What's the news?
Skoda may have disappointed us by giving the rather sweet Fabia RS the bullet, but it's making amends by bringing us this, the most powerful, quickest Octavia yet - the RS230.
Basically, it's an Octavia RS with the same tweaks as you get on the Performance Pack version of the VW Golf GTI. Power climbs from 220hp to 230hp but the real addition is the limited slip differential for the front wheels, which dramatically improves traction and cornering ability.
The top speed of the RS230 will be pegged at 250km/h (should you fancy a holiday in Germany this year...) while the 0-100km/h run is despatched in 6.7 seconds. No confirmed prices yet, but Skoda is suggesting that it will cost from around €36,500 and will come with 19-inch alloys, new sports seats and a balked-out styling kit as standard.
Raymond Leddy, Head of Marketing for Skoda Ireland commented: "Many of us would love to drive a sporty, high performance vehicle but are disinclined to do so because we assume they are impractical, costly and expensive to run. The Octavia RS has always enjoyed a unique proposition discounting these myths. The car offers exceptional luggage and interior spaciousness and fuel economy from just 6.4 litres/100km (44 mpg)."