More power, more tech, more Czech.
Following the introduction of the thoroughly-revised facelift Octavia, Czech auto marque Skoda has now pulled the wraps off of the performance variant of its popular compact family car, the Octavia vRS. With over 200,000 Octavia RS and vRS models sold globally, it’s clear that there’s a strong appetite for hot Czech cars, and the facelift Octavia vRS is set to continue the supply in exuberant fashion.
Up front, the vRS gains the four headlight arrangement of its more vanilla siblings, bringing it in line with the corporate image. There’s also been a power bump under the bonnet. Power now sits at 169kW for the 2.0TSI petrol, 7kW over the outgoing car. The diesel vRS soldiers on with 135kW, unchanged.
Those new headlights now house full-LED technology, replete with adaptive beam software. And to make it a little more Czech, they carry a ‘crystalline’ look, in a nod to the crystal industry of the Czech Republic. The front end also bears wider intakes to help keep the revised engine cool, while the rear carries a wide diffuser and full-width reflector. More distinctive C-shaped tail-lights feature here too, to make sure the new vRS is unmistakably Skoda.
With wider front and rear tracks offer greater grip, and those who may be left wanting can opt for all-wheel drive to get the power down. Progressive steering, torque vectoring, and an optional Performance Sound Generator all give the vRS a more focused, more athletic driving experience. Dynamic chassis control is available here, and a drive selector allows the choice of Sport, Normal or Comfort modes.
Skoda proudly claims fuel consumption figures of just 5.5l/100km for the petrol vRS with CO2 emissions of 149g/km, and 3.8l/100km along with 119g/km of CO2 for the diesel. These figures were recorded with front-wheel drive, 6-speed manual models, and the numbers are likely to rise with use of the double-clutch automatic, or with the all-wheel drive option.
The interior of the Octavia vRS sees some changes too, with it being the latest recipient of the Volkswagen Group’s new range of infotainment systems. Top-spec models will get screens measuring 9.2-inches wide, with wireless internet hotspots via an LTE module. Lower-spec models will likely get smaller screens.
Driver aid systems include trailer assist, blind spot detect and rear cross traffic alert. However, the semi-autonomous traffic jam assist function is, glaringly, not offered here. Making up for that somewhat is the offering of a ‘Crew Protect Assist’ function, which closes all open windows and the sunroof and prepares the cabin occupants for a crash ahead of time.
At the time of writing, there is no confirmed introduction timeline for the new Octavia vRS, though we’re pretty confident we should see it on our shores late next year, after the currently-available Octavia RS230 has had its day.
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