Skoda used the Motor...
Skoda used the Motor Show to announce prices for its new Octavia. The entry-level 1.4-litre Classic will cost í‚á£10,750, the Ambiente starts at í‚á£13,540, while the flagship 2.0-litre TDI PD Elegance is í‚á£17,420. It was also revealed that an RS version will arrive in 2006, using a 2.0-litre FSI engine with at least 200bhp.
Bosses won"t confirm...
Bosses won"t confirm anything, but unofficially there"s almost guaranteed to be a more powerful variant - although it may not wear the Works badge or even be developed by John Cooper Garages.
The reason for this is that the new turbocharged engine is much more difficult to tune than the supercharged unit in the outgoing machine - because while getting more power is vital, it"s equally important that emissions are kept under tight control.
So although aftermarket kits may be tuned by Cooper and other companies, MINI is likely to keep the development of a faster model in-house. Rumours abound about possible power, and we"ve heard the 1.6-litre unit is capable of handling up to 230bhp. However, a figure of about 210bhp is perhaps more likely as MINI will be keen to ensure the motor retains its driveability.
Further down the line, an entry-level One will follow, using a detuned version of the new Cooper"s 1.6-litre engine. And while the Convertible remains in its current form for the time being, a replacement is planned - as is an estate-style Traveller version.