Friday 10th June 2011

Skoda Surprises With 200mph Octavia

UK-built Bonneville racer aims to crack the double ton

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Skoda UK is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its vRS badge by going to Bonneville Speed Week.

To that end a modified Octavia vRS saloon has been entered into the world famous event (August 13-20), with the aim of breaking the 200mph barrier.

We're told the car is a factory-fresh production Octavia vRS, but changes have been made to improve aerodynamics and performance. That includes lowering it to run almost 80mm closer to the ground and a new sub-frame which houses a race prepared intercooler. The work has been carried out by a technical team at Skoda's UK HQ in Milton Keynes.

The car retains its production-standard 2.0-litre four-cylinder TSI petrol engine, we're told, but the standard turbo has been replaced with a more advanced unit from Garret. Generating up to 600hp, and producing 26-28 PSI of boost pressure, it drinks high-octane race fuel (with water methanol mix) rather than unleaded petrol.

To meet Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) safety regulations, it also gets a reinforced roll cage, parachute, fire extinguishers and window cage.

The vRS is entered into the '2.0-litre production car' category and will run over a nine-mile straight, which includes a timed mile in the middle. Performance through that section determines the class winner.

So why Bonneville and not something British like, say, a Manx TT course record? Not sure really, but UK brand director Robert Hazelwood says 'this is a landmark anniversary and going to Bonneville is a fitting tribute'. Well, that explains it then - it's officially a corporate jolly.

Er, can we come..?

[soad]

Gulp, that's big boosting!

[SD1992]

Wow, that is certainly a surprise!

I like it

[Wadeski]

im going to go out on a limb and hypothesise they have done more to the engine than a big intercooler, a turbo kit and meth injection

[superlightr]

turbo lagggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg

[EcosseBMW]

Bring it on...WANT...I missed oppertunity of the 100 years in motorsport version a few years ago

[DougieCow]

Is it just me that's missing the point here!?!

200mph cars are available off the shelf or with some after market back yard tuning... and only one of those options will result in the same short life engine this Skoda will no doubt have.

Sorry, but these days 200mph cars are no longer a big thing... especially considering the route they've taken to produce one... maybe they should reach a bit higher and go for at least 250 if not 300. "Production Saloon" or not.

[The Walrus]

The lag will be ok if they put NOS on, I have a friend running over 500 bhp from a 2.0 T VAG Lump and it is surprisingly driveable but can torque steer badly if you drive it like an idiot, ok he has done a lot to the engine but not ridiculous amounts.

[R66STU]

im not impressed, 600bhp in a modified 2.0 litre evo geared right will do the same.. and thats not with the funding of a production company.

[tosh.brice]

What's the point in having a "production car" class if the rules allow the power plant, chassis and aerodynamics to be changed?

[timewatch]

It's still a Skoda!

TW>>>

[Greg_D]

So it's a 'production' car that they have changed, well, everything on...

Riiight

I think you got it right earlier, corporate jolly, i'll bet the 'brand director' couldn't believe his luck when he got funding for that.

[benjiman]

".. maybe they should reach a bit higher and go for at least 250 if not 300" what on earth? it took Bugatti 8 litres, 16 cylinders and 4 turbos and 10 years to just about reach 250, how do you propose a family saloon with a 2.0 and one turbo to manage that?

[off_again]

Holy turbo lag Batman, thats serious PSI!

[HereBeMonsters]

Oh god. Now I'm going to get every div around asking if mine can do 200mph.

[snotrag]

Have to laugh at people going on about turbo lag.

Its a speed run car. The driver presses the throttle - once.

And drives in a straight line at full throttle for 9 miles.

A bit of spool up is hardly the end of the world is it!

[garrykiller]

HereBeMonsters said:

Oh god. Now I'm going to get every div around asking if mine can do 200mph.

can yours do 200mph?

[k3ybo]

It's a shame they didn't use the estate - I'm sure with some cars the estate version is more aerodynamic (rs6, current fabia vrs spring to mind) plus it would be much cooler, even if it cost a couple of mph.

Just my 2p.

Still, I like Skoda's thinking behind this, they know it will appeal to people like us and that most people won't care, if they even hear about it. Kudos for that.

[Zaxxon]

timewatch said:

It's still a Skoda!

TW>>>

Oh look a badge snob, how....ordin-ewy..

[davepoth]

Question is, will there be an Audi TDi 3mm from the Skoda's bumper giving him some main beam to get him to pull over?

[JohnnyRims]

tosh.brice said:

What's the point in having a "production car" class if the rules allow the power plant, chassis and aerodynamics to be changed?

Wondered that with the 'lightly modified' XFR hitting 225mph a few years back. 'Lightly modified' = not the one you buy, so who cares?