New Skoda Octavia Launched in Malaysia
Quasar Carriage Sdn Bhd, the official distributors if the Skoda range of vehicles in Malaysia recently announced the Malaysian introduction of the new Skoda Octavia 200 FSi.
Following its European introduction, the new Skoda Octavia 200 FSi has made some headway in the market, being popular amongst professionals, and offers Volkswagen and Audi technology at a lower price. The Octavia 200 Fsi, as the name suggests, boasts of the latest FSi engine that currently powers the Audi A4 and the Golf Gti. Featuring direct fuel injection, the FSi engine produces higher power for less fuel. The body is built on a new platform that features a multi-element rear axle, claimed to give the car excellent driving characteristics and superior comfort.
The Škoda Octavia 200 FSi stands at the edge of the lower medium (A segment) and medium class segment (B segment). It reflects Škoda’s strategy to deliver an “extra bit of car” at a value similar to its competitors, in this case, by offering, in addition to the latest technological advances, a larger car with more interior space and luggage space.
Awards
The Škoda Octavia 200 FSi has received several awards during its short life in addition to its success in the comparison tests of several renowned European dailies and magazines. The most praised features of the car include the high-quality workmanship, the generous passenger compartment space, the large luggage compartment and driving comfort.
The awards are as follows:
§ What Car? JD Power Survey 2005 – 1st place in the family car category
§ Car of the Year in The Czech Republic in 2005 – A competition for the leading Czech journalists from specialised car periodicals in a survey organised by the Association of Car Importers and the Car Industry Association;
§ The Car of the Year in Finland in 2005 – An award by a professional press panel in a survey organised by the leading Finnish car magazine Tuulilasi;
§ The Car of the Year in Latvia in 2005 – an award by a professional press panel;
§ The Car of the Year 2005 in Bulgaria – an award by journalists from motor magazines;
§ The Car of the Year 2004 in Serbia and Montenegro – an award by a professional press panel;
§ The 2004 Golden Steering Wheel – 1st place in the Compact Cars Category in the competition organised by the German magazine Bild am Sonntag;
Body & Exterior Design
The design of the new car is clearly European, with some hint of its links to Volkswagen and Audi, with a front mask that sets it aside as a member of the Škoda family and the Octavia range. Its appearance is elegant and pleasing to the eye, and looks better than its predecessor. Balanced dimensions blend smooth and gently sharp lines to produce a harmonious figure.
The front section is dominated by the familiar Skoda radiator grille, which consists of a chrome frame, and vertical fins topped off by the Škoda logo. It blends well with the car’s design and gives it character.
The front bumper has been fully integrated into the car’s shape without the normal joint at the body, giving it neat and clean lines. Clear-optic headlights extend into the body sides to make the Skoda look wider. This effect is emphasised at night because of the location of the sidelights in the indicators module. Twin fog lamps are located in the bottom part of the bumper, giving the car a sporty demeanor.
Further back, the lines blend smoothly over the roof, doors and rear boot to give the Skoda pleasing lines. Recessed front wipers not only look nice, but reduce aerodynamic resistance.
The side indicators are integrated into the door mirrors, contributing to the smooth design of the wings.
The rear window blends smoothly into the edge of the boot lid that sharply terminates the rear of the car. As with the front bumper, the rear bumper has been integrated into the overall design of the car.
Interior design
The interior of the Škoda Octavia 200 FSi boasts of ample space for both the front and rear occupants. Decent quality materials used produce a relaxed and cozy environment for the driver and passengers. Numerous useful storage compartments are provided for knick-knacks
The instrument panel is attractive and well designed, with a soft and touch-friendly surface. Decorative trims on the instrument panel and doors refresh the interior environment with all control elements ergonomically placed.
The control elements of the audio, ventilation and air conditioning systems and other buttons have been centralised on the central console. This console blends smoothly into a tunnel that passes between the front seats and extends to the rear seats where it ends in a Jumbo-Box – a large air-conditioned storage box with adjustable outlets for air distribution to the rear seats. The box lid can simultaneously be used as an adjustable armrest. There is also a useful storage box located in the centre of the instrument panel above the central console.
The steering wheel is a four-spoke, and the instrument panel is dominated by two large circular indicators (speedometer and rev counter) with raised numbers. Long distance travelers will have no problems as the Octavia has plenty of storage pockets for drinks and other travel paraphernalia, including an air-conditioned glove compartment, and an air-conditioned Jumbo box between the two front seats.
Highly Rigid Body design
A significant improvement in body rigidity has been achieved, which positively enhances driving characteristics and increases passive safety. The use of galvanized sheets and the thorough application of anticorrosion layers during painting, enhances body durability, and Škoda provides a twelve-year guarantee on body anticorrosion protection.
Air-Conditioning
Automatic air conditioning that adjusts the temperature of the distributed air and automatically maintains it, comes as standard. Air is distributed to the rear seats through outlets under the front seats.
Seats
The seats have been designed to provide a high level of comfort and excellent lateral track support. The seat good perfect body support.
The rear seats are also extremely comfortable and allow passengers to sit in a natural position. Furthermore, the split rear seats (1/3 and 2/3) allows one to transport large/long objects and still have room for rear passengers. A foldable arm support has been integrated into the backrests of the rear seats and it is wide enough for both passengers to use simultaneously. To increase child safety, ISOFIX fixtures are located between the seat squab and headrest of the rear side seats under fabric covers with zippers (with the same design as the seat upholstery).
Luggage compartment
The luggage compartment’s basic volume of 560 litres can be increased to 1350 litres when the rear seat backrests are folded. A “Soft touch” electromechanical system is used to open the boot lid.
Anti-Theft Features
Other features include protection against theft. As standard, the Škoda Octavia 200 FSi is equipped with central locking and a new generation immobiliser. The immobiliser uses a variety of a “floating codes” which is different each time it is transmitted. There is also a VIN code label that is visible from the outside of the car under the windscreen. In addition, the VIN code of the car is marked on all the windows of Škoda cars using a laser device.
A special cover over the engine control unit increases theft protection. This cover makes it extremely difficult to replace the control unit during a theft.
Engine
The Škoda Octavia 200 FSi is fitted with the latest direct injection engine where the fuel is injected directly into the combustion chamber. The main advantage of this is lower fuel consumption, adequate torque at low revolutions and at the same time, a high output at high revolutions. We have had experience with the FSi family of engines in other cars, and so far, they have been nothing else but great performers. With a 110 kW output, this robust DOHC, 16 valve, 4-cylinder engine operates very smoothly and relatively quietly, thanks to its all-aluminum construction and twin balancer shafts. A variable intake timing system gives additional flexibility.
EOBD on-board diagnostics
All Škoda Octavia cars are equipped with “On Board Diagnostics” (abbreviated as EOBD – European On Board Diagnostics). This system monitors devices and instruments that influence the composition of the exhaust gas. If the monitored values exceed the set limits, a red warning light on the instrument panel will come on, indicating to the driver that a service is needed as soon as possible. The fault will be stored in the memory thus allowing service staff to find and remedy the problem more easily.
Transmission
The Škoda Octavia 200 FSi is equipped with a six-speed automatic tiptronic transmission. This is a newly developed planetary gearbox with a hydrodynamic torque converter, which can be deactivated according to the driving situation. A six-speed gearbox puts the Octavia at the top of the list as an up-to-date and modern vehicle; definitely one of my favourites.
The transmission is controlled by an electronic control unit with a sophisticated programme using “Fuzzy Logic” that adapts the gear-changing regime to the actual traffic situation (driving up a hill, towing a trailer, etc.) and the driving style of the driver. In addition to the automatic driving regimes (economical D and sporty S) the transmission allows the use of the Tiptronic manual sequential selection of gears.
Drivetrain
The Škoda Octavia 200 FSi is a car with a transversely mounted engine in the front driving the front wheels.
The front axle is supported by McPherson struts, with lower triangular links and a transverse stabiliser. New mounting arrangements for the axle results in higher transverse rigidity and improves the driving characteristics of the car when turning. The shock absorbers are designed for a balance between a comfortable ride and the best possible driving characteristics.
The multi-element rear axle of the Škoda Octavia 200 FSi has been designed using one longitudinal and three transverse links, aimed at getting the best driving characteristics and simultaneously, a high level of comfort.
The multi-element rear axle concept of the Škoda Octavia 200 FSi also allows the impact of side and longitudinal forces to be eliminated independent of each other. The force of a side impact is absorbed by three transverse supports. Their length, location and the rigidity of their mounting have been designed to keep the wheel in the optimum position on the road when loaded. In addition, the inclusion of a longitudinal trailing arm induces an “anti-pitch effect”, i.e. prevents the car from pitching forward when braking.
Electro mechanical steering
Steering is through an electro mechanic rack and pinion system, programmed to be speed sensitive, making it easy to turn the steering wheel when parking and maintaining safe contact with the road at high speeds. The steering box with close ratio gears provide quick response, something sporty-drivers will appreciate. In addition, the electro mechanic steering booster reduces fuel consumption as it is used only when needed.
Positive caster built into the geometry gives the Octavia good steering return to the “central position”. This contributes to straight line stability, and ease of handling.
Braking system and electronic chassis systems
All wheels have disc brakes with a single-piston floating caliper. The front brake discs have inner cooling. The Škoda Octavia comes equipped with the following systems:
ABS – Anti-Lock Braking System,
EBV – Electronic braking effect distributor between the axles,
MBA – Mechanical braking assistant,
MSR – Engine Drag Control,
ASR – Anti-Skid System – this version only influences the control of the engine and does not help to brake slipping wheels.
Editor’s Note: The Skoda Octavia sure looks good on paper. I just can’t wait to get my hands on one for a full test. If it is anything like the Superb I tested some time ago, then it can create a new following here
