[nik_kapur]

Skoda was to bring in the new Laura/Octavia in 2013. Does that timeline still remain? We have not heard from Skoda in a while and with them being repositioned as the the cheaper and lower end brand of VW in India, i dont know if they will bring this car into the country. The Jetta already seems off the mark in terms of VFM and this beauty will make it look silly. Skoda may in fact just bring in the Euro Rapid as the Octavia and drop the Laura brand all together. A Euro Rapid competing with the Corolla, Elantra between 12-15 L may just make sense for Skoda.

[prithwi-81]

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

The car looks really good.

What number plates is it carrying?
And somewhere in the background do you notice 'Starlight' Coffee shop?

Apparently in Chile. MQB Platform is confirmed, means its a newer platform than the current Jetta (Yippee).

Dash pics online look TERRIBLE IMHO. Even with the camo in place.
http://bharathautos.com/wp-content/u...w-3_thumb2.jpg

Its a bad move on their end to make the dash a flat one similar to the Euro Rapid and current Superb. Wish they made it a little more driver oriented like the current gen A4s.

[neerajpv87]

http://www.motorbeam.com/cars/skoda-...a-in-may-2013/

"Skoda will officially unveil the third generation Octavia later this month and we have got exclusive information on its India arrival from our sources. The Czech automaker will launch the Skoda Octavia in the Indian market in May 2013, bringing back the Octavia badge back to India." - Motorbeam

Great news !!

[rangarx]

So what is the expected price?

The 'cheap' and 'affordable' 20 Lakh bracket?

If only the price is realistic!

[Omtoatom]

16-20 Lacs ex-showroom bracket means the mid and top trims will sit comfortably over the 2 million mark OTR. How that makes for an affordable car is anyone's guess!

Also I would've thought Skoda would've opted for a straight swap of the new Octavia with the Laura. From a strategic point of view as well as global brand alignment, that makes sense. However that they intend to slot the Octy in between the current Laura and the Superb is a little baffling. A lot of potential buyers would feel hard done by this because it puts the Gen 3 Octavia in a different segment altogether.

Gotta watch this space...

[neerajpv87]

Teaser image of the car released by Skoda.

[Enigmatic]

It looks fantastic, skodas design philosophy seems to be very simple.
Keep the family dna and keep on improving it.

The only sad part being, here this would be the new laura and hence the octavia badge would never come back :(

[2cents]

Originally Posted by neerajpv87

Teaser image of the car released by Skoda.

That diagonal crease is from Rapid's Mission L design! Is it the Euro Rapid which will make it here, as others have speculated!?

[Swanand Inamdar]

Are they trying to put this in between the Laura and the Superb? If so, thats indeed baffling!
The top end Laura is already more expensive than the entry level Superb. Where and how does the "new" Octavia fit into that equation!

From the Indian market perspective, they would be better of phasing out the existing Laura, and replace that with the new Octavia.

[Akshay1234]

I think everyone is getting a little confused. The Euro Rapid, is pretty much the same as the Indian Rapid/Vento except its like a facelift, with nicer looking exteriors and interiors. Look at the basic design of the exteriors, some body lines, and even the basic layout of the interiors and you will see it is the same as the Rapid/Vento.

The New Octavia will be Launched in India as the Octavia, but in the Lauras price bracket. I don't think they can take the price of the new Octavia above the Laura at all, since VAG is positioning Skoda as a budget brand compared to VW, and if the Octavia is priced higher than the Laura it will go into Jetta territory.

I don't see the Euro Rapid coming here, unless they give the Indian Rapid a facelift.

[agambhandari]

Originally Posted by akshay1234

I think everyone is getting a little confused. The Euro Rapid, is pretty much the same as the Indian Rapid/Vento except its like a facelift, with nicer looking exteriors and interiors. Look at the basic design of the exteriors, some body lines, and even the basic layout of the interiors and you will see it is the same as the Rapid/Vento..

Not really, the Euro Rapid is a new platform and is not coming to india because it would be difficult to localiseva new platform

[Akshay1234]

Originally Posted by agambhandari

Not really, the Euro Rapid is a new platform and is not coming to india because it would be difficult to localiseva new platform

Really? Damn I've been getting to confused with the VAG cars and their platforms. But the size looks pretty much the same as the present Rapid/Vento.

[agambhandari]

Originally Posted by akshay1234

Really? Damn I've been getting to confused with the VAG cars and their platforms. But the size looks pretty much the same as the present Rapid/Vento.

Yes they look pretty much similar size but the new Rapid is a bit longer than the Vento. The A05+ platform of the Euro Rapid is newer than the PQ25 of the Vento.

[nik_kapur]

Originally Posted by agambhandari

Yes they look pretty much similar size but the new Rapid is a bit longer than the Vento. The A05+ platform of the Euro Rapid is newer than the PQ25 of the Vento.

Correct Sir, The Euro Rapid is indeed a different car and not the same as the Indian Vento/Rapid.

Lets clear the confusion a bit-

Skoda is launching the next gen Octavia in a couple of days overseas and that is the replacement of the current Octavia (known as Laura in India).

India- 2013

We may get this car as the Octavia in 2013 and it will replace the Laura. The Laura Badge will be taken off the market. Skoda India has confirmed that he Octavia badge will return.

We may get the Euro Rapid badged as the Octavia in 2013 to fit into the void the previous generation Octavia has left (the one that sold in India as the Octavia). The India Rapid competes with City and Verna and it has not really filled in the shoes of the old gen Octavia.

[shankar.balan]

Originally Posted by nik_kapur

We may get the Euro Rapid badged as the Octavia in 2013 to fit into the void the previous generation Octavia has left (the one that sold in India as the Octavia). The India Rapid competes with City and Verna and it has not really filled in the shoes of the old gen Octavia.

Absolutely bang on. Somewhere else on the forum , maybe a few months ago, I had mentioned almost exactly what you are saying above. I had read about this in one of the car mags. Perhaps OD or ACI.