The new Skoda Octavia RS 245, as its name suggests, delivers 245bhp – this is 15bhp more than the power offered by the previous top-of-the-range RS variant. The powerful engine and innovative chassis technology, including the electronically regulated VAQ limited-slip differential, offer the ultimate driving experience. The compact powerhouse is available as a hatchback or an estate, and accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in just 6.6 seconds (Combi: 6.7 seconds), with its top speed limited to 250km/h.
As is usual for a modern Skoda, the car features a spacious interior and luggage compartment. In addition, the latest driver assistance systems are also available for the car. Using the infotainment system, the occupants can be “always online” thanks to the optional Wi-Fi hotspot and LTE module. Numerous “Simply Clever” features are further testimony to the compact car’s practical talents.
The Octavia RS 245 features the new face of the Skoda brand and has particularly sporty design details. The completely new front section with wider radiator grille and the wide honeycomb air inlets in the redesigned bumper provide the car with a masculine and dynamic appearance. The slats on the radiator grille and the trim that frames the radiator grille both come in gloss-black. The redesigned headlight clusters in a crystalline look feature full-LED technology and AFS adaptive front headlights as standard. The foglights, tail-lights and number plate illumination also feature LED technology and a crystalline appearance.
The exterior mirror housings and the trapezoid tailpipes are also black. The radiator grille and the tailgate both sport the RS logo featuring a gloss-black “V” (for victory). Features such as the spoiler at the back of the hatchback or roof spoiler on the Combi are further attributes of the car’s emotive and sporty design. The car can also be recognised acoustically as a high-performance sportster, thanks to the husky sound of its exhaust system.
The sporty look again dominates in the interior, which has also been designed largely in black – from the roof lining to the footwell, including the latter’s silver-coloured pedals with an aluminium finish. With their high sides and integrated headrests, the Alcantara sports seats provide maximum support in fast corners. The front seats bear the RS logo, as do the front door sills. The multi-functional sports steering wheel with perforated leather and integrated steering wheel paddles (for DSG transmission) matches the car’s dynamic ambience. The LED ambient lighting in the RS-245-specific decorative trims immerses the interior in one of the 10 choices of colours. A colour Maxi-DOT display forms part of the instrument cluster.
The top-of-the-range Octavia model has a 245bhp 4-cylinder TSI petrol engine under its bonnet – that’s 15bhp more than its predecessor had to offer. Maximum torque of 370Nm is achieved between 1600rpm and 4300 rpm. There is a choice of a 6-speed manual gearbox or, for the first time in an Octavia, a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.
From a standing start, the hatchback reaches 100 km/h in 6.6 seconds, while the Combi does it in 6.7 seconds. In addition, the engine’s flexibility is particularly impressive. When accelerating quickly in the two highest gears on a country road or motorway, the top-end Octavia instantly delivers power.
Skoda used the abbreviation RS for the first time in motorsport in 1974. In 2000, the synonym of sportiness entered the Skoda model range and marked the beginning of the success story. 200,000 RS models have been sold to date – a whopping 100,000 of which are third-generation Octavias, sold since 2013. 
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