DSG (Automatic), now on the Laura 1.8 TSI Petrol

Vinj14, an eagle-eyed BHPian, breaks the news on Skoda launching the 7-Speed DSG Automatic with the Laura 1.8L TSI petrol. 

Skoda has always given the Laura petrol step-motherly treatment. First, it was made available in basic trim levels only. Then, while the Superb with the same motor offered a DSG option, the Laura TSI was sold with a manual transmission (MT) only, despite the fact that premium car owners prefer automatics. The pricing isn't impressive though. The Laura 1.8 DSG will find few takers as the diesel sibling costs a mere Rs. 50,000 more. Skoda expects the petrol DSG's sales to be lukewarm at best, and is going to make it available in limited numbers. 

That this 1.8L TSI motor is the segment best is a well accepted fact. It has superb torque on tap, is the most powerful from the segment and is reasonably efficient too. The Laura 1.8 DSG receives some additional features, the most notable being a touchscreen head-unit with bluetooth, steering-mounted audio controls, electrically adjustable driver's seat, 16" alloys (from the Laura vRS) and fatter 205 mm tyres. While the Laura DSG is impressively equipped, the Laura MT doesn't benefit from the newly added features. 

Potential owners should be warned that this 7-speed DSG is known to be troublesome; gearbox failures are commonplace and have left many owners stranded by the road. 

The all-new 3rd generation Octavia / Laura has been launched internationally and its India entry is around the corner.