Skoda Octavia I test drive - 2010 -

Makeup plus motors

Since the debut of Octavia, the flagship of the company of Skoda, has passed since four years. By the standards of the world auto industry, this is just the time when the appearance of the model is time to refresh.
 
The depth of changes in the update of the model indirectly indicates how much the current generation of the car will last on the conveyor. If the changes are cardinal, it means that he is provided with a few more years of life. If the matter is limited to new bumpers, headlights and the expansion of the range of power units - in a year or two, wait for the premiere of a completely new machine. However, the third option is possible - in a couple of years, instead of changing the model, another, but oh -deep restyling awaits it. Time will tell what fate is destined for Octavia; In the meantime, we will get acquainted with the 2001 model year.
 
The most significant difference in appearance is the more massive and fully painted bumpers with enlarged air intakes in the color of the body. The car has become more solid, aerodynamics improved - SC only 0.30-0.31. However, the new body kit is more demanding on the quality of the road surface and the height of the borders - the former, located under the bumper, the spoiler made of elastic unpainted plastic was more practical. Other external changes are not so noticeable: headlights with a crystalline effect, other drawings of the grille of the radiator and the rear blocks, some other little things. The color scheme now includes eleven coatings - seven metallics and four ordinary.
 
In the cabin, the new modern front panel in the style of golf IV is primarily striking. But for passengers of the second row of seats, kinship with a close back by the German became less obvious - thanks to the altered design of the backs, the legs space here increased by 22 mm.
 
Instead of letter indices, the main levels of configuration received, in the current fashion, their own names - classic, ambent and eleganes. Even the most modest octavia boasts a steering wheel with a hydraulic wrap and adjusting the angle of inclination and the length of the column, changed by the height of the driver’s height and the split rear seat (40:60 for the sedan, and for the station wagon), the isofix for children's seats, the anti -frying filter in the ventilation system, audio training, headlight corrector, immobilizer.
 
The top version of Laurin and the Clement equipped to the maximum (cars of such a brand were produced in 1905-1928, the company of the same name, founded by Vaclav Laurin and Vaclav Clement, which later included in the Skoda concern) with a 150-horsepower engine 1.8 20V Turbo now, along with front, and all -wheel drive. The same engine, but developing already record for Skoda 180 liters. p., the premiere of the current Parisian car dealership is equipped - front -wheel drive sports octavia RS. For bad roads, an all-wheel drive station wagon of the 4x4 combi is designed: its updated 100-horsepower 1.9 TDI turbodiesel is aggregated with a new six-speed gearbox. As it turned out, the VI transmission is great for the highway - it is very economical and almost does not affect the dynamics, since the peak of the moment of the engine now falls at running speeds of 100-130 km/h. Some modifications of the octavia are equipped with an on -board computer, which takes into account the intensity of operation, allowing in some cases to increase the frequency of oil change to 30 thousand km in gasoline and 50 thousand km in diesel engines.
 
The gamut of engines, now consisting of eight gasoline and four diesel ones, was replenished with a sixteen-plate of 1.4 liters, as well as a slightly more powerful and satisfying the strictest Euro IV version of the new 1.6-liter motor. The smaller of this pair of power units, according to subjective sensations, is close to the previous 1.6-liter engine, but with the same 75 liters. With. It will allow in some countries to pay a much smaller tax. As for the appearance, changes in it can rather be called makeup than facelifting - facelift.
 
In the salons of Russian dealers, the updated Octavia appeared at the end of summer. The most affordable of the 75 liters supplied to us, with a proven 1.6-liter engine with a capacity of 75 liters. p., will cost $ 12.5 thousand. The most expensive Laurin and Clement costs $ 10 thousand more. A guarantee for cars sold in Russia is a year without limiting a run and ten years from through corrosion of the body.
 
Yuri Nechetov
 
Photo by Yuri Necchetov and Skoda
 
 
 
 

A source: The magazine "Driving"