Skoda will launch its new four-wheel drive estate, the Octavia Scout, at next month’s Paris Motor Show.

The Octavia Scout, at 4,581 millimetres in length, is one centimetre longer, 1.5 centimetres wider and 1.3 centimetres higher than the Octavia 4x4.

Its characterised by newly designed bumpers at the front and rear, body-colour side mouldings, protective strips on the wheel housings, front door sills with ‘Scout’ engraved on them and sumpguard protection front and rear. It also comes with 17-inch Proteus alloy wheels and polished steel dual exhaust pipes.

In the interior, under the front central armrest is the Jumbo box, a storage compartment normally offered only in higher level models. Upholstery that is exclusive to the Octavia Scout, and a front passenger handgrip on the dashboard are further characteristics of the new model. Boot volume is up to 1,620 litres

The Skoda Octavia Scout is supplied with the 2.0 TDI PD diesel engine with 103 kW (140hp) and the 2.0 FSI petrol engine with 110 kW (150hp), both of which are four cylinder engines. The diesel is fitted with a diesel particle filter as standard. Both engines are combined with a six-speed manual transmission.

To provide its off-road capability, the Octavia Scout is fitted with Skoda’s four-wheel drive system.

The Octavia Scout is planned to go on sale in the first quarter of 2007.

  • The 100,000th Suberb, the top-of-the-line Skoda model, left the Skoda Auto assembly line in Kvasiny earlier this month. The saloon was fitted with a petrol 1.8 Turbo/110 kW engine and ordered by Golden Telecom, a key fleet customer for the brand in the Ukraine. The Superb was launched in 2001.