The Skoda Octavia vRS is back. The high performance sedan was launched at the 2020 Indian Auto Expo, at a price of Rs. 36 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi. Only 200 units will be initially imported, and Skoda will bring in more cars only if there’s adequate demand. Aimed purely at driving enthusiasts who want something really quick, sporty and fun to drive but also very practical for everyday use, the 2020 Octavia vRS is the most powerful edition of the car yet. Bookings are open online.
The Octavia vRS 245, as its name suggests, hosts a 2 liter-4 cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that makes 245 PS of peak power and 370 Nm of peak torque. A 7 speed twin clutch automatic gearbox powers the front wheels of the sedan. The front axle gets a limited slip differential for better traction while the suspension gets a stiffer set-up to cope with the additional performance and offer a sharper driving experience.
How fast? Well, the Octavia vRS will do the 0-100 Kph sprint in just 6.6 seconds, and go on to hit a top speed of 250 Kph. There is a new ‘vRS’ mode that unleashes the full performance of the car. The Octavia vRS is based on the top-end Laurin and Klement trim, but gets a slew of changes to justify its sporty positioning.
The seats are now finished in Alcantara and get vRS insignia and are redesigned. The front seats are electrically adjustable while the Octavia vRS also gets a flat bottomed steering wheel and a 12.3 inch digital instrument cluster that Skoda calls ‘virtual cockpit’. Changes on the outside include 18 inch alloy wheels, Quadra LED headlamps, a boot lid spoiler finished in a contrast colour, vRS badging, and revised front and rear bumpers.
The Skoda Octavia vRS is the last high performance version of the current generation Octavia, and given the fact that only 200 examples will be initially imported, this will be a rare sight on Indian roads. There are few cars that offer a thrilling drive and everyday usability, the Octavia vRS is one such rare car. Skoda has already begun working on the next-generation Octavia, and the car is expected to be unveiled later this year. While the new Octavia is certainly India-bound, Skoda has not given any indication on whether a vRS version of the next-gen Octavia will also be launched in India. A lot will depend on how successful the current Octavia vRS 245 is. Going by how quickly the last batch of vRS cars sold, this one is likely to be no different.
Also Read: Skoda Rapid finally goes turbo petrol: Unveiled at Auto Expo 2020