Latest news with #OctaviaRS
News18
6 hours ago
- Automotive
- News18
Skoda Octavia RS Set For India Comeback, Sports Sedan To Cost Over Rs 50 Lakh
Last Updated: The upcoming Octavia RS will arrive in India as a Completely Built Unit (CBU). Skoda India has officially announced that the much-awaited Octavia RS will be launched in India later this year. As per Autocar, Brand Director Ashish Gupta confirmed the return, saying, 'The Octavia RS is something that we will definitely bring to India this year." The performance sedan was first showcased at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo in January 2025. Fully Imported, Premium Pricing Expected Furthermore, it will be brought in as a Completely Built Unit (CBU). Due to import duties and taxes, the price is expected to exceed Rs 50 lakh (ex-showroom). Design The Octavia RS stands apart from the standard version with a more aggressive design. Key exterior highlights include: Blacked-out front grille Sporty front and rear bumpers Dual exhaust pipes Lip spoiler Standard 18-inch alloy wheels, with optional 19-inch rims Features Engine Specification Under the bonnet, the Octavia RS is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine. It produces an impressive 261 BHP and 370 Nm of torque. This is mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox for quick and smooth shifts.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Skoda India's ‘25 expansion roadmap: More dealerships, new launches & more
Skoda India's '25 expansion roadmap. Skoda Auto India has unveiled its growth strategy for 2025, laying out plans that span new product launches, dealership expansion, and enhanced customer services. As the brand celebrates 130 years globally and marks 25 years in India, it is gearing up to make 2025 its biggest year yet in the country. Here's a quick look at the company's expansion roadmap for the year. Skoda India's expansion roadmap: Key details As a major and important part of its expansion plans, the company aims to strengthen its presence beyond the metro cities by venturing into tier-II and tier-III markets. The carmaker currently operates in over 165 cities and plans to be present in more than 200 by the end of the year. The number of customer touchpoints is also set to grow - from 290 today to 350 by the end of 2025, up from 120 in 2021. Skoda Kylaq Real World Review Things To Know Before Buying | TOI Auto by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo Besides the existing portfolio which includes the likes of the Kushaq, Kodiaq, and latest Kylaq SUVs, the company is now looking to further strengthen its sedan portfolio with an upcoming global model - likely to be the Octavia RS. Skoda Auto India is also pushing ahead on alternate business channels. This includes boosting its certified pre-owned car business and focusing on segments like fleet sales, rural outreach, and government contracts. Furthermore, Skoda is working on making ownership simpler and more reassuring. For instance, Skoda Supercare now comes standard across all models, allowing customers to defer routine service costs until the second year or 30,000 km. In addition, there are comprehensive warranty options and service plans aimed at reducing the cost of ownership and increasing peace of mind.
Irish Times
23-04-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Times
Skoda's sporty Octavia RS is still the Farmer's Ferrari, but has it lost its edge?
The Skoda Octavia was something close to God-sent when it first arrived in 1998, at least as far as Irish drivers were concerned. Secure in the knowledge that it was essentially a VW Golf underneath (VW had bought out Skoda in the post-communist euphoria of a newly free Czechoslovakia) but equally knowing that it came with a bigger boot and a smaller price tag. Well frankly, what's not to like? The Octavia became an instant strong seller in Ireland, and popular with hard-working types. There's still a second-generation 2007 Octavia knocking around that has more than a million kilometres on its odometer, proving that with a little maintenance and care, a humble Skoda could threaten mighty Toyota when it came to longevity. When it came to fun, the Skoda Octavia was a more obvious threat. That first-generation Octavia RS has gone down in legend, becoming known as the Farmer's Ferrari. Last year, we had to wave goodbye to one branch of the Octavia RS, when the production of the diesel-engined version came to an end. READ MORE Even though it's probably a good thing, overall, that we're moving away from diesel (certainly good for air quality), it was impossible not to be beguiled by the Octavia RS TDI's mix of performance, practicality and parsimoniousness. It was also surprisingly sharp to drive, easily the equal of its cousin, the VW Golf GTI, and that was with the extra weight of the estate car version's bodywork hanging out the back. With diesel dead and the slightly odd, but good, plug-in hybrid RS on hiatus, it falls to this, the petrol-powered Octavia RS to fly the flag for fast farmers in the epoch of this latest Octavia. That makes it sound like a new car – it's not; it's more of a mild, but thorough, update of the car that became Ireland's third-best-selling model last year, proving that SUVs don't have a full stranglehold on the market. The updated Skoda Octavia RS has new styling at the front, with a revised grille and slightly deeper headlights The update brought with it new styling at the front, with a revised grille and new, slightly deeper headlights which are full of LED units for bright night-time driving (they come with automatic high beam dipping as well, of course). There are more new lights at the back, including scrolling LED indicators (possibly the most pointless piece of car equipment since 'gesture control'), while there are also new colour options. I would have loved the citrusy look of Mamba Green but the more subtle Race Blue of our test car still looks smart, especially with the 19-inch Elias alloy wheels. The 13-inch infotainment screen is carried over from the previous model, but the software which runs on it has been improved Inside, there have also been changes. The 13-inch infotainment screen is carried over, but the software which runs on it has been improved. That said, it's still occasionally frustrating to use, and it would help if Skoda copied across the little physical rotary controllers from the Superb and the Kodiaq. The high-back bucket front seats are very comfy, but the material used on the seats could be a bit nicer and more expensive-looking There are some new interior trim options, and the general feeling of quality has been given a boost so that the Octavia can now pretty easily bear comparison with Audi. The high-back bucket front seats, with their Bentley-esque diamond quilting, are very comfy, but the material used on the seats could be a bit nicer and more expensive-looking. As ever, there's loads of space in both front and back – four big adults can get comfy – and the 600-litre boot is simply massive (a comparable Golf GTI carries just 380 litres). To underline the legend of the Farmer's Ferrari, the Octavia RS has also had a power boost, bringing its 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder TSI engine up to the same 265hp as the Golf GTI, along with 370Nm of torque. The Octavia RS can reach 100km/h in a brisk 6.4 seconds All of that is passed through the front wheels (alas, there's no longer a four-wheel drive option) via a seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox (alas, alas, there's no manual option any more either) and the clever XDS electronic front differential (no alas needed as that's brilliant, and helps the Octavia RS sniff out extra grip and traction in slippery conditions). Thus equipped, the Octavia RS will scamper to 100km/h in a brisk 6.4 seconds, yet Skoda claims that it can average 7.0-litres per 100km fuel economy. We managed a little better than that on our test drive, proving that the Czechs rightly err on the side of caution with such calculations. So far, so predictable. A time of 6.4 seconds to 100km/h won't trouble any real Ferrari (well, not one made in this century anyway, although it's enough to mug a 1980s 308 GTB), but the Octavia is a classic hot hatch in that it's fast enough to be fun, but not so overpowered that you're going to be constantly hauled up before the local circuit court for vehicular naughtiness. However, there might be a problem. You see, the update for the Octavia comes on the heels of a similar round of updates for the VW Golf, what has been dubbed the Golf Mk8.5. In the Golf, those updates were transformative, turning it, and especially the GTI, from being a bit too dull to drive to a near-perfect blend of sharpness and sweetness, like a well-balanced lemon meringue pie. The Octavia RS is still an agile, quick, and enjoyable car to drive. It's just that some of the sharpness of old seems to have been turned down In the standard Octavia, the updates were solidly implemented but didn't make too massive a difference to a car that was already good. In the Octavia RS, though ... It's not that things have turned to dust or anything. The Octavia RS is still an agile, quick, and enjoyable car to drive. It's just that some of the sharpness of old seems to have been turned down. In some ways, that's not a problem. The RS rides comfortably (especially if you have fitted the optional €1,135 adaptive suspension dampers), even though the suspension has been lowered by 15mm for better handling and a more sporty feel. It's fairly quiet at a cruise, although tyre noise does intrude. And when you get it on a twisty road, it's responsive, sure-footed, and fun. It's just that it used to be more fun. That diesel estate Octavia RS I drove last year had the right blend of sharpness and comfort. This blue saloon version? It errs slightly too much towards comfort, and those are the words of a near-50-year-old bloke with a dicky back. So, is it still the one true Farmer's Ferrari? Yes, it is, and I would absolutely still love to have one as my daily car. However, this generation of the Octavia RS is just a touch less fun than the old one. Lowdown: Skoda Octavia RS Power: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine with 265hp and 370Nm of torque driving the front wheels through an eight-speed automatic gearbox. 0-100km/h: 6.4 secs. Emissions (motor tax): 159g/km (€280). Fuel consumption: 7.0l/100km (WLTP). Price: €57,818 as tested. Octavia from €32,150. Our rating: 3/5. Verdict: Still one of the most talented all-rounders you can buy, but a bit of the old sharpness has gone.
