Following Skoda’s confirmation the new plug-in Octavia vRS will be revealed at the 2020 Geneva motor show, it has now given us a taste of what we’re likely to see with a set of sketches by Skoda’s design team. And the news is good if you were fond of the previous model’s subtlety.
The design is built on the new Octavia’s sharp new surfacing, revealing a somewhat more aggressive nose with dark detailing and a new mesh finish below the classic slatted grille. The five-spoke wheels (which are obviously oversized in these designer-centric images), skirts and rear bumper are also fresh, with the trademark full-width reflector and oblong rear exhaust finishers.
Subscribe to evo magazine
Skoda has also 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.
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.
