Skoda unveils new Octavia vRS

Skoda has unveiled the vRS version of the new Octavia which will be officially launched at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July before going on sale in August. Both hatchback and estate versions will be available and prices are expected to start at around £23,000.

There will be two engines available - a 2.0 TSI with 220PS and a 2.0 TDI with 184PS - both with six-speed manual gearboxes. The TSI version accelerates from 0-62mph in 6.8 seconds with a top speed of 154mph making it the fastest Octavia model ever. The TDI does the same 0-62mph in 8.1 seconds.

As well as having more power, the new engines are also more economical, around 20 per cent compared to the previous vRS, thanks to start/stop and brake energy regeneration. There is also a DSG automatic available as an option.

The TSI version accelerates from 0-62mph in 6.8 seconds with a top speed of 154mph making it the fastest Octavia model ever.

To go with its sporting nature the vRS gets sports suspension and has been lowered by 12mm plus it has the impressive XDS electronic differential as standard. This system cleverly brakes the inside wheels in corners, making the car feel more agile and meaning less steering lock is required. It also has new electro-mechanical progressive steering.

To make it stand out from the standard model, the vRS gets honeycomb design air intakes, a bespoke front bumper and fog lights along with xenon headlights. At the back there's a diffuser and trapezoidal exhaust pipes. It gets 17-inch alloys as standard but there are 18-inch and 19-inch wheels available as options. The 18-inch wheels come in silver and anthracite while the 19-inch in black. Inside there are vRS sports seats and a three-spoke steering wheel with perforated leather.