When the Skoda brand is mentioned , everyone thinks of the most famous Octavia model . It was presented on December 11, 2012 in its third generation with a new design direction. However, I would like to write an article about the first generation of the modern Octavia , produced between 1996 and 2010.
The first mention
The Octavia of the first generation , with its dimensions of 4572x1760x1462 mm, belongs to the lower middle class. The first development started already in 1992, when the first study was created based on the 3rd generation Volkswagen Golf . However, the study did not suit the designers through a small chassis, and therefore another one came along, which was developed on the basis of the fourth generation Golf with a better platform, designated PQ34 . The same became the basis for Audi A3 or Seat Leon . In 1994, the first prototypes began to be tested, but the official introduction to the car did not take place until April 4, 1996 , which was also attended by the jury of the European Car of the Year competition, Octavia loved it!
Start of the manufacturing
Half a year after the presentation to the jury, on September 3, 1996 to be exact, the then president of the Czech Republic, Václav Havel , opened a new production plant, and production was officially started on that very day! The front fascia expressed at first glance that this was a solid, family car. The typical grille between the lights became a basic element for other Skoda models . In the famous Car of the Year poll, the first generation Octavia was ranked 4th out of 29 nominated cars in that period. From the beginning, Skoda only offered a liftback with a luggage compartment volume of 528 liters .
Other variants of the first generation
In February 1998, a version of the Octavia Combi with a luggage compartment of 548 liters was introduced, and a year later, all-wheel drive was added to the practical station wagon. For a greater increase in sales, the 4×4 was also available as a liftback from 2001 (the rear axle is assigned by the Haldex clutch , which is activated when the front axle slips). In addition to the "four-wheeler", the Octavia RS with 180 horsepower was introduced in the same year, and in 2002 we also saw the Octavia Combi RS . Modernization took place in 2000 and the Octavia was sold under the 2001 model year.
Motorization
Gas stations
1.4 MPI (44 kW)
1.4 16V (55 kW)
1.6 MPI (55, 74 and 75 kW)
1.8 20V (92 kW)
1.8 T (110 kW)
1.8 T (132 kW – for RS version)
2.0 MPI (85 kW)
Diesel
1.9 SDI (50 kW)
1.9 TDI (66 and 81 kW)
1.9 TDI-PD (74 and 96 kW)
The engines were supplied with a 5-speed or 6-speed manual transmission or a 4-speed automatic.
Equipment
Until 2001/ Since 2001
LX/Classic
GLX/Ambiente
SLX/Elegance
Laurin & Klement/Laurin & Klement and RS
Millionth Octavia, new Tour label
In 2004, the millionth Octavia was produced, and from that time on, the first generation was sold under the designation Tour . And that's because the second generation was introduced. As the Czech brand wanted to sell the first generation alongside the second, it had to differentiate them with the addition of Tour . We could discover the following power units in the Octavia Tour engine range – 1.4 MPI (75 hp), 1.6 MPI (102 hp), 1.8 20V Turbo (150 hp, only until 2009), 1.9 TDI (90 and 101 hp) .
The Octavia Tour was modernized back in 2009, and on November 10, 2010, production of the first generation officially ended. A total of 1,442,126 Octavia I models were produced over 14 years.
Photo gallery: wikipedia.org, netcarshow.com, blomedia.pl, shkoda-oktaviya.ru, fotocoche.com, flickr.com
