Skoda has confirmed it will reveal the all-new Octavia vRS at the 2020 Geneva motor show. Often complimented for offering a spritely driving experience akin to that of the Volkswagen Golf GTI but in a more practical and less expensive package, Skoda’s Octavia vRS should continue to do the same in its next-generation form – with one caveat.
That’s because alongside the announcement that the car will be revealed at the Geneva motor show, it’s also been confirmed that the new Octavia vRS will feature a plug-in hybrid powertrain for the first time. Due to its technical similarities with the all-new Golf, it’s likely that the new Octavia vRS will borrow the new GTE’s 242bhp plug-in powertrain that combines a 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor.
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In the Golf, power is sent to the front wheels via a seven-speed DSG, which we expect will be the same for this Octavia vRS. Skoda has not confirmed whether the Octavia vRS will also be available with pure petrol or high-specification diesel engines as in the previous version, but as the company has not shied away from offering a variety of powertrains under the vRS badge before, we suspect other powertrains will also be available in time.
Elsewhere, expect the usual combination of vRS additions to the Octavia’s fresh styling, giving the aesthetic a more aggressive yet still understated look. The interior, meanwhile, should also pick up new seats, plenty of contrasting stitching and a sportier steering wheel.
Although complexity and therefore weight will doubtlessly rise with the new plug-in hybrid form, we look forward to finding out whether Skoda is able to correlate a hybrid powertrain with the vRS’s performance aspirations. Full details will be revealed closer to the model’s Geneva motor show preview, with sales in the UK to kick off later in the year.
