Play hot hatch mix and match with the VW Group's 2.0-litre EA888 turbo and MQB platform and there are a huge amount of possibilities. Between
Audi S3
Golf GTI
Leon Cupra
Octavia vRS
could go unnoticed. Some may say that's part of the appeal of course, but Skoda is keen to draw some attention back to its sporting flagship.
This year marks 40 years of the Skoda RS moniker. What? Yes, it did extend back beyond the first Octavia RS of the early 2000s, with the first hot Skoda the 130 RS. Now they are vRS following that little disagreement with Ford but Skoda wants to continue the lineage through. And if it means a 280hp Octavia wagon we won't argue about a letter!
At least that's what's rumoured about this latest prototype, seen with Audi RS3 wheels, four exhausts and red calipers. Take the VAQ 'diff' from the Performance GTI and Cupra as well then, voila, one very rapid family car. And police vehicle, no doubt.
Or could Skoda go one step further and use the Golf R drivetrain? There may be a Golf R estate already but does that mean VW wouldn't want Skoda impinging on its quick estate territory? The final option is that it gets the GTI Performance diff and bigger brakes but little extra power. We hope not.
Did someone say traffic car?
Many possibilities then, but with little confirmed as yet. Here we were going to mention that with a slightly used secondhand car and some light aftermarket tweakery you could have a 250hp+ Octavia vRS estate already. But there are no petrol cars for sale on PH yet. Doh.
Given a 40th anniversary for Skoda won't come around every year, we would expect to hear something official of a special vRS Octavia very soon.