Next generation Skoda Octavia due in 2009

Yes that's right the second generation octavia[Laura as we know in India] is due for a complete makeover in 2009 as per Skoda's product replacement cycle and various auto magazines abroad.

So far I have not found any spy pictures of the car but promise you to put them up as soon as I find them.

Skoda India have already promised us two new cars next year,one of which I have a hunch could be the fabia sedan and the other perhaps is the next generation Octavia.

Now what interests me most is what would skoda's strategy in India be.Would they sell three generations of the same car side by side.And call the third generation skoda in India, Natasha.

Skoda could lower prices of the first generation octavia to the c-segment levels,the second generation octavia[Laura] to the present octavia levels and price the third generation octavia[calling it natasha for the moment] at around the price of the Laura.The possible permutations and combination's are infinite and I think its best to wait and see what Skoda do in India.

Also read:
Skoda to launch C-segment sedan in 2009

Skoda India to Launch cheaper 1.6L Skoda Octavia

Coming soon the Skoda Octavia rival -VW Jetta

We shall soon see the Octavia's sibling the VW jetta on Indian roads.The launch date is likely between may and june,2008.Unlike earlier media predictions[where it was supposedly going to be priced alongside the Honda city] the Jetta is going to be launched in the Rs.13-15 lakhs category.
This will take it in Skoda Octavia category as well as pit it against the Skoda Laura too.Yes the jetta would be a much more modern offering compared to the octavia but if you ask me to pick between the Laura and the Jetta ,I would prefer the Skoda Laura.Not for nothing has the Laura[new generation octavia] been winning reliability awards year after year even beating japanese rivals while VW seem to be having lots of problems on this front.

Expect the Jetta to be similarly speced as the Laura.The jetta introduction could possibly be a killer blow for the Octavia.

Just Have to see how VW plan to sell their cars,i.e. will it be through existing skoda dealerships.

PS:Also part of the article from business standard were other cars from VW in the future.It said the polo and the production version of the UP concept would be here.The Polo would be priced at around Rs. 4.30 lakhs while the UP at around Rs. 1.80 lakhs.These cars would take some time to come to India however[upto 2012 even].

[Source:Business Standard]
[image source:nextcar,milteksport,paddocktalk,autocult]

Here's how the Skoda octavia came into the world.

Here are two videos of the first and second generation skoda octavias being tested by the company before launch[dated videos].Inspirational stuff for other automobile manufacturers as to how even testing of the vehicle has great marketing potential.

The First Generation Octavia:


The Second Generation Octavia[Known as the Laura in India]:

Should Automobile dealerships be given the right to refuse Test drives.

Yes it does not only happen in India,a BMW dealership refused a customer a test-drive of the 1 series because they thought he was not a serious enough customer.

Heres the Link to the story:
BMW Denies Test Drive Because You Are Not A "Serious Customer"

In India we too have the same behavior from dealerships of manufacturers like Skoda for instance.Ask them for a test drive of the Laura and they think you are playing a joke on them.So should these dealers be given this right of refusing test-drives.

Although I understand the difficulties faced by the dealers I think no,after all a single test drive is not going to be as expensive as the loss of a potential customer and many more even.Moreover I just do not understand why the premium tag means dealers think it is their duty to adopt an arrogant attitude something fairly common at the Honda dealership here.

Skoda India Launches the Laura Ambiente

Once more Skoda launch another variant of the Laura.This time its the Skoda Laura Ambiente which is priced at Rs. 13.21 lakhs[ex-showroom] making the laura now look an extremely value for money proposition.

From an initial OTR price tag of nearly Rs.20Lakh to the now about Rs. 14 lakh OTR ,the Laura certainly has come a long way,yes a few features have been trimmed off but I guess Indian consumers would be more happier with this Base version than the Rs. 20Lakh Laura.I expect the Laura sales to pick up further however this would also mean the end for the present older generation Octavia is nearing with sales going to take a further hit from its sibling,the Laura.But that surely should not worry Skoda.

The new variant still comes with two airbags, traction control system (ABS and ASR), rear-parking sensors, and automatic wipers with rain sensors.The Hindu have reported a 1.7L PD TDI diesel engine but have checked with skoda and the engine remains the 1.9L PD TDI one only.

[Source:The Hindu]

PS:The picture is of a Skoda Laura VRs,I wish Skoda launches that soon in India.

Related post:
Skoda India pricing of the Fabia announced,not to discontinue the Octavia as planned earlier

Toyota claim the next generation corolla is the hottest ever-Here's some of the reasons why

The new corolla is going to hit the indian shores and we have talked about its camry like exteriors,now a bit more with regards to the interiors and features.

AB-i is standard on all new Corolla models, and delivers uncompromising stopping power in virtually any conditions.AB-i braking system combines Anti-skid Braking System (ABS), Brake Assist (BA) and Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD).



Now heres something the new corolla owners would like to show around a bit,


The Smart Entry and Start System -No need to physically use your key to unlock and start the car. Simply have it on you, and the car unlocks when you use the door handle, and starts at the push of a button.



The top end corolla will come with HID Auto-levelling headlamps, headlamp cleaners, rain-sensing wipers,16” alloy wheels and a flat rear floor, multi-function trip computer and anti-glare electro-chromatic interior mirrors,lexus like optitron combimeter, 6 speaker MP3 compatible CD player,Aux-in, steering wheel audio controls, Bluetooth compatibility.7 Airbags wonder how many that will become to when it comes to India.

It would have a six speed manual but auto -gearbox enthusiasts may be in for a disappointment with a 4 speed auto-gearbox.



Probable engines[for India]:
Diesel
2.0L D4D
Power-126bhp
Torque-300Nm

Petrol
1.8L Dual VVT-i
Power-130bhp@6,000rpm
Torque-173Nm@4400rpm

Dual VVT-i meaning valve timing is adjusted on both intake and exhaust valves,toyota claim this improves fuel efficiency and this car could even give the honda city[a C segment car] a run for its money in this area at the same time it is very powerful as D segmenter's should be.

For india however expect a lot more beige in the interiors:


Now thats a lot of toys ,have to see how toyota manages the pricing for India without compromising too much on the features cause toyota really need the corolla to click this time round.There's a car very much in this mold the skoda laura now again and again I ask would toyota do a skoda[sell both older generation and newer generation cars side by side].

Update 1:The dual VVT-i engines will not make it to markets like India.

Update 2:
Expect toyota to be miserly with the toys it gives in the Indian corolla.

Exterior pics here:
New toyota corolla to head to India