Skoda Octavia safety firsts | New Release - Car News May 2020

23:06 Monday 25 May 2020

The fourth-generation Skoda Octavia, which arrives in the UK this summer, will see a number of innovative safety systems make their debut.

It will be the first car in its class to feature Turn Assist technology using on-board cameras to monitor oncoming traffic, cyclists, and pedestrians when turning right at a junction, and will halt the vehicle to prevent a collision if danger is detected. Turn Assist automatically activates whenever the right turn indicator is on.

Skoda are also introducing their latest Exit Warning technology for the first time. The technology is part of the Octavia’s Blind Spot Detection system, and activates when the car is parked up to monitor the rear and sides of the vehicle and warn the driver and passengers if unseen hazards make it unsafe to open their door. Visual and audible warnings alert occupants to the danger posed by unseen cyclists or other road users, with the system able to detect hazards up to 35 metres away and at an angle of up to 120-degrees.

The new Octavia will be the first Skoda to include Collision Avoidance Assist, which will initiate a controlled evasive manoeuvre, if the front cameras alert the system to an impending collision, at speeds of up to 90mph.

Another new feature is Predictive Cycling Protection, which uses the front cameras and radar to trigger a warning if a cyclist is detected ahead, and will apply emergency braking if necessary to avoid contact.