Prices and photos revealed for the all new Skoda Octavia Estate

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by Emmy Griffiths and Chris Jefferies

Skoda has unveiled the UK specification and price details for their brand new Skoda Octavia Estate, which is due to make its debut at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.

This model has a lot to live up to, as Skoda has earned a strong reputation in the caravanning community, after winning the 2011 Caravan Club Towcar of the Year for the Superb Estate.

In fact, the Czech company has gone a long way towards shaking off its previously shabby reputation, with 2012 seeing a record level of more than 50,000 new Skodas being sold in the UK.

The new Octavia design claims to set new standards in terms of space, practically, versatility and quality in the compact segment, and the 13-model range is available in Skoda’s three trim levels, S, SE and Elegance.

The price also shows exceptional value for money, and combined with excellent functionality and fuel-efficient engines, this model is expected to prove very popular with UK customers as a caravan tow-car.

Pricing and features

The new Octavia Estate will be available in the UK with four advanced engine options: two petrol and two diesel.

Prices start from a reasonable £16,790 for a 1.2-litre petrol version, with the flagship 2.0-litre diesel model costing £24,040. Diesel versions start from £18,840.

The car comes with ‘Simply Clever’ features, including a double-sided boot floor mat, multiple bag hooks and even a waste bin as well as cubby holes for bottles, keys and gadgets in the spacious cabin and an ice scraper behind the fuel flap.

The range also boasts a luggage compartment, retractable parcel shelf and roof bars which are standard across the range, whilst the SE and Elegence specifically benefit from a remote fold-down function for the rear seats.

There are a number of advanced technologies normally reserved for high-segment vehicles making their debut in the new Octavia, and some of them are becoming available for the first time ever in a Skoda.

One of the new features is the adaptive cruise assistant, which is a system that automatically maintains a pre-set distance to the car ahead.

There is also the new and exciting Intelligent Light Assistant (standard on Elegance) which will switch to high beam and back automatically, a useful and clever safety measure for country road driving.

Bay and parallel parking will now be easier than ever before with the Octavia thanks to the Automatic Parking Assistant. Also, for the first time ever, the Octavia will introduce traffic sign recognition as part of the optional Columbus sat nav system.

During the development of the Skoda Octavia, safety measures were key, and as a result there is a host of cutting-edge safety systems for the new Octavia including the Driver Fatigue sensor, the Crew Protection Assistant and the Lane Assistant to keep you inside the lanes.

Looks and practicality

The sleek lines of the new Octavia should have a broad appeal, while the dark window surrounds are a classy touch that gives it more than a passing resemblance to the new VW Passat Estate.

An electric panoramic sliding/tilting sunroof is also available for the new Skoda Octavia Estate. Comprising two parts – the front part can be tilted and shifted electrically, while the rear section is fixed – the entire roof module is made of tinted, heat-insulated glass.

Tax and fuel consumption

The Skoda Octavia Estate boasts of low CO2 emissions with engines up to 17% more economical than previous generation units.

There is also a fuel-efficient GreenLine version which is available in the UK later in 2013, offering CO2 emissions of 87g/km, meaning you will pay much lower Vehicle Excise Duty.

Towing and boot capacity

The car is 90 mm longer than its predecessor at 4.66 metres long and is 45 mm wider, which should add to towing stability.

The interior space has also improved, with leg room at the rear increasing by 73 mm and headroom at the front and rear of the car changing from 981 to 983 mm and 984 to 995 mm. Passenger elbow and shoulder room has also grown considerably.

The Boot space measures 610 litres (20 litres more than the new Octavia Hatch) – a record for the segment – and expands to a massive 1,740 litres with the rear seats down.

The boot opening offers improved access, making loading extremely easy; and the width of the boot is a maximum 1,070 mm.

Kerbweights for this range are yet to be confirmed, with an announcement expected nearer to the June 2013 arrival date, but if the previous Octavia Estate is anything to go by then this should prove more than a match for most mid-weight caravans.

Skoda has done some great work improving its image in the last ten years, and with this latest redesign they will surely keep winning over the skeptics for some time yet.

VIDEO: Why is it worth covering up your caravan in winter?

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by Chris Jefferies

Caravan covers are an increasingly popular accessory, but there is still some lingering confusion as to why you would need one in the first place.

In this video, Elliot Long Managing Director of Specialised Covers discusses how fitting a caravan can help your caravan keep its value for longer.

He explains that these kinds of product maintain the longevity of the interior and exterior of a caravan, which in turn can make it worth more after years of use.

Elliot also talks about the benefits of having a tailored cover which is fitted around protruding parts like air conditioning units and TV aerials.

We also find out how a cover can make your caravan less noticeable to thieves, as the dark green colour option helps it blend into the natural environment.

March snow and ice keeps motorists on their toes

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by Tom Walsh

The return of snow and ice this week to Britain’s roads has meant that motorists have been kept on their toes while waiting for springtime to arrive.

Many might have thought that the winter was over, but snowfall in the south of the country led to many people being stranded in their vehicles overnight, while road conditions elsewhere have been tricky because of black ice.

The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has been quick to offer advice to ensure that all motorists remain safe.

It said that windows should be kept clean and clear at all times to aid visibility – this is particularly important if you are towing a caravan – while heavy accelerating and braking should be avoided.

Journeys should also be planned around busier roads as these are more likely to be free of snow and ice. Drivers need to ensure that they keep their speed low when descending a hill – the IAM advises that it is much easier to keep at a constant speed than to slow down when it is slippery.

Chief examiner Peter Rodger went on to say that police warnings to stay away from specific routes should not be ignored and if in doubt, do not travel unless completely necessary.

Caravan fires are nine times more deadly than house fires, expert claims

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by Tom Walsh

Caravanners have been warned about the dangers of fire, after a fire officer claimed that caravans fires are nine times as likely to be deadly as those that occur in houses.

The warning comes from Paul Howes, fire protection officer at Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue, who told ThisisLincolnshire.co.uk that the region welcomes around 20,000 caravans for holidays, weekend breaks and permanent residences and it is possible for any of these to be affected by accidental fires.

“As a fire in a caravan or mobile home is nine-times more likely to lead to death or injury than in a house it is important that people are aware of how to avoid being in such situations,” he told the source.

Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue advises that vans should be parked at least six metres apart to prevent any flames spreading, while BBQs should never be used inside a caravan or awning to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning as well as the obvious fire risk.

A smoke alarm should be fitted to every vehicle and tested regularly to ensure that the battery works. Cooking appliances should never be left unattended and caravanners have been warned not to risk smoking while in bed.

Caravans are always going to be something of a fire hazard, due to the manually fitted gas supply, close quarters and the lightweight materials used to build the walls, which are far more flammable than bricks and mortar.

To counter this recent developments in the caravan industry to make tourers safer include mandatory fitting of Carbon Monoxide and smoke alarms in every new model built in the UK, but caravanners are still advised to stay vigilant and not take any unnecessary risks.

Getting your caravan’s gas appliances serviced regularly is also highly recommended to avoid any dangerous gas leaks taking place.

Haven introduces Beat the VAT scheme ahead of caravan tax rise

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by Tom Walsh

Haven is lending a helping hand to prospective caravan owners with its Beat the VAT scheme.

Starting on 18 March, customers will be given the chance to join 22,000 others in having their own static van. They will be able to buy one of four exclusive new models and will be exempt from the five per cent VAT rate, which will be put onto their price from 6 April.

Among the holiday homes on offer is the Swift Bordeaux Exclusive, which features central heating and three bedrooms. Thanks to the Beat the VAT scheme, savings on this purchase could be as high as £1,700.

More than 30 of Haven’s parks are taking part in the offer, giving potential buyers the chance to enjoy weekends and breaks away at their chosen destination.

Along with park facilities such as heated swimming pools and sports activities, Haven holiday home owners will also be able to enjoy themed weekends, special event days seasonal balls.

The planned VAT rise, which was announced last year will only affect static caravans and semi-static caravans, such as the Bailey Retreat range of leisure homes.

Arson investigation underway after Blackpool caravan blaze

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by Tom Walsh

Police in Blackpool have announced that they are treating a caravan blaze in the centre of the seaside town as an arson attack.

Fire crews along with the local force were called to tackle the fire on Hornby Road at around 1:00am on Monday (11 March). Two engines attended the scene with two breathing apparatuses, a hose reel and a thermal imaging camera.

The caravan, which was a Safari 1976, was subject to smoke and heat damage inside, the Blackpool Gazette reports.

A Lancashire Police spokesman told the news provider: “Officers did attend the scene and we believe the unknown offender has used some sort of accelerant to start the fire.”

A similar case happened at a family caravan park in Fraserburgh with fire crews being called to Kessock Caravan Park to tackle a blaze in the early hours of Friday (8 March), STV reports.

Police in the area are currently appealing for anyone with information to contact them as soon as possible.

You Can Caravan Show comes to Teesside this weekend

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by Tom Walsh

Teesside is set to be inundated with caravan lovers over the coming weekend as Thornaby plays host to the You Can Caravan Show.

Over 16 and 17 March, visitors will be able to come down to see the impressive range of Adria caravans and even secure a ten per cent discount on accessories in stock as well as host of other deals on mobile homes.

Unlike many other events to held across the country, the Teesside version has free admission and there will also be entertainment to keep the kids entertained while the adults pick out a new caravan for themselves.

There will also be the chance to be a big winner with a host of competitions and prizes on offer, including a £500 gift voucher.

For all those that do drive home with a new caravan they will receive a free goodie bag which will also be available for members of the Adria Owners Club.

The event will take place at the Teesside Caravans complex in Thornaby.

Whale named in Sunday Times Best Small Companies To Work For list

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by Tom Walsh

Whale (Munster Simms Engineering Ltd) has once again performed well over the past year and has been rewarded with a prestigious accolade.

The firm has been included in the Sunday Times 100 Best Small Companies To Work For list for the fourth consecutive year and has jumped up 27 places since it was first inducted to the index in 2010.

Officials have explained that it is testament to the work that Whale is currently carrying out. The results noted that the firm landed 89 per cent positive score in terms of promoting the organisation’s values.

Patrick Hurst and his senior management team was supported by his staff with 90 per cent of employees stating that they had confidence in the company.

Mr Hurst said: “The support and loyalty of the workforce in Whale is second to none. Throughout 2012, the company has continued to expand, opening a second factory and acquiring a new company based in California, and we achieved the highest sales in the company’s history.”

Caravanners may know Whale part manufacturers as they supply the caravanning industry with a range from water pumps and filters, through to taps, showerheads and heaters. They predominantly supply to Elddis and Bailey caravans.

Durham Tees Valley Airport car park could become caravan storage site

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by Tom Walsh

Durham Tees Valley Airport has come up with a novel approach of helping to bring in extra revenue, converting part of the car park into a caravan storage site.

The airport, situated near Darlington, was once a thriving facility but has seen passenger numbers drop significantly in recent years following a peak that was reached in 2006. Now it only runs a handful of routes including planes to Aberdeen and Amsterdam.

While Thomson Airways does run seasonal flights to Alicante, Palma de Mallorca and Tenerife, officials are looking at other ways to boost income.

The Northern Echo reported that part of the long stay car park is now surplus to requirements and Peel Holdings, the airport’s owner, has applied to Darlington Borough Council to use the vacant 1.7 hectares for the storage of caravans, motorhomes and other vehicles over the next three years.

Anna Simcock, a development officer working for Peel Holdings, said in a report to planners, published by the source: “A temporary permission is being sought to allow flexibility for when airport visitor numbers increase, enabling this area of the car park to be reinstated to its original use. It is difficult to predict when visitor numbers will increase.”

Caravan honeymoons on the rise, holiday poll finds

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by Emmy Griffiths

Caravan and camping holidays are becoming a more and more popular type of holiday for honeymooners, a recent poll has found.

According to the Best of British holiday parks group, bookings from young couples arriving straight from their wedding reception has escalated, with more newlyweds choosing to holiday in England and save money whilst still enjoying comfort, space and privacy without the cost of a luxury holiday.

The new popular choice for of having a honeymoon at a caravan site has become so popular that caravan parks are beginning to include a range of options specific for loved up couples.

The Woodovis Park in Devon’s Tamar Valley is at the forefront of marketing specifically to honeymooners, and has included “glamping” pods and luxury spa treatments to make a honeymoon feel more luxurious.

The location is also essential, and at Stroud Hill Park in Cambridgeshire, there is a timber-built barn which is perfect for wedding receptions, with a shepherd’s hut on the side of the adjacent lake for the honeymooners to enjoy.

Chairman of Best of British Claire Jeavons is delighted that caravanning appeals so much to newly wedded couples, stating:

“What every couple wants to bring back from their honeymoon is happy memories, and high quality surroundings go a long way to setting the scene for creating these

“We think that this spring could see more couples than ever making a romantic start to their married lives on our members’ holiday parks.”

Is caravanning your idea of a perfect honeymoon? Post your thoughts comments in the box below!

Eterniti Genesis IB4 appears on Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway

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by Emmy Griffiths

The Eterniti Genesis IB4 appeared on Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway this week (9 March) as a star prize.

The IB4 came complete with contemporary Apple Bella woodwork with Kensington Leather along with an array of extras including a satellite system, all of which would normally cost £28,000.

One unlucky contestant named Lindsey was picked from the audience to play the famous ‘Win the Ads’ game, only to fail at the final question and leave with nothing.

ITV’s producers told Eterniti’s Commercial Director Neil Boulton that:
“The contestant was distraught as she is a caravanner and really wanted the Eterniti.”

The Eterniti team joined the live TV audience and watched the show being filmed, with Managing Director Phil Daniels stating:

“It was a truly fantastic experience both for the company and for me personally. The show was such fun and a really enjoyable experience to be part of; I would highly recommend it to people to do if the chance ever arose, whilst the exposure that Eterniti had was fantastic.

“Going out to over 9million people at prime time on a Saturday evening is as high as you can go in terms of exposure. The whole team at ITV have been great and very supportive of Eterniti, from Ant & Dec right through to the floor team – a great bunch of people”

Ant and Dec inspected the caravan and were impressed by it, as Ant stated:
“My mum is a keen caravanner and I know that she would just love this one, it’s very, very classy inside.”

Dec was also suitably impressed by the Eterniti range, saying “I was shocked when I went inside. I wasn’t expecting so much space, it was like being in one of the large American winnebagos that we use on location sometimes, I’ve never seen caravans with slide[-out section]s before in the UK, certainly nothing as modern and luxurious.”

If you missed this week’s show, you can catch-up on ITV Player.

Arsonists suspected to be cause of Kent caravan clubhouse fire

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by Tom Walsh

A blaze at a caravan clubhouse in Kent is suspected to have been started by arsonists.

Fire crews were called to the West Beach site, off Island Wall, on Wednesday (6 March) after manager Sue Westwood was alerted to the danger when a smoke detector triggered an alarm at her home, Whitstable Times reports.

She raced to the site but was unable to do anything as the fire brigade tackled the blaze. It claimed a number of priceless old photographs inside and Ms Westwood told the source that she was “in shock”.

“It was terrible. You could see the flames and it was pouring with smoke. It’s so sad. There were loads of old photographs and memories we won’t ever get back,” she went on to say.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service explained that Kent Police were informed due to the incident being classed as suspicious and said in a statement that it is currently being investigated.

The site is popular with caravanners all round the UK with many coming to the area to take in the breathtaking sea views.