Skoda: Felicia and Octavia celebrate their anniversary
The Octavia remains Skoda's top seller: With the four model generations released so far, more than seven million units have been sold in over 60 markets to date.
Octavia: New in 1959, now in its eighth generation managing fleets and families
In March 1959, Skoda unveiled two comprehensively modernized models at the Geneva Motor Show: the two-door sedan Octavia and the Felicia convertible. Among numerous other innovations compared to their predecessors, both models featured a newly designed front axle. Instead of traditional leaf springs, modern coil springs with telescopic shock absorbers now guided the front wheels. The manufacturer had departed from the previously used numbering system for the model names and chosen more appealing names.
For the sedan previously known as the S 440/445, Skoda selected the name Octavia, which derives from the Latin word 'octava' for 'the eighth' – and this comes with a double reference: The Octavia was the eighth model from the Mladá Boleslav manufacturer after 1945 and, from a technical standpoint, also the eighth on the famous platform with a central tube frame, independent front wheel suspension, and a four-cylinder engine positioned in the front fork of the frame tube. In its base version, this engine delivered 29.4 kW (40 hp) from a 1.1-liter displacement. The power was transmitted to the rear wheels via a four-speed gearbox, allowing a top speed of 110 km/h. The more powerful Octavia Super, with its 1.2-liter engine producing 33 kW (45 hp), reached a speed of 115 km/h.
Felicia: Out of the Iron Curtain – off to the New York Auto Show!
Parallel to the four-seat closed Octavia sedans, an attractive convertible named Felicia also appeared in the spring of 1959. Under the hood, a four-cylinder engine with 1,089 ccm displacement and two carburetors produced 37 kW (50 hp). The model name here was also derived from Latin: 'Felicitas' means happiness or joy. The Felicia followed the also open Skoda 450 and primarily targeted export markets. Although only around a thousand units of the 450 were produced between 1958 and 1959, the manufacturer was confident in the new Felicia's potential. Therefore, shortly after the spring premieres in Geneva and Leipzig, Skoda shipped three of the new convertibles across the Atlantic and presented them at the New York Auto Show in April 1959.
Almost 70,000 visitors from all over the world flocked to the Coliseum – and many of them showed great interest in the Czech convertible. This was partly due to advertising with Charlotte Sheffield, Miss USA 1957. Even though the Felicia had a relatively short model career, it proved to be exceptionally successful. By the end of its production in 1964, almost 15,000 units had been produced for markets in Europe, South and Central America, and even Africa.
More than a new front axle: a wealth of technical innovations
Both the Octavia and the Felicia were the result of an extensive revision of the Skoda 440, known as 'Spartak'. Their modern front axle was the standout innovation, but it also represented many other improvements. Engineers had worked comprehensively to reduce drivetrain vibrations, enhance ride comfort, and optimize the lubrication and cooling of the engines.
Return of the Legendary Names in the 1990s
In the 1990s, Skoda utilized the high symbolic and real value of these model designations for its restart. On October 26, 1994, the manufacturer presented a new hatchback limousine named Skoda Felicia at the Hotel Atrium in Prague. The successor to the Skoda Favorit featured numerous safety features, such as airbags and ABS. In June 1995, the Felicia Combi variant expanded the model range, first introduced at the car show in Brno, Czech Republic.
The first modern generation of the Octavia debuted in 1996 and marked a milestone in the recent history of the car manufacturer. The model quickly developed into the best-selling Skoda. In 2004, the second generation followed, with the third generation launching in 2012.
The latest, fourth modern generation of the Octavia hit the market in 2019 and was significantly upgraded in February 2024. With more than seven million units sold across all four generations, the Octavia ranks among the top-ten most popular cars in Europe and remains a cornerstone of the Skoda model lineup.
What does this mean?
Skoda maintains its history. Felicia and Octavia are among the pillars of the post-war models. However, while the name Felicia has been replaced by Fabia, the Octavia name has persisted.
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