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Recently, 2021 Skoda Octavia was officially launched, and three new models were launched with a price range of 1099 - 126,900 yuan.

As an annual model, there is no difference in appearance between the 2021 Skoda Mingrui and the 2020 model. The new model still maintains a family-style appearance design. The front face is an irregularly shaped air intake grille, and the interior uses a chrome-plated vertical spoke middle net, which is matched with the iconic split headlights on the side, making the front face very recognizable. In terms of size, the length, width and height of 2021 Mingrui are 4675/1814/1460mm respectively, and the wheelbase is 2686 mm.

In terms of interior decoration, the sharp interior layout of 2021 model is consistent with that of 2020 model. The instrument adopts the combination of mechanical pointer and LCD screen, with built-in central control screen and three-spoke direction, mechanical hand brake and mechanical stop lever. The air conditioning control area also adopts mechanical knob design. The interior of the whole vehicle appears retro.

The biggest change in the 2021 Mingrui is in terms of power, with only 1.5L of a new power model, while the 1.2T/1.4T of the 2020 model has been cancelled. The data shows that the maximum power of 2021 Mingrui is 83kw, the maximum torque is 145N·m, and the transmission system is matched with 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic gearbox. By contrast, the 2020 Mingrui 1.2T engine has a maximum power of 85kw and a peak torque of 200N·m; the 1.4T engine has a maximum power of 110kw and a peak torque of 250N·m.

Octavia was once a hot-selling model owned by SAIC Skoda and was sold in China in June 2007. With its atmospheric appearance and solid workmanship, it was sought after by consumers soon after it was launched and became a popular model in the joint venture car market. Before 2019, Mingrui had launched several replacement models, and its performance in the market was also remarkable. After entering 2019, along with the decline of Skoda brand power in China, Mingrui sales also fell sharply. Especially after entering 2020, Mingrui's sales volume has entered a trough, with monthly sales volume maintained at about 3000 vehicles, compared with 26110 vehicles accumulated last year.

In order to change the status quo, a new generation of Mingrui was officially launched in May this year and renamed "Mingrui Pro", with a price range of 124,900 - 157,900 yuan. The front face of the new car adopts a waterfall grille shape, and the split headlight group has been cancelled and replaced with a sharper polygonal design style. The side lines of the Mingrui Pro are relatively smooth, the current slip-back body has not been abandoned, and the slightly tilted ducktail compartment makes the whole body look more sporty. In terms of size, the length, width and height are 4753/1788/1469mm respectively, and the wheelbase is 2730 mm. Compared with the overseas version, the overall size has increased, among which the length has increased by 64mm and the wheelbase has increased by 44 mm.

The interior of the new car also continues the design style of the overseas version, but the unique two-spoke steering wheel of the overseas version is not introduced, but adopts the traditional three-spoke style. In terms of power, the brand-new Mingrui Pro cancels the 1.5L naturally aspirated engine and replaces the 1.4T turbocharged engine with a maximum power of 110kW and a maximum torque of 250N.m. It is matched with a 7-speed dual clutch gearbox.

After the new generation of Mingrui officially launched, the old Mingrui did not delist from the market, but still launched a modified model, which means that Mingrui also adopts the new and old sales model. However, from the data point of view, the market performance after the launch of the new generation Mingrui is not optimistic, only 945 vehicles were sold in July and only 978 in June.

At present, SAIC Skoda's models on sale include cars Mingrui, Speedy, Xindong, Xinrui, SUV Kodiak, Comic, Korok, etc. The sales performance of these models in the market is not optimistic.

According to the data, the global sales volume of Skoda brand in 2020 is 1,004,800 vehicles, down 19.1% year-on-year. As Skoda's largest single market, China's cumulative sales volume in 2020 is 173,000 vehicles, down 38.7% year-on-year. In the first half of this year, Skoda sold 121,000 vehicles worldwide, up 20.8% year-on-year, but only 44,000 vehicles in China, down 43.1% year-on-year. As a brand owned by SAIC Volkswagen, Skoda has been hovering at the edge of the market. At this time, although it launched a modified Mingrui and sold in the same hall, its sales volume did not change much in fact.

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