Photo: Stefan Baldauf / Robert Kah
The new Octavia III family of vehicles has won many awards since its launch, and not without merit. They are all spacious, highly practical and have up-to-date safety features developed by the Volkswagen Group. However, there are limitations, especially when its owners want to go where beyond the point where the asphalt ends.
That's where the world debut of the Skoda Octavia Scout comes in. Shown today in Geneva, the rugged off-road look blends in well with the lines of the estate model. Changes over the Combi model include black wheel arches, the beefy 17-inch wheels specific to this model and metallic protective scuff plates at the front and back.
Completely reworking the architecture around a 33 millimeter increase in suspension height, Skoda has also fitted the Scout with the Haldex-5 all-wheel drive system, which activates whenever it senses front wheel spin and sends power to the back.
The engine range at the launch will be made up of three of the most powerful units currently offered on any Skoda model, two of them being diesel and one petrol. All of them meet the EU-6 standards and are available with DSG gearboxes.
The 'smaller' diesel is the 2.0 TDI with 150 hp and 350 Nm of torque. When fitted with a manual, it gets a very impressive 4.9 liters/100km (on average). It's not exactly slow either, taking 9.1 seconds to reach 100km/h on its way to 207 km/h.
The only petrol engine available is the 1.8 TSI rated at 180 PS, only available with six-speed DSG.Thanks also to the 280 Nm of torque, it takes just 7.8 seconds to reach 100km/h and stops only when 216km/h is indicated.
Finally, there's the flagship model of the range, which is going to be quite pricy. The Octavia Scout 2.0 TDI's most powerful incarnation makes 184 PS and 380 Nm of torque. With 0 to 100 km/h in 7.8 seconds and a top speed of 219 km/h it's basically just as fast as the petrol-power car. However, fuel efficiency is much better, sitting at 5.4 l/100km on the combined cycle.
While the Skoda Scout brand has a great reputation, it's stands not without rivals. We think these three are the big ones:
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“The new Skoda Octavia Scout really is a smart offroader in every way - a name that has to be earned at Skoda,” says Dr. Frank Welsch, Skoda Member of the Board of Management for Technical Development. “Our new model is a scout in the best sense and offers customers a unique package, comprising a striking off-road look, impressive all-wheel characteristics, plenty of space and modern safety, comfort and engine technologies. The new Octavia Scout sets new standards in the crossover-vehicle segment.”
Completely reworking the architecture around a 33 millimeter increase in suspension height, Skoda has also fitted the Scout with the Haldex-5 all-wheel drive system, which activates whenever it senses front wheel spin and sends power to the back.
The engine range at the launch will be made up of three of the most powerful units currently offered on any Skoda model, two of them being diesel and one petrol. All of them meet the EU-6 standards and are available with DSG gearboxes.
The 'smaller' diesel is the 2.0 TDI with 150 hp and 350 Nm of torque. When fitted with a manual, it gets a very impressive 4.9 liters/100km (on average). It's not exactly slow either, taking 9.1 seconds to reach 100km/h on its way to 207 km/h.
The only petrol engine available is the 1.8 TSI rated at 180 PS, only available with six-speed DSG.Thanks also to the 280 Nm of torque, it takes just 7.8 seconds to reach 100km/h and stops only when 216km/h is indicated.
Finally, there's the flagship model of the range, which is going to be quite pricy. The Octavia Scout 2.0 TDI's most powerful incarnation makes 184 PS and 380 Nm of torque. With 0 to 100 km/h in 7.8 seconds and a top speed of 219 km/h it's basically just as fast as the petrol-power car. However, fuel efficiency is much better, sitting at 5.4 l/100km on the combined cycle.
While the Skoda Scout brand has a great reputation, it's stands not without rivals. We think these three are the big ones:
“The new Skoda Octavia Scout really is a smart offroader in every way - a name that has to be earned at Skoda,” says Dr. Frank Welsch, Skoda Member of the Board of Management for Technical Development. “Our new model is a scout in the best sense and offers customers a unique package, comprising a striking off-road look, impressive all-wheel characteristics, plenty of space and modern safety, comfort and engine technologies. The new Octavia Scout sets new standards in the crossover-vehicle segment.”
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