Wednesday 5th June 2013

Skoda Octavia vRS revealed

Traffic cops get new powers, Skoda announces a new Octavia vRS the same day - coincidence?

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Practical, pragmatic performance is something Skoda has done quite successfully since the early 2000s. Its vRS models aren't shouty, boisterous flagships, but instead offer plenty of speed in a subtle package for not much cash.

Hot hatch with a boot and a nice price - win?

It's an alluring recipe, one that's set to continue with the latest, third generation Octavia vRS. The original Skoda vRS model, it will make its dynamic debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed next month.

Strong hints had already been dropped as to the design of the vRS thanks to a blunder with Skoda's configurator which temporarily showed the new car late last year. The production model is unsurprisingly similar, with only minor cosmetic tweaks to signal its sporting intent. The vRS sits lower than a standard Octavia, whilst the bumpers have been changed for more aggressive items. Four alloy wheel designs are available, between 17 and 19 inches in diameter. There's also a rather weedy boot spoiler and rear diffuser combo, chrome exhaust tips plus an assortment of vRS badges. It's standard sporty Skoda fare, and none the worse for it.

The interior continues the restrained theme, with some stainless steel there and extra leather here. New dials, seats and wheel heighten the racy vibe, and there's some more vRS badging for good measure.

The new fixed penalty dispenser for lane hogs...

As with the previous Octavia vRS, the new car will be offered with petrol and diesel engines. The former 2.0-litre turbo is shared with the Golf GTI and so makes 220hp and 258lb ft. The diesel comes from the Golf GTD and produces 184hp and 280lb ft. Initial claims state the petrol should be capable of 154mph and a 0-62mph time of 6.8 seconds. The diesel achieves 144mph and 62mph in 8.1 seconds. Manual and DSG transmissions will be offered, the latter as an option.

Both engines will also feature Volkswagen's LSD-aping XDS system, which uses the ESC to brake a spinning inside wheel. It seems unlikely that a genuine locking diff, as on the Golf GTI Performance, will make it to the Skoda, though we can but hope.

An estate version of the vRS is guaranteed however, and that's great news. It will give the Focus ST wagon a rival for starters. It carries (no pun intended) the same visual tweaks as the hatch, but its ride height has been lowered by 13mm rather than 12mm. Notably, the rear suspension uses the multi-link arrangement saved for the more expensive MQB-based VW Group cars, rather than the torsion beam used by regular Octavias.

Roomy estate an interesting Focus ST alternative

As mentioned, the vRS brand has garnered something of a cult following since its 2001 launch. There's stories of police buying the first Octavia vRS having been impressed with it at work, and the audacity of launching a diesel-only hot hatch with the first Fabia vRS had to be applauded. Fancy a slice of the action? A decent 180hp Octavia RS (from before Ford made a fuss and they became vRS) can be yours for around £2,000 in the PH classifieds, with the estates not much more.

The first Mk2 versions, with the 200hp 2.0-litre engine, can be found for less than £6,000. The cheapest diesel Octavia vRS we saw was also for sale at £6,000. Predictably, most of the later vRS estates are diesel-powered, although this facelifted 2012 petrol version looks a conspicuous bargain at £15,995 with just 6,500 registered miles.

White goods, made a bit more PH-worthy

If used temptation doesn't grab you, the third generation Octavia vRS goes on sale in July.

[AV12]

Modular car. Looks ok I think.

[Megaflow]

Looks good. I could be tempted by that in a couple of years time.

[Funkycoldribena]

Like that a lot.

[toppstuff]

I like this a lot.

I know this comment will inevitably seem like I am dragging us down the endless VAG / VW debate route that dominates PH whenever a Golf is written about, but to me this car is considerably more interesting and attractive to own than the equivalent Golf.

It is more honest. More complete.

If it was a person, you would buy it a pint and happily have a good conversation with it. If it was a Golf and it was a person, you just know it would want to talk about itself a lot and try to tell you how clever and awesome and high achieving it was. A bit smug. The Skoda is more honest.

[Amirhussain]

Looks good, very Audi A6 though

[Tomatogti]

Like that a lot. Looks modern without being too daft like many modern cars. Decent all round package no doubt.

[Codswallop]

Looks very nice. A big improvement over the mk2 imo.

[MartynVRS]

Pricing rumored to be £23,500 too which makes it decent value compared to the Golf. Out of my budget but my Fabia vRS will be out of warranty next year so a used one of these could be a good option.

Edited by MartynVRS on Wednesday 5th June 12:44

[Freeglide]

The rear tail pipes remind me of the back of an S class merc!

Always think the estate looks much better - although the Mk2 hatchback had a sizeable boot too. This is particularly true of the Superb - the saloon with the hatchback lid just does not look quite right - whereas the estate looks fab - right proportions.

Will push down the prices of the Mk2 nicely now?

FG

[Presuming Ed]

Just like the old model, the estate has it.

[Pablo16v]

toppstuff said:

I like this a lot.

I know this comment will inevitably seem like I am dragging us down the endless VAG / VW debate route that dominates PH whenever a Golf is written about, but to me this car is considerably more interesting and attractive to own than the equivalent Golf.

It is more honest. More complete.

If it was a person, you would buy it a pint and happily have a good conversation with it. If it was a Golf and it was a person, you just know it would want to talk about itself a lot and try to tell you how clever and awesome and high achieving it was. A bit smug. The Skoda is more honest.

You what? Your pills run out today or something toppstuff?

[toppstuff]

Pablo16v said:

You what? Your pills run out today or something toppstuff?

Don't you talk to your cars? I do. Sometimes they answer back.

Some of them are really up themselves and pretend they can't hear me.

[moanthebairns]

I really, really like that, many new cars today I find ugly, too fat looking and too many curves.

Its subtle as hell but with just the right amount of detail where it matters.

My Dad owned both the mark 1 and 2, driving it, I always thought it never felt a particularly quick car but that was because the noise proofing was so good.

I did think the mark 1 was much nicer to look at, the mark 2 just didn’t do it for me.

Nice to drive though and amazingly well put together, simple inside as well, it does make you wonder why people still buy Golfs.

Ill be watching the price and deals on these with interest when they come out!

Edited by moanthebairns on Wednesday 5th June 12:54

[Nellist]

I think it's a smart looking car, do prefer the estate though!

Like it.

[j_s14a]

toppstuff said:

.

If it was a person, you would buy it a pint and happily have a good conversation with it. If it was a Golf and it was a person, you just know it would want to talk about itself a lot and try to tell you how clever and awesome and high achieving it was. A bit smug. The Skoda is more honest.

The Hammond is strong in this one.

[zabba]

The estate looks great! Very Audi but that's not a bad thing.

Not sure about the spoiler on the 5dr...

[Steve vRS]

The estate looks nice. Potential co. car when the BMW goes in 2 years time.

That is all.

Steve

[liner33]

MartynVRS said:

Pricing rumored to be £23,500 too which makes it decent value compared to the Golf. Out of my budget but my Fabia vRS will be out of warranty next year so a used one of these could be a good option.

Edited by MartynVRS on Wednesday 5th June 12:44

Thats too expensive I reckon , whatever happened to the budget brand?

The VRS never used to be that well equipped

[theJT]

As an estate I think that looks fantastic... not sure sure about the saloon, but the estate really is a looker.

[tadaah]

Looks really good. Some nice crisp lines to it and just looks like it will remain looking good. Definitely preferable to the new golf which, now that its been seen on the roads for a while just looks less smart than the mk6 sadly