What's the news?
Fans of fast but practical cars, rejoice! For Skoda has seen fit to upgrade the sporting Octavia RS with the same set of performance extras that go into the Performance Pack versions of its cousin, the Golf GTI.
So the 2.0-litre TSI turbo petrol engine is boosted from 220hp to 230hp. That doesn't sound like much, but as a well-known supermarket chain says, every little helps. Of rather more import is the electronic front diff, which not only pulls the car tighter into fast corners but, certainly from our experience in the Golf PP, it also brings much more feel and feedback to the steering. We'll have to see if it has the same effect in the Octavia, but either way it can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 6.7 seconds with a top speed of 250km/h. Features, in addition to the rest of the RS range, include the Black design package (black glossy door mirrors, grill and roof rails for the combi), black glossy exhaust tailpipe, a sports exhaust tailpipe with a sports sound, 19-inch "Xtreme" alloy wheels with a black glossy finish and a black grid on the bumper.
Inside, the car gets a special black leather interior, a colour Maxi Dot display with a Lap Timer, a three-spoke Supersport multi-function steering wheel with controls for the phone and radio and in DSG models, there are paddle shifters behind the wheel. It also features electronically controlled front seats, with a memory function. The RS 230 has a starting price of €35,995 for the hatchback model with a six-speed manual gearbox and €37,095 for the Combi version - which is the one we'd have.