2017 Skoda Octavia facelift likely to be launched on July 10; GST to bring down prices

Czech auto-maker Skoda Auto had unveiled the facelifted version of Octavia sedan globally in October 2016. The model has been on tests for a while on Indian roads and it looks like Skoda India has finally decided its launch date. 

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According to Autocar, the company is expected to launch the updated sedan on July 10. Ahead of the entry, many Skoda dealers have already started accepting bookings for the new sedan.

Another interesting rumour is that the prices of the new Octavia may go down, thanks to the GST rates. The current model has been priced from Rs 19.28 lakh to Rs 23.35 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi. The proposed GST rates could lead to a slash in the pricing of the new Octavia over the current model.

Major nip and tuck in the new Octavia are focused on its face. The best-selling sedan of the company now comes with split headlight design resembling Mercedes-Benz E-Class W212. The new headlight optionally comes with full LED technology that replaces bi-xenon and LED daytime running lights combination of the pre-facelift version. The model also restyled front bumper and the fog lamps. Whether these changes on the face, especially the split headlight, of the new Octavia will go down well with the customer remains to be seen.

The new headlight optionally comes with full LED technology that replaces bi-xenon and LED daytime running lights combination of the pre-facelift version. The model also restyled front bumper and the fog lamps. Whether these changes on the face, especially the split headlight, of the new Octavia will go down well with the customer remains to be seen.

While the side profile remains untouched, the tail lamps get new inlays inside the cluster and it complements the changes upfront. The interior will be spruced up with a larger touchscreen system supporting WLAN hotspot and smart phone integration. Other major additions will include ambient lighting with adjustable colours, a rear-view camera and a hands-free parking system. New Octavia will also get larger 17-inch alloy

The new Octavia will also get larger 17-inch alloy wheels in place of the current 16-inch in top variants.

The sedan will continue to draw power from 148bhp 1.4 TSI and 178bhp 1.8 TSI petrol engines and 142bhp 2.0 TDI diesel engine. Apart from the standard six-speed manual transmission with both engines, the petrol mill will be offered in seven-speed DSG and diesel mill in six-speed DSG.