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Tell Laura I love her...

All-new diesel bang for your D-segment buck. Sriram Narayanan walks you around the exciting Skoda Laura PD

LAURA WREATH Want an Octavia that is almost a Superb? Handsome and yet efficient, the Laura PD is only available in a high-tech diesel version though

Life and its ironies... I may be writing about and driving some very exotic and some very ordinary cars. But what do you know; even the most ordinary car is way beyond my financial reach. So I think I'll get myself a bike - the Pulsar 180 DTS-i is a lot of fun and fairly economical too. Maybe I could save some more money and get myself a less powerful Pulsar 150 or a Unicorn. And if I opt for the Unicorn, forget the electric starter and the alloy wheels, I'd end up saving a further Rs 14,000 over the 180 DTS-i. Hmm... and this would mean enough money saved for seven tanks-full of petrol, enough to keep me going for some eight to nine months.

There, I can already feel egg on my face. But then you see, this is how it works in any price-sensitive market like India and precisely why Skoda is set to launch the Skoda Laura 1.9 PD in January 2006... alongside the existing Skoda Octavia. The Laura is actually the new Octavia in Europe and out there, is the car that replaced our current Octavia. But there is nothing new in this - Skoda has decided to borrow a page out of Maruti-Suzuki's bestselling book - the M800, the Zen and the Alto are all produced in India alongside each other. While the Zen replaced the 800 and then was replaced in turn by the Alto abroad, these are the machines which together contribute the bulk of sales for Maruti today.

Just like the Skoda Octavia sculpted a neat niche for itself when launched in 2001, the Laura is all set to do well in the market. And that's because, while there are good cars in the segment, none are loaded with technology like the Laura and none, barring the not-so-successful Mondeo, run on diesel; 13 kpl through urban traffic with the air-conditioner on.

All in the family

The Laura is certainly a grown-up Octavia. The Octavia is a near-perfect, and timeless design on our roads. With no algae-shaped head-lights, or other frumpy design cues that might lose appeal as time passes, the Octavia is straight, understated, solid and classy. But those compact dimensions and that classic silhouette which stretched itself down the C-pillar meant a bit of a compromise in rear head-room. While the Laura has lost nothing of the handsome roof silhouette, it simply addresses the problem by occupying a longer wheelbase - yes, the Laura is a bigger car than the Octavia. And it looks perfect in the family-tree when placed between the Octavia and the Superb. There is this bulky and butch air about the Laura penned into a flow, along with some softer, richer lines - call it an Octavia in the nattiest possible formals.

But the trump card of the Laura is the technology that puts it at par with German luxury saloons, thanks to parent company Volkswagen. Parktronic sensors in the front and rear bumpers that let out a beep if you come too close to an obstacle while parking, rain sensors that start the wipers automatically, a tyre-pressure monitoring system, six airbags, electronic stability control... the works.

The cabin's great in terms of quality with a neat, sophisticated layout. In fact, it's right up there with the Accord. But being used to dual-tone colours in this class, you may not like the Laura's all-black theme. However, if quality is what matters to you, then this car had loads of it. Perhaps Skoda should come up with a Laurin & Klement trim version as an alternative. What is also worth a note in Skoda's suggestion box is a possible reduction in the noise levels of that 1.9-litre Pumpe Düse diesel engine to make refinement more... well, refined.

Where's the petrol?

Pumpe Düse as in PD. It's Volkswagen's proprietary technology that integrates the fuel pump and injector in a single unit, reining in combustion and improving performance. So while the same TDi engine produces 90 bhp in the Octavia, Pumpe Düse boosts power up to 104 bhp. Torque is even more impressive; forget peak torque - even at 900 rpm, the Laura pulls like she's sliding down a gradient - effortless and free. Keep her in third gear and you will find the machine having no qualms in puttering along at 20 kph in stop-and-go traffic or cruising at 80 kph on the highway. It's another matter that I didn't quite like keeping that wonder of a five-speed gear-box idle for long. Slick, precise and accurate; changing gears in the Laura is nothing but fun.

The Laura will also come with a five-speed automatic, if you opt for it. Skoda calls it DSG; short for Direct-Shift Gearbox. It employs a dual-clutch system, similar to the Audi A6's Multitronic transmission, and has normal and sport modes, which you can select. Interesting, but we haven't got on our hands on that yet. Whatever the transmission, don't expect RS type of acceleration though. You need to cross the 1,200 rpm mark to get the turbo awake and from thereon, it's a smooth, unhindered climb up to a top speed of 185 kph.

Petrol? Skoda says nothing of it as yet. Looking at how the Octavia's performed, and with the recent launch of the Superb diesel, it seems to have dawned on the Czech company that Skoda has inadvertently become synonymous with `diesel' in our market. And it seems logical for them to ride on that crest-wave. Actually, it would even make sense to have the turbo-charged 200 bhp RS version of the Laura rather than an ordinary two-litre petrol. The numbers will obviously be small, but like Laura PD, this RS could be unique in its segment and will attract performance geeks who are really keen on a fast and sharp handling car, who would otherwise go to a Ford Mondeo or a Honda Accord V6. Perhaps, it would be a better option than a run-of-the-mill petrol that will have to fend off the Accord 2.4 and the Toyota Camry.

Value is... well, valuable

The Octavia's always occupied the sweetest of spots in the ride and handling meter this side of Rs 14 lakh. The Laura improves on it further. Steering, especially around the straight-ahead position, feels a bit static though - it is a bit dead on centre. The car's not a sporty handler and won't go corner-munching. But the disc-brakes on all four wheels are fantastic when it comes to peeling off the pace. Top that with anti-lock brakes, electronic stability, six airbags and you have a car that can not only come safe out of a mauling, but will even avoid one in the first place.

The Laura is not something unexpected from a manufacturer who brought in the unbeatable Octavia. And that means you get this feeling you've bought more than you paid for. Speaking of payments, the Laura 1.9 PD will retail at an estimated Rs 15.5 lakh and the DSG automatic will cost a lakh more.

As of now the Laura PD is one cracker of a car. Like the Octavia in 2001, the PD is yet another car that has no other competitor offering this kind of value at this price. And just listen to the thump as the door shuts to get an idea of the build quality on offer. To cut a long story short, there is nothing like the Skoda Laura PD. By the way, do any of you find the name weird, or is it just me?

TECHNICAL DATA

SKODA LAURA PD

How much?
Rs 15.5 to 16.5 lakh (expected ex-showroom price)

How big?

Length: 4,572 mm
Width: 1,769 mm
Height: 1,485 mm
Wheelbase: 2,578 mm
Ground clearance: 164 mm
Luggage volume: 560 litres
Weight: 1,350 kg

Engine

Type: 1896cc 4-cylinders in-line, turbo-charged diesel
Max power: 104 bhp @ 4000 rpm
Max torque: 25.49 kgm @ 1900 rpm
Transmission

Five-speed manual/ automatic DSG, front-wheel-drive

Performance

Top speed: 185 kph 0-100 kph: 11.54 secs

Tyres & wheels 205/55 R16 alloys

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