› Perfect for rough terrain: the most advanced all-wheel drive, increased ground clearance, superb hill-climbing ability and a rough-road package
› Strong: more powerful engines and fuel consumption reduced by up to 20 per cent
› Great-looking: a robust design, cutting a fine figure both on- and off-road
The new ŠKODA Octavia Scout, which goes on sale this week, is a real adventurer for the family and for leisure time. As you would expect from ŠKODA, the latest model offers 'a bit more car' in every respect. In addition to its advanced functionality, numerous 'Simply Clever' features and the latest safety and comfort technology, the new Octavia Scout also sets new standards for towing capacity, hill-climbing ability and rough-road driving.
“The new Octavia Scout shows that it is just as comfortable being on the road as it is off-road. The vehicle stands out from the crowd with its rugged, powerful and attractive looks. The new ŠKODA Scout perfectly combines form and function”, says Dr. Frank Welsch, ŠKODA Board Member for Development.
The new ŠKODA Octavia Scout is now, more than ever before, a real workhorse. It can tow up to 2 tonnes – up to 25 per cent more towing capacity than before. Whether you are towing a caravan, a horsebox or a boat: the increased towing capacity ensures maximum flexibility in everyday life. The vehicle's improved hill-climbing ability is also excellent. Thanks to its improved approach angle of 16.7 degrees at the front and 13.8 degrees at the rear, the Czech pathfinder can also tackle steeper and demanding terrain without difficulty.
The standard Electronic Differential Lock (EDL) supports comfortable starts at low speed. EDL operates on both the front and rear axle and acts as an inter-wheel lock. The new Octavia Scout also features Electronic Stability Control (ESC) as standard. The two-stage ESC mode can be adapted to suit particular driving conditions, simply by pressing a button. This allows the driver to switch the traction control system on and off as needed.
The new Octavia Scout’s standard all-wheel drive ensures optimal driving dynamics, top active safety and low fuel consumption. It utilises state-of-the-art all-wheel-drive technology, based on the Haldex-5 clutch. The power distribution between the 4 wheels always depends on the driving conditions. When decelerating, or with a low load, most of the power goes to the front axle, saving fuel. As soon as more torque is required, or if the wheels need more grip, the rear wheels are smoothly activated within milliseconds. Loss of traction is virtually impossible. Compared with the Haldex-4 clutch that was previously used in the Octavia Scout, the new technology is 1.4 kg lighter.
For the use on rough terrain, the new Octavia Scout has got more ground clearance. Compared to the standard Octavia, it is an increase of 31 millimetres to 171 millimetres. In addition, 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.
The new Octavia Scout's striking appearance is the perfect match for its off-road technology. 17-inch alloy wheels and 225/50 R17 tyres are fitted as standard. Tough front and rear bumpers with black plastic moulding and silver off-road sections underline the vehicle's strength. On the sides of the car, the Scout introduces black plastic cladding covering the door sills and wheel arches. There are also black plastic side protection strips and aluminium design mirrors. The roof rails are also available in an aluminium-effect finish. Lastly, the interior has a number of features specifically designed for the Scout.
Three powerful engines with fuel consumption reduced by up to 20 per cent
The Octavia Scout's new engines are more powerful, as well as 20 per cent more environmentally friendly. One petrol and two diesel engines are available. The fuel savings result from the 29 kg reduction in weight, improvements in the all-wheel-drive technology, as well as the use of the efficient Green tec-engines with automatic Start-Stop and brake energy recovery as standard. All three engines meet the EU6 emission standards that come into force in September 2014.
The top diesel engine for the ŠKODA Octavia Scout is the 2.0 TDI/135 kW (184 PS) with the exciting combination of an automatic six-speed (DSG) transmission and all-wheel drive. It is the first time that this combination has been available in a ŠKODA vehicle. The 2.0 TDI/110 kW (150 PS) is only available with a six-speed manual gearbox. The 1.8 TSI/132 kW (180 PS) petrol version of the Octavia Scout comes with an automatic six-speed DSG.
Since 2007, the Octavia Scout has been an integral part of the ŠKODA model range. Between 2007 and the end of 2013, ŠKODA delivered around 53,600 Octavia Scout vehicles to customers worldwide. This represents almost eight per cent of all Octavia estate models delivered during this period.
The new Octavia Scout underpins ŠKODA's outstanding expertise in designing vehicles suitable for off-road use. The Czech car manufacturer now offers six models with a special off-road design: the Octavia Scout, the Fabia Scout, the Fabia Combi Scout, the Roomster Scout, as well as the Yeti Outdoor and Superb, featuring the Outdoor package.