New Skoda Octavia vRS iV: hot PHEV priced from £35,020
New 242bhp plug-in option arrives alongside petrol and diesel options, promising 39 miles of EV range
Skoda has detailed UK pricing and specifications for the new Octavia vRS iV plug-in hybrid ahead of order books opening on 3 November.
Prices for the PHEV option - Skoda's most potent vRS model yet - start from £35,020 for the hatchback and £36,220 for the estate. Powered by a 1.4-litre TSI turbo petrol engine mated to a 114bhp electric motor for a combined system output of 242bhp (identical to the petrol vRS) and 295lb ft, the iV achieves a 0-62mph time of 7.3sec and a top speed of 152mph. Skoda claims that an increased torque output over the 2.0-litre petrol car means the iV takes 2.2 less seconds to sprint from 50mph to 70mph.
As is usually the case with plug-in hybrids, the iV also significantly improves upon its range-mates' consumption figures, with the estate capable of between 176.6 and 235.4mpg, and the saloon managing between 176.6mpg and 256.8. CO2missions are put at between 26 and 36g/km, depending on spec.
The hybrid's 13kWh battery pack is good for a WLTP-certified 39 miles of electric-only range, and can be fully charged in 3.5 hours at a 3.6kW charger.
The conventionally powered models, meanwhile, use the same powertrains as their respective Volkswagen Golf GTI and Golf GTD siblings.
UK order books will open on Tuesday 27 October for the 242bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol version with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox (DSG). The diesel version will follow at a later date. Both the hatch and estate body shapes will be available at launch, with prices starting at £31,495 and £32,695 respectively.
The petrol unit will eventually be offered with a six-speed manual gearbox as well.
The diesel uses a 197bhp 2.0-litre engine, which is DSG-equipped only. Both variants can be optionally had with an on-demand four-wheel drive system. No performance or economy details have been released as yet.
Revealed in both hatchback and estate forms, the fourth generation of the hot Octavia receives typical vRS design cues, including 19in alloy wheels, twin tailpipes, a wider front bumper, a black grille, air curtains and rear apron that includes a black diffuser. Black door mirrors also feature and the hatch gains a black rear spoiler, although the estate’s is body coloured.
Black wheels hide red-finished brake calipers, while full-LED matrix headlights and LED tail-lights are standard.
Upgrades inside include Alcantara vRS-branded seats that are electrically adjustable and heated for both driver and front passenger. The headlining and dashboard trim features Alcantara as well, and there are aluminium pedals.
Contrasting stitching for the sports steering wheel and seats aims to liven up the cabin, as does LED ambient lighting with 10 colours and the option of assigning different colours to the dashboard or footwell or creating “coordinated light scenarios”.
Further standard equipment includes a 10.0in touchscreen infotainment system running Skoda’s latest ‘always online’ MIB3 interface and offering a variety of connected services. A 10.0in Virtual Cockpit digital instrument display also features, as does adaptive cruise control, tri-zone climate control, an electric tailgate, front and rear parking sensors and keyless entry.
The Octavia vRS is fitted with retuned ‘signature vRS’ sports suspension, which (on petrol and diesel versions only) lowers the car by 15mm compared with the standard model. Progressive steering is standard, too.
The UK is the second-largest global market for the vRS, which accounts for 20% of all Octavias sold.
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