A dynamometer was seen being carried by the wagon and liftback duo.
It is safe to say that the fourth generation of modern Skoda Octavias has had a difficult life. They were plagued by software bugs that prompted a recall at an early stage in the model’s lifespan. The coronavirus pandemic, along with microchip shortages, hit like a two-fer. Sales plummeted, but never recovered to their normal levels.
Russia’s invasion in Ukraine is the main reason for the ongoing parts shortage. Many of the VW Group’s suppliers live there. It is not uncommon for future owners to complain about long waiting times. The Mlada Boleslav marque began road testing of the facelifted version. However, we are not able to see the changes.
More than 20 photos were sent to us by our spies. They were taken in Austria, where the wagon and liftback were seen navigating the narrow mountain roads. Although the cars were equipped with Czech plates and camouflaged rear and front ends, they looked almost identical to the Skoda dealers near them.
The cars appear to be pulling dynamometers and are parked low to the ground. The liftback features the Octavia’s RS-like brake calipers, but the 18-inch Perseus tires come from a different trim. The wagon has smaller alloys and the hood’s colour is mismatched.
The VW Group is well aware that it has produced one last version of its combustion engines before deciding to concentrate on electric powertrains. These will not be available when the Mk5 or the Octavia facelifts arrive later in the decade. Skoda is obligated to make its gasoline and diesel engines available for the company’s most-sold car.
Skoda has a lot of backlog orders to clear so the facelifted Octavia will not be revealed anytime soon. There is also the possibility that some customers may be asked to order the updated model. We didn’t see the Mk4 on the market until late 2019, and the facelift is not expected to arrive until 2023, once the VW Golf gets its mid-cycle nip.