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Skoda is to add a new smaller turbocharged petrol engine to the Octavia from July. The 1.0-litre TSI petrol engine will be the smallest capacity engine to feature in the popular saloon but thanks to its turbocharger will still produce healthy performance figures. Although no word on official consumption figures have been released yet, it is expected to be similar to that of the existing 1.2-litre TSI petrol engine. Skoda claims that the three-cylinder unit will produce 116hp.
The notion of smaller capacity engines in larger cars such as the Skoda Octavia could prove off-putting for some, something that Cathal Kealey, PR Manager at Škoda Ireland commented on: "There is still a perception out there among motorists that engines need to be of a certain size in relation to the body size. Things have changed significantly in the last number of years. For example the new 1.0 TSI engine produces the same power output as the range topping 2.0 litre petrol engine that was fitted to the original Octavia back in 1998. The Octavia therefore develops the same power from an engine half the size!"
Smaller petrol engines aren't entirely a new thing at Skoda, back in 1997 it introduced its first 1.0-litre petrol engine and subsequently rolled out the TSI (Turbo Stratified Injection) technology with its 1.2-litre TSI engines that went on to power models such as the Skoda Rapid Spaceback. Pricing has yet to be confirmed for the new 1.0-litre TSI Octavia but it will be available from July onwards.