Skoda India plans to sell Octavia & Laura TOGETHER!

GTO · 25th November 2005, 15:47

The new Octavia rebadged as the "Skoda Laura" has just been launched. Seems good news, but the problem is that it will sell the older car at the same time. The Laura should be about 17 - 18 lacs on the road in Bombay.

Skoda has got some nerve to think that the Indian buyer is an idiot, and sell two generations of the same car side by side. It may work in the economy segment, but not in the luxurious D segment.

Take a hike Skoda! You have just lost a strong fan of yours. I do hope that your potential buyers prove the evolution of the Indian consumer by giving the Laura a thumbs down in the marketplace.

GTO

Rtech · 25th November 2005, 15:53

Shiat....I wouldn't buy it for that name alone. They definately have been smoking dope; and really cheap quality stuff at that!

Or maybe, just maybe, they have the staff at Hero Honda deciding the names of their new cars. So that means we can expect the Fabia to be called the Glamour.

MrBoombastic · 25th November 2005, 15:57

I was really looking forward to buying the A5 Octavia vRS, but the minute I knew the pricing was going to be around Rs.17-18 lakhs for the base model, I dropped the idea. In the real world the Honda Accord makes a lot more sense in more ways than one at this price. We even discussed this at the Chennai meet on the 20th.

"Tell Laura I love her".... Nice old song

Technocrat · 25th November 2005, 15:58

@Rtech: errr dude why go to bikes, check MUL, its selling, M800, Alto & Zen which all are basically diff generations alto, infact irony being th old gen Alto(Zen) is sold for more tha newer gen Alto(Alto).

As GTO rightly pointed this might have worked in the economy section, expecting the same for D segment would be foolish.

jkdas · 25th November 2005, 16:05

What! 18k for base version on road? then what about high end ones?

then high end ones would come in the price region of Superb right?

zenx · 25th November 2005, 16:05

whoever thot up that name knows too little about the local market - MNCs have suffered such bloopers earlier so i guess it should be fun

)

Dippy · 25th November 2005, 16:06

I always liked Skoda for the way the handled the Indian market when they came in with the Octy. But by naming the new Octy with a different name is not going to work. And what a name 'Laura' what were they thinking?

Person 1 : Hey what car do you have?
Person 2 : Laura

Sheesh the name itself is sissy enough. Looks like Laura is going going to be a lemon in the Skoda India portfolio and will vanish from our shores quickly. Though I feel the sales of the current Octy may not be affected. They should have the Fabia with at frugal diesel engine instead of this.

GTO · 25th November 2005, 16:12

Quote:

So that means we can expect the Fabia to be called the Glamour.

Haha - Picture this. 10 years from now, we have on sale :

1. Skoda Octavia (Current Octavia)
2. Skoda Laura (New Octavia)
3. Skoda Barbara (2010 international variant)
4. Skoda Michelle (2015 international version)

GTO

Dippy · 25th November 2005, 16:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTO

Haha - Picture this. 10 years from now, we have on sale :

1. Skoda Octavia (Current Octavia)
2. Skoda Laura (New Octavia)
3. Skoda Barbara (2010 international variant)
4. Skoda Michelle (2015 international version)

GTO

Maybe the'll rename the Superb to something more chic too.. something like

Skoda Sophiya

tsk1979 · 25th November 2005, 16:17

Autocar india Dec Issue has the full review, did anyone get a chance to check that out? Other than that based on the pics it seemed to be good sized unlike the older octavia

sridhar24 · 25th November 2005, 16:20

I saw the car on the cover of ACI and got confused as it looked exactly like the new octy, but after reading through this thread i came to know its the new octy named as Laura. The name itself sucks and i am sure this time Skoda India has not done the right thing and they will soon realise. They should have phased out the old model and brought this one as the Octavia.

ramkya1 · 25th November 2005, 16:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dippy

And what a name 'Laura' what were they thinking?

Person 1 : Hey what car do you have?
Person 2 : Laura

Seeing the pronunciation horrors we have in India, if we extend the conversation a bit..........

Person 1: What car do you have?
Person 2: Laura
P1 : You mean Lara as in Lara Craft with the big........
P2 : No..no...no....NO..... This is different .... she's very masculine and powerful
P 1: So was she and went bang...bang.... full throttle
P 2: My lady also can go bang... bang n full throttle but not in the sissy way
p 1: Laura had big .........
P 2: My lady has big headlight, very powerful too....... now will you shove off and leave me alone !!!!!!!!!!!

---------------------

merve_extreme · 25th November 2005, 16:32

That is the most disgusting name for a car.Were the trying to do a Renault Megane,if yes then they have lost it.

The Laura is going to be a disaster on similar scale to the Superb.i have completely lost all respect for Skoda India.

Shan2nu · 25th November 2005, 16:36

I ain't driving a Laura, even if it comes with 200bhp.

Shan2nu

adya33 · 25th November 2005, 16:41

Inspired by Dippys post

imagine two people talking when their wife are with them

Person 1 : Hey what do you drive?
Person 2 : Laura
Person 1 : How is she?

next day both get divorce

seriously 17 to 18L for C++ segment car (sorry octy is no D segment say whatever)

people at Honda, start increasing your production capacity you gonna get lots of potential skoda buyers

25th November 2005, 15:47	#1
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 70,503 Thanked: 300,637 Times View My Garage	Skoda India plans to sell Octavia & Laura TOGETHER! The new Octavia rebadged as the "Skoda Laura" has just been launched. Seems good news, but the problem is that it will sell the older car at the same time. The Laura should be about 17 - 18 lacs on the road in Bombay. Skoda has got some nerve to think that the Indian buyer is an idiot, and sell two generations of the same car side by side. It may work in the economy segment, but not in the luxurious D segment. Take a hike Skoda! You have just lost a strong fan of yours. I do hope that your potential buyers prove the evolution of the Indian consumer by giving the Laura a thumbs down in the marketplace. GTO
	() Thanks

25th November 2005, 15:53	#2
Rtech Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,770 Thanked: 359 Times View My Garage	Shiat....I wouldn't buy it for that name alone. They definately have been smoking dope; and really cheap quality stuff at that! Or maybe, just maybe, they have the staff at Hero Honda deciding the names of their new cars. So that means we can expect the Fabia to be called the Glamour.
	() Thanks

25th November 2005, 15:57	#3
MrBoombastic BANNED Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Chennai Posts: 253 Thanked: 6 Times	Bye Bye Love I was really looking forward to buying the A5 Octavia vRS, but the minute I knew the pricing was going to be around Rs.17-18 lakhs for the base model, I dropped the idea. In the real world the Honda Accord makes a lot more sense in more ways than one at this price. We even discussed this at the Chennai meet on the 20th. "Tell Laura I love her".... Nice old song
	() Thanks

25th November 2005, 15:58	#4
Technocrat Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: GTA Posts: 14,813 Thanked: 2,700 Times	@Rtech: errr dude why go to bikes, check MUL, its selling, M800, Alto & Zen which all are basically diff generations alto, infact irony being th old gen Alto(Zen) is sold for more tha newer gen Alto(Alto). As GTO rightly pointed this might have worked in the economy section, expecting the same for D segment would be foolish.
	() Thanks

25th November 2005, 16:05	#5
jkdas Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Thiruvananthapu Posts: 9,687 Thanked: 1,492 Times View My Garage	What! 18k for base version on road? then what about high end ones? then high end ones would come in the price region of Superb right?
	() Thanks

25th November 2005, 16:05	#6
zenx Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,161 Thanked: 158 Times View My Garage	whoever thot up that name knows too little about the local market - MNCs have suffered such bloopers earlier so i guess it should be fun )
	() Thanks

25th November 2005, 16:06	#7
Dippy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 7,558 Thanked: 2,462 Times	I always liked Skoda for the way the handled the Indian market when they came in with the Octy. But by naming the new Octy with a different name is not going to work. And what a name 'Laura' what were they thinking? Person 1 : Hey what car do you have? Person 2 : Laura Sheesh the name itself is sissy enough. Looks like Laura is going going to be a lemon in the Skoda India portfolio and will vanish from our shores quickly. Though I feel the sales of the current Octy may not be affected. They should have the Fabia with at frugal diesel engine instead of this.
	() Thanks

25th November 2005, 16:17	#10
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,825 Times View My Garage	Autocar india Dec Issue has the full review, did anyone get a chance to check that out? Other than that based on the pics it seemed to be good sized unlike the older octavia
	() Thanks

25th November 2005, 16:20	#11
sridhar24 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 1,046 Thanked: 88 Times	I saw the car on the cover of ACI and got confused as it looked exactly like the new octy, but after reading through this thread i came to know its the new octy named as Laura. The name itself sucks and i am sure this time Skoda India has not done the right thing and they will soon realise. They should have phased out the old model and brought this one as the Octavia.
	() Thanks

25th November 2005, 16:32	#13
merve_extreme Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,359 Thanked: 18 Times View My Garage	That is the most disgusting name for a car.Were the trying to do a Renault Megane,if yes then they have lost it. The Laura is going to be a disaster on similar scale to the Superb.i have completely lost all respect for Skoda India.
	() Thanks

25th November 2005, 16:36	#14
Shan2nu Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Hubli - Karnata Posts: 5,533 Thanked: 125 Times View My Garage	I ain't driving a Laura, even if it comes with 200bhp. Shan2nu
	() Thanks

25th November 2005, 16:41	#15
adya33 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pune Posts: 1,839 Thanked: 183 Times	Inspired by Dippys post imagine two people talking when their wife are with them Person 1 : Hey what do you drive? Person 2 : Laura Person 1 : How is she? next day both get divorce seriously 17 to 18L for C++ segment car (sorry octy is no D segment say whatever) people at Honda, start increasing your production capacity you gonna get lots of potential skoda buyers
	() Thanks