8 August 2014

More detail on new Octavia Scout

Skoda has provided more details of the new Octavia Scout, which goes on sale in September at a starting price of €33,795, writes Brian Byrne.

The AWD capability is courtesy of a Haldex-5 clutch technology, and the car will come with 171mm ground clearance, and increase of 31mm on the current Scout. It also gets an improved approach angle, allowing it to handle more rugged ground.

There has also been a 25 percent increase in towing capability, now up to 2 tonnes, easily managing a caravan, a horsebox or a boat.

The rough-road package with additional underbody protection is now a standard feature. This protects the underside of the car from being mechanically damaged and prevents dirt from getting into the engine bay. The underbody parts, as well as the brake pipes and fuel pipes are also protected with plastic covers.

Fuel consumption is claimed to be 20 percent more efficient, thanks in part to a reduction of 29kg in weight over the current car. Engines will include a 184hp 2.0 TDI, available with a 6-speed DSG gearbox.