Skoda is continuing to drip-feed us information on the new Octavia.
Free-standing touchscreen
The new Octavia, which is expected to be bigger, more luxurious, and more expensive, than the current model will be unveiled in full next week in Prague. In the meantime, Skoda is still keen to show us as much as possible of the car, without - y'know - actually showing us the whole thing.
From these interior sketches, we can see that the Octavia takes the basic layout from the Scala and the recently-updated Superb and pretty much runs with it. The images shows a dash that bulges out noticeably to form the centre console, with a free-standing touchscreen (which should be available in sizes of up to ten inches) on top. Down low on the console, we can see the new compact rocker switch for the DSG dual-clutch automatic gearbox, although there will of course be more conventional manual versions too.
Two-spoke wheel
Arguably the most distinctive feature of the Octavia's interior is the new two-spoke, multi-function steering wheel, a stylistic move away from the current, generic, three-spoke item. It may sound a little ridiculous to say it of a humble Octavia, but there is more than a hint of the style of the similar two-spoke wheel currently found in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class about the design. Is Skoda trying to drop a hint that it's gunning for S-Class quality levels with the new Octavia's cabin?
More space than before
Skoda says that the overall design of the dashboard is: "Composed of several layers whose lines and colours reference the signature shape of the Skoda grille. The instrument panel's visual width emphasises the cabin's generous sense of space." The company goes on to promise that the new Octavia will better the outgoing model when it comes to cabin space, which should make it one of the most roomy cars in its class. It'll also be the first Octavia model to get a climate control system that covers three zones - two in the front and one in the back.
More details as we get them in the run up to the Prague reveal.