To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Octavia, Škoda will premiere the fourth generation of the car in Prague on November 11. The Octavia has a DSG transmission, which is operated for the first time by shift-by-wire technology, as well as new safety features such as collision avoidance assist and an exit warning. CAS allows the driver to make larger steering inputs in emergencies to help avoid collisions, while the exit warning system lets the driver know if a cyclist or another vehicle is approaching from behind as they open the car door.
Christian Strube, Škoda board member for technical development, explained that, “The safety of our cars and their passengers, as well as other road users, is our top priority. With these new safety and assistance systems in the fourth-generation Octavia, we have raised the bar and made the car one of the safest in its segment.”
Although diesels are becoming less popular, the Octavia’s new EVO engine has a particulate filter and two catalytic converters to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 80%. Škoda will also offer the Octavia with TSi petrol engines, as well as plug-in and mild-hybrid versions that will use regenerative braking to recover energ.
Bernhard Maier, Škoda Auto CEO, added, “The time has come for Škoda to enter the era of electric mobility. We are now able to fulfil essential customer requirements: long ranges, quick charging and – particularly important for us – affordable prices. In addition to our successful petrol and diesel engines, hybrid and full electric-drive systems will quickly become a relevant part of our range.
“We anticipate that they will make up around 25% of total sales by 2025. Regarding e‑mobility, we are also introducing the Škoda iV sub‑brand. This will not only include all of our e-models, but will also create a holistic and connected ecosystem that makes e‑mobility as straightforward and convenient as possible for our customers.”
