octavia debut.
Skoda claims the new interior offers more space than that of the outgoing Octavia.
The preview came after the recent accidental unveiling of the Octavia's front end design, where an official image was posted to Skoda's website.
Shared to a German Skoda forum, the press shot is said to have been taken from the brand's own configurator before being removed. As expected, we can see the new model takes heavily influence from the larger Skoda Superb, alongside the recently introduced Skoda Scala.
The 2020 Octavia ditches the controversial split headlamp design of the current car in favour of single units. These bookend a much larger grille, which brings the car into line with the rest of the range, while the influence of the Superb is clear in a new clamshell bonnet.
The Superb-esque accents are developed in the Octavia’s profile, particularly in the saloon version here. The car has deeper swage lines and more pronounced contours compared with the outgoing model, and an overall look that is more angular. In the estate version, spotted earlier this year in testing, a rear spoiler wraps around the sloping rear window. In both models, the tailgate and tail-light design bears no resemblance to today’s Octavia.
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Best all round car on the market?
You don't need a multi-coloured sketch to know what the dash will look like - it'll be a bigger version of the Kamiq and Scala and no doubt be in the same shade of grey.
The current Octavia is probably one of the best all round cars you can buy with only two major flaws - aesthetics ( it's as dull as hell but given how well it sells, who knows that may be an attribute ) and my biggest bugbear - cabin noise. It sounds like tyre roar but I've been told it originates from the suspension. Whatever it is, the current car lacks soundproofing. Sort that and chances are I'll buy another.
scotty5 wrote:
I think VW do the Skoda cabin noise on purpose, we use to have a Superb and a Golf, both came with 18" rims, the Golf was far quieter inside.
230SL wrote:
"On purpose"?. Did it not, (clearly not) occur to you that the Golf has as befits position in the heirarchy, more soundproofing, model for model against the Octavia?. Why expect Golf buyers to put up with higher noise levels for extra money paid...answer, save up your pocket money and by the Golf and STOP whingeing.
scotty5 wrote:
I suspect the cabin noise is probably down to the size of the thing, its just a big empty echo chamber..
Generic VAG design
It looks like they will use the same instrument panel, display screen as the new (?) Golf!
I think it looks great....
...but VW reliability (e.g. the farcical, ongoing 1.5 TSi issue), what VW did regarding Dieselgate, Skoda's eye-watering prices and the fact that they'll be so many on the roads (e.g. minicabs) puts me off.
gavsmit wrote:
Ongoing no longer, catch up prior to posting.
Takeitslowly
Is it painful for you if you don't take it slowly?
And the 1.5 TSi issue remains ongoing because lots of angry customers still haven't got their cars fixed.
gavsmit wrote:
Have you got IT in you, to explain what YOU mean by IT?.
There was a permanent fix announced weeks ago and it takes TIME, for owners to be informed and for the work to be done...it is NOT an ONGOING issue anymore...got it?. Fool
Pointless trolling
I'm sure all the disappointed and angry VW / Skoda / Seat 1.5 TSi owners will appreciate your explanation of the situation as no longer 'ongoing'.
Now prove yourself the true fool by having the last word in response to this post, and feel free to play with the caps lock too, because I will not be fueling your sorry hatred any further.
Takeitslowly wrote:
If its anything like the diesel fix, that actually made lots of cars less reliable, caused more faliures, and in some cases wasnt actually a fix, many customers will be very wary of getting their cars "fixed". VW continue to take their customers for granted.