Four months after the debut of the plug-in hybrid model, Skoda has released full details of the conventional diesel and petrol variants of its Octavia RS performance mid-size liftback and wagon.
As with the outgoing model, the petrol will be the sole variant to make the trip Down Under.
Those familiar with the new Volkswagen Golf GTI will find few surprises in the petrol-powered hot Octavia’s powertrain: a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder sending 180kW of power and 370Nm of torque to the front wheels.
Six-speed manual and seven-speed dual-clutch ‘DSG’ automatic transmissions are on offer, both routing drive through a limited-slip front differential. Skoda claims a 6.7-second 0-100km/h sprint time for both liftback and wagon bodystyles, toward a 250km/h top speed.
Opt for the diesel, and power comes a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder shared with the Golf GTD producing 147kW of power and 400Nm of torque. Drive is sent to the front or all wheels through a seven-speed DSG – with the latter layout optioned, the diesel RS will complete the 0-100km/h dash in 6.8 seconds and achieve an identical 250km/h top speed.
Variable steering and 15mm-lower sports suspension are fitted to both models as standard, with adaptive dampers available as an option.
Visual differences inside and out compared to the hybrid are few and far between. Both variants sport the same array of sporty styling cues first unveiled with the RS iV in March, consisting of more aggressive bumpers, 18-inch alloy wheels (optionally 19s), unique LED fog lights, dual exhaust outlets and red accents on the body and brake calipers.
Inside, drivers look through a leather-wrapped, flat-bottomed steering wheel into a standard-fit 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, complemented by a 10-inch infotainment touchscreen. The sports seats are trimmed in Alcantara, as are the door cards and dashboard.
The petrol and diesel-fueled 2021 Skoda Octavia are now available to order in Europe. The 180kW petrol model will touch down in Australia first in dual-clutch wagon form in the first quarter of 2021, with the liftback to follow later in the year.
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