Say Hello To The Cleaner And Greener 2020 Skoda Octavia RS iV!

• The Skoda Octavia RS iV’s hybrid powertrain develops 245PS and 400Nm.
• It does the 0-100kmph run in 7.3 seconds, 0.7 seconds slower than RS245.
• It features a progressive steering wheel and sports suspension for tauter handling.

Skoda enthusiasts, rejoice! There’s a new Octavia RS in town that claims to be cleaner and greener. Say hello to the 2020 Octavia RS iV, Skoda’s first-ever RS model with a hybrid powertrain.

The specifications of the Octavia RS iV are similar to the recently unveiled Mk8 2020 Golf GTE. The powertrain consists of a 150PS 1.4-litre TSI electric motor paired to an 115PS (85kW) electric motor. Combined output stands at an incredible 245PS of power and 400Nm of twist! While these figures are impressive, won’t the heavier motor and 13kWh battery pack blunt its performance when compared to the nail-bitingly quick RS245? 

Unfortunately, yes. The RS iV does the 0-100kmph run in 7.3 seconds, 0.7 seconds slower than the RS245. Even the top speed has been limited to 225kmph, which is 25kmph lower than the bonkers RS245. On the plus side though, the Octavia RS iV is capable of running 60km on pure electric power. This should help you win the hearts of your environmentally conscious friends down at the pub. Or wherever they hang out! 

The Octavia RS iV also comes with plenty of gizmos to play around with. There is a progressive steering for shaper and quicker turns while the sports suspension ensures that the car stays taut while attacking your favourite winding roads. 

 

In terms of design, the Octavia RS iV gets the typical RS treatment with plenty of sporty elements. For starters, all the chrome and shiny bits like the grille and windowline surround have been blacked out, giving it a stealthy look.  Then there’s the front bumper which comes with aggressive air dams and sleek LED fog lamps. In profile, the RS iV’s 18-inch blacked-out alloy wheels and the lowered ride height makes it look undecidedly sporty. Meanwhile, topping the list of updates is the rear bumpers with a black splitter and dual exhausts.  

Inside, the Octavia RS iV’s all-black dashboard comes with Alcantara finish with plenty of red inserts. It also comes with an RS-specific virtual cockpit and infotainment user interface. Other highlights include the sports seats which also come with Alcantara upholstery and vRS inserts. Drool-worthy, we’d say!

The Octavia RS iV is expected to go on sale in European markets soon after its debut. We expect Skoda India to offer the new Octavia RS alongside the 2020 Octavia as the go-faster Octy has a huge fan following in the country. But, what do you think of the new Octavia with its hybrid powertrain? Do you think it will dilute the RS experience? Let us know in the comments section below.