The revamped Octavia saloon and estate feature newly designed front and rear sections along with upgraded infotainment, connectivity and driver assistance systems.

Skoda says it has further streamlined the lines of the new Octavia, especially at the front. The two headlights form a ‘dual face’ with a 'crystalline' look and feature full-LED technology. The Skoda logo now has a more ‘powerful’ and wider appearance.

The update has brought new infotainment systems - with all three – Bolero, Amundsen and Columbus – now featuring capacitive displays in a glass design that respond to a light touch. The Columbus now has a full 9.2-inch display; the top system has a WLAN hotspot and, if desired, a SIM card module with an LTE speed for an 'ultra-fast' connection to the Internet.

Further tech includes Predictive pedestrian protection which complements Front Assist. In addition, the parking assistant has been further optimised says the Czech brand. Thanks to the rear radar, Blind Spot Detection and Rear Traffic Alert - safe lane changes and help while reversing out of a parking space have been improved.

Other new features include a customisable key, allowing multiple users to save their own vehicle settings, as well as a heated steering wheel, bottle holders which facilitate the opening of bottles, while the estate version gets a removable torch in the boot.

For the UK, two TSI and two TDI engines are available from launch - a 1.0 TSI 115PS, 1.4 TSI 150PS, 1.6 TDI 115PS and the 2.0 TDI 150PS. For almost all engines in the revamped Octavia, a DSG transmission with six or seven gears is available in addition to manual transmission.

Skoda says a highlight in the chassis is the optional Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC), which enables the driver to regulate the steering and damping characteristics in the Comfort, Normal and Sport modes. The light alloy wheels range from 16 to 18 inches and come in new designs.

“The Skoda Octavia has always been in a class of its own in the compact segment,” says Skoda CEO Bernhard Maier. “As the 'heart of the brand', the Octavia has decisively shaped Skoda’s outstanding development from the very start, and has made the company what it is today: an internationally successful automotive manufacturer with a presence in more than 100 markets worldwide. With the now extensively revised Skoda Octavia, we are keen to continue this development sustainably.”

The revised Skoda Octavia saloon and estate version will be available in the UK from early 2017.