Volkswagen Group officials have confirmed that the world debut for the all-new Skoda Octavia will take place in the next few weeks, ahead of the start of global sales early next year.
The new model (pictured testing below) will be appreciably larger and more upmarket than the current model, this time competing in the medium-car segment. The Octavia will no longer have to straddle the small and mid-sized passenger segment, thanks to the arrival of the new Rapid model.
The latest iteration of the Czech brand’s global bestseller will be the fourth model (and the first Skoda) based on Volkswagen’s flexible new MQB modular platform, after the Audi A3, Seat Leon and the forthcoming seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf.
The switch to lightweight MQB underpinnings should also see the new model shed some weight over the current generation, despite stretching to around 4,800mm in length (around 250mm longer than current version, which is based on the previous Golf).
The top end of the new range will be pushed further upmarket to match more established European brands, meaning higher prices than before are likely, but expect entry versions to continue to offer more space for less money than key rivals.