After going through a facelift this fall, the 2017 Skoda Octavia has ended up on the board of directors’ list again, who decided that a technology update would perfectly suit it.
With the decision taken, the company’s engineers went on with the job and added a new range of connectivity services, under the Skoda Connect label. These are said to be divided into two categories: Infotainment Online services and Care Connect Services.
The former sees the addition of Online Traffic Information, which indicates real-time traffic flow along the selected route, suggesting useful alternatives if traffic jams are detected. There’s also a feature that displays fuel prices, parking info, news and weather, and users can also transfer their routes, destinations and points of interest directly from their computers to the navigation system. Other toys include Google Earth, Google Street View, and Online Map Update.
Skoda says that one of the most important features of the Care Connect services is the eCall (emergency call), which contacts emergency services in case of an impact. There’s also a notification function for minor accidents and breakdowns, along with Service Scheduling included in the Proactive Services, with the latter having the dealer contact the car’s owner if its service is due.
The Octavia’s vehicle status, which informs on lighting or open or closed doors, can be seen on the smartphone with the new Skoda Connect app, there’s a parking-position function that shows the car’s location, a Honk&Flash to make it easier to find it, and Area Notification and Speed Notification that inform the owner if the vehicle is moved without authorization.
Rounding up the list of updates for the 2017 Skoda Octavia are the driver assistance systems that include predictive pedestrian protection, part of the optional Front Assist that includes city emergency braking too, Blind Spot Detect, Rear Traffic Alert, Trailer Assist that lets the driver specify the angle at which he/she wants to reverse the trailer, and Maneuver Assist for reversing without a trailer, which activates the brakes as soon as an obstacle is detected behind it.
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