We haven’t heard much about the new Skoda Octavia Scout since its Geneva Auto Show debut this spring, but the Czech carmaker has now released details about the rugged station wagon.
Like its predecessor, the Octavia Scout is available exclusively as an estate, with the model’s market launch scheduled for August 2014. Skoda insists the car doesn’t just look like a vehicle with off-road capabilities and that it really is one. The ground clearance has been raised to 171mm (6.73in) and is now 31mm (1.2in) higher than the standard Octavia.
The rough-road package with additional underbody protection is a standard feature, as is the essential Haldex-5 all-wheel drive system, which distributes more or less power to the front or rear wheels depending on conditions.
The new Scout has greater angles of incline than the previous model, from 16.7 degrees at the front and 13.8 degrees at the back, which means it can handle steeper, more demanding terrain. The Electronic differential lock (EDL) supports stable start-up characteristics at low speeds while the two-stage Electronic Stabilization Control (ESC) can be adjusted to suit certain driving conditions at the touch of a button.
The new Octavia Scout can tow up to two tons (4,409 lbs), 25 percent more than before, which will no doubt delight caravan users. The model is offered with three engines, two diesels and one petrol, all with standard AWD, automatic stop-start system and brake energy recovery.
The most powerful diesel engine is the 2.0 TDI with 184 PS (181hp), mated to an automatic six-speed dual-clutch transmission (DSG). Combined fuel consumption is only 5.1 l/100 km (46.1 mpg US) with CO2 emissions of 134 g/km. The other diesel is the 2.0 TDI with 150PS (148 hp), available exclusively with a six-speed manual gearbox. With this engine, the Octavia Scout averages 5.1 l/100 km with a CO2 emission value of 129 g/km.
Finally, the petrol engine is a 1.8 TSI with 180PS (177hp) combined with a six-speed DSG, which returns 6.9 l/100 km (34 mpg US) with CO2 emissions of 158 g/km.
By Dan Mihalascu
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