Skoda, the Czech carmaker owned by Volkswagen, revealed it’s much awaited entry level sedan, the Mission L Concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The concept is actually the Lauretta which is still under the phase of development. Skoda has confirmed that the car has yet to complete its production and till then it will be displayed as the Mission L Concept.
Skoda Auto discontinued the production of Octavia line of model in India and therefore, the vacated place was expected to be filled soon. As a result it has come up with Lauretta. The Czech carmaker is believed to have manufactured all aspects of the new car keeping in mind the Indian conditions. It will be positioned between the Fabia and the Octavia in Europe, however in India it would be placed between Fabia and Laura the entry level sedan is expected to bear a lower price tag than that of the Volkswagen Jetta.
Skoda India has confirmed that the Mission L Concept will first start the sales operations in India and then shift the focus to Europe and China. With this car, Skoda for the first time will make its car debut in India before it is available anywhere else. At times, Lauretta, currently known as the Mission L Concept, has been spotted on the roads in India but in the camouflaged form. If reports are to be believed, the Lauretta will be a modified version of the Mission L concept that’s been showcased soon at Frankfurt Motor Show.
Skoda India is expected to set the price of the base model of Lauretta somewhere around Rs.7 lacs. The car can expect confrontations by mid-sized sedans such as the Honda City, Hyundai Verna, Ford Fiesta and the Volkswagen Vento. The Skoda Lauretta will be backed by the power of a 1.6-litre petrol engine which would be able to produce a peak power of 104 hp. Skoda India will launch the car affixed with safety features such as ABS, EBD, airbags and traction control as standard features.
The concept is considered to fall in the C+ segment and is a five-door hatchback in a “compact lift-back design”. The auto maker made no bones regarding the strategy being adopted for the car and revealed that it will primarily compete in the Russian, Chinese, European and the Indian markets. However every region will have a different version of Lauretta which would be modified according to the needs and conditions in the region.
Eckhard Scholz, Skoda Board of Directors Member for Technological Development conveyed the plus points that one can expect form the car. He said, “We have taken a very pure approach to this design study; we have structured the surfaces simply, but impressively. The car has a strong, sporty look which conveys a beautiful simplicity and a youthful and contemporary appearance. Many people look for clean, minimalist lines, and the Mission L concept offers all that.”
Thus, Skoda will not leave any stone unturned in order to ensure the success of Lauretta and therefore keeps up the eagerness and excitement intact, with the revelation of Mission L Concept.
