Next Octavia revealed tonight

It's 60 years since the Octavia model was first produced by the Czech Skoda company, but tonight they introduced the fourth generation of the car since it was relaunched in 1996, writes Brian Byrne.

At a glittering event here in the centre of Prague, the car that's the bread and butter of the brand in Ireland has been brought out of hiding as a longer, wider and more cargo-capacious version that also comes packed with the latest in automotive technology.

The new model will come to Ireland in July of 2020, and among the improvements that will add is a plug-in hybrid drive, a mild hybrid fuel saving, and even more efficient petrol and diesel engines.

In the current diesel climate, it's worth noting that the diesels are claimed to emit 80pc less nitrogen oxides than previous units. That should go a long way towards winning back the health-conscious.

A variety of driver assist systems, some optional, taken together will provide a comprehensive package called Travel Assist.

The new Skoda will come in hatchback and combi estate formats, and while both looked really well in the metal tonight, it's the combi that grabs my immediate personal preference. It's boot capacity — something which all Octavias have been known for — is the largest in the segment at 640L.

A brand new interior includes new and soft-touch materials, a dual-level dashboard with a large central display, and LED ambient lighting in a choice of colours. An optional head-up display is a first in the model.

There's no indication of pricing or Irish specification for this in Ireland as yet. But while the wait is on, Skoda Ireland's Ray Leddy notes that there are some really good deals current on the runout model. As Octavia has always been a firm favourite in Ireland, and is at the moment the second best seller in the segment — beating even its iconic cousin Golf — it's likely those deals won't be long moving whatever stock remains in the first months of 2020.