The Skoda Octavia vRS will be getting a new engine and it is being touted as the most powerful diesel engine ever which will be a 2.0-litre TDI motor churning out 197 HP of power. The diesel will be sold along with the petrol and hybrid version which is about 15 HP more powerful than the previous iteration. With the addition of this diesel motor, this will be the biggest ever range of engine options available to choose from for the Octavia vRS.
Skoda has added some high tech engineering elements to the model like the addition of an aluminium block which helps in weight reduction and the low-friction piston rings help in delivering power from the engine efficiently. The gearbox offered is a 7-speed DSG which is known for its sleek and quick gear shifts and the water-cooled turbo ensures that there is no lack of power to the car. The power is channelled to all four wheels of the Octavia vRS and Skoda has used an improved design coupled with the use of low-friction oil and refined internals which help in adding more performance to the Octavia vRS. In fact, the piston pump is also revamped and is now driven by a brushless DC electric motor integrated with a control unit which enhances the lifespan of the clutch.
From the outside, there are no visual differentiators to recognise it as the diesel version and all three models with the different powertrain options i.e. the petrol, diesel and hybrid look exactly the same. The trademark double-slat radiator grille is integrated with a lower air diffuser and the air curtains over the fog lamps help improve the visual bulk from the front. In the rear, the black aero flaps with the diffuser and a subtle boot lip give a very sporty look. The inclusion of chrome exhaust with the vRS badging gives it a head-turner outlook for sure. For the United Kingdom market, the Octavia vRS price starts at GBP 32,600 meanwhile the petrol version’s price range starts from around GBP 34,600.