Performance-spec Skoda Octavia RS to be launched in India with sedan's facelift soon

Skoda Auto India Private Limited is prepping for the product onslaught for the H2 of this year. The Czech carmaker has already listed its first seven-seater SUV, Kodiaq in India website. The Kodiaq launch will be followed by the market entry of face-lifted version of the Octavia.

Multiple reports indicate Skoda India will also launch performance-spec RS version of the Octavia along with the facelift version of the regular sedan. The company had unveiled 2017 Octavia RS in December which is the most powerful Octavia RS version ever built.

Also read: 4 upcoming Skoda cars in India in 2017

The new engine of the Octavia RS 2.0- litre TSI engine belts out 227bhp (up from 217bhp) and has a maximum torque of 350Nm at 1,500 to 4,600 rpm. The front-wheel drive sports model sprints from 0 to 100kmph in 6.7 seconds before reaching top speed of 250kmph.

The visual changes in the most potent avatar of the Octavia include wider radiator grille, large air intakes with honeycomb structure and redesigned bumper. The four full-LED split-styled headlights with Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS), as well as the LED side-mounted headlights are step up from the previous version. The rear is dominated by a black diffuser and red reflector lamp above. The new Octavia RS gets sporty black interior, RS-Sport seats, pedals in aluminium finish, and the entry panels bear the RS logo.

On the regular version, majority of the nip and tuck in the new Octavia is focused at its face. The sedan now comes with split headlight design resembling the Mercedes-Benz E-Class W212. The new headlight optionally comes with full LED technology that replaces the bi-xenon and LED daytime running lights combination of the pre-facelift version. The model also has restyled front bumper and fog lamps. How customers react to these changes on the face of the Octavia is something that remains to be seen.

The India-spec model will continue to draw power from 148bhp 1.4 TSI and 178bhp 1.8 TSI petrol engines and 142bhp 2.0 TDI diesel engine. Apart from the standard six-speed manual transmission with both engines, the petrol mill will be offered in seven-speed DSG and diesel mill in six-speed DSG.