GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: New Skoda Octavia Scout

Skoda is apparently unsatisfied with only staging the world debut of its groundbreaking four-door VisionC coupe concept at next month’s Geneva.

The Czech brand has now revealed its next-generation Octavia Scout crossover, which will also make its global public premiere at the Swiss show within three weeks (on March 4).

First revealed in an official sketch earlier this month, Skoda has confirmed its newest Scout will go on sale in Australia, but not until early 2015.

Based on the third-generation Octavia mid-size wagon also released in sedan form here last November, the next Scout gains a new-generation (Haldex 5) all-wheel drive system.

Combined with a 33mm taller ride height than the standard Octavia and improved approach and departure angles, Skoda says it can traverse “steeper, more challenging terrain”.

Once again matt-black lower body appendages and silver under-bumper skid plates also differentiate the Scout from mainstream Octavia models, along with unique 17-inch alloy wheels, foglights and a multi-function three-spoke steering wheel as standard.

Two diesel and one petrol engine will be available in Europe (all claimed to be 20 per cent more efficient than before), but we’d wager the new Octavia Scout will again be offered solely with a Volkswagen-sourced 2.0-litre turbo-diesel and dual-clutch automatic transmission when it arrives here early next year.

Skoda Australia will release a rash of new models before then, however, starting with the new Octavia RS next month and also including the all-new Rapid Spaceback small hatch and facelifted Series II Yeti compact SUV in the second quarter.

The off-beat Volkswagen subsidiary is also expected to release the upgraded Series II Superb large sedan here in the second half of this year, before its all-new Rapid Spaceback emerges in 2016.

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