New Skoda Octavia scooped

Skoda has accidentally given the world an undisguised sneak-peek at its next-generation Octavia mid-sizer a week after it was officially sketched.

A faulty internet car configurator accidentally revealed the liftback version of the new Skoda Octavia which was quickly spotted by a Skoda fan forum and then spread across the internet.

The shots of the Octavia hatch (the wagon didn’t get sprung) reveal an evolutionary design for generation four that does away with the controversial split headlights of the current model, which has just been updated for 2020.

The leaked images of the all-new Octavia emerge weeks ahead of its official global debut in Prague on November 11, although it’s not scheduled on sale in Australia until early 2021.

Traditionally the Czech brand’s biggest seller here, the Octavia has recently been surpassed by the Kodiaq SUV.

Heavily influenced in its styling by both the larger Superb and smaller Scala, the sleek new Octavia has a larger grille than its predecessor, a clamshell bonnet, different tail-lights and a more angular overall look.

According to UK magazine Autocar it’s expected the new Octavia will grow in all dimensions and roll on the same MQB Evo architecture as the forthcoming Volkswagen Golf Mk8.

In Europe the Octavia will come with a range of petrol and diesel engines and will offer a plug-in hybrid for the first time.

The good news for Aussie fans is the Skoda Octavia RS performance version will continue into a new generation – we know that because one of the leaked shots was of an RS hatch and a prototype version of the Czech hot hatch has already been crashed.

So expect the current Octavia RS245 to be replaced with something even hotter!