Skoda Auto introduced the new generation Skoda Octavia RS TSI with a 245 Ps petrol engine and the Octavia RS TDI with a 200 Ps diesel engine in a virtual premiere and in addition to this the brand has also unveiled the efficient, electrified and sustainable alternatives in the form of the Skoda Octavia G-TEC, designed to run on compressed natural gas (CNG) and the Octavia E-TEC with a mild-hybrid powertrain.
The Skoda Octavia G-TEC is powered by a 130 Ps power, 1.5-litre TSI turbocharged petrol engine is designed to run on both petrol and CNG which burns more cleanly, resulting in 25% reduced CO2 emissions in CNG mode as compared to the engine running on petrol, significantly less nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. As the added CNG fuel tanks are not aftermarket units and built for the car they take up less space in the boot and the car still has a generous 455-litres of boot space.
The engine employs Miller combustion process with variable control of the intake valves resulting in higher fuel efficiency, a natural gas consumption from 3.42 kg per 100 km in the WLTP cycle in CNG mode and 4.6-litre per 100 km in petrol mode. The Octavia G-TEC comes with a CNG tank that holds 17.33 kg and can provide around 500 km of range along with a 9-litre petrol tank that can provide an additional 190 km of range making the car capable of going a distance of 690 km.
The Skoda Octavia E-TEC, on the other hand, is powered by a 110 Ps three-cylinder 1.0-litre TSI petrol engine and alternatively, a 150 Ps four-cylinder 1.5-litre TSI petrol engine both featuring a 48-volt belt-driven starter motor and a 48-volt 0.6 kWh lithium-ion battery located under the front passenger seat and charged exclusively by brake energy regeneration. The E-TEC engine can provide a boost of 50 Nm and allow the car to coast with the engine completely switched off.
Externally the Skoda Octavia G-TEC and E-TEC are identifiable by the respective badging on the boot of the car and a specific instruments console but otherwise carry all the features from the new-generation standard Octavia.
Though the brand has not yet announced if it will bring the Skoda Octavia G-TEC to the Indian market, looking at the market trend which inclines towards fuel-efficient vehicles the brand may bring the G-TEC to our country.