Skoda Laura vRS: First Drive

Reading novels was never my thing, however there are always some narratives which become an absolute must read. For me it was “The strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”. Ever since I read it in my younger days I was completely besotted by it. The whole notion regarding the split personality bit wherein within the same person there are two distinct personalities had me captivated to no end. In fact the novels impact is such that it has become a part of the language, with the phrase “Jekyll and Hyde” coming to mean a person who is vastly different in moral character from one situation to the next.

But my reference here is not a person but the all new Skoda Laura vRS. Now before we delve into the cars character lets take a look at a little vRS history. The Skoda Octavia became a popular car since its inception, however it was the diesel sold in higher numbers primarily because the petrol motor wasn’t upto the mark. That’s when Skoda unleashed the Octavia with the magical vRS badge. With a stonking 1.8 litre turbocharged mill pumping out 150 PS, stiffer suspension set-up and a hot looking body-kit, the vRS was the enthusiasts dream. While there were other fast cars too, none were as focused as this Skoda. With the new Laura taking the older Octavia’s place there were a lot of people awaiting the vRS badge. And although a little late, it’s finally here.

The Laura in TSI guise was already a brilliant car and now in vRS trim it’s even better than brilliant. While there is good news as far as the exteriors and interiors are concerned the news on the engine is…well, good and bad. Skoda haven’t touched the engine at all so those expecting the 2.0 TSI with the superb DSG gearbox will be disappointed, however, the 1.8 TSI unit was an exceptional engine in the first place and hence its not a bad thing either. In fact the standard Laura TSI looked a little to staid for that engine. Now in the vRS avatar it finally has the show to match the go.

To add to the show, the Laura vRS now comes with a sportier front bumper with an integrated lip spoiler which comes with fog lights of a different design as well. There are also the twin spoke alloys which look absolutely fab. Then there is the boot spoiler which is a must for a car with any sort of sporty intentions. The exhaust tips too are now polished twin pipes and definitely look the part.

Step inside and you are welcomed by premium Alcantara-leather seats. The seats fit you like a glove and almost feel like racing seats. Colors of the trim are now different but the best bit are the sporty pedals which totally justify the cars sporty pretensions. However what is missing is the vRS logo on that slick looking gear lever. Other than that you get all the run of the mill features that you get in the standard car. One feature that is sorely missed are the steering mounted controls which is shocking considering even hatchbacks have it nowadays.

 
Twist the key and the engine just hums to life softly. In fact it’s so refined that one literally has to look at the rev counter to notice if the engine is running or not. With the amount technology infused in it, this is definitely one of the best 4-cylinder engines available here in India. Why you ask? Well for starters it features stratified direct fuel injection which unlike normal fuel injections sprays the fuel directly into the cylinder and not into the intake manifold. The result is not only better performance but also way better efficiency and reduced emission levels at low load. And then to add to that you also have variable valve timing accompanied by turbocharging. Phew!

Shift that super slick lever into first, build up the revs and then dig that beautiful accelerator into the carpet. What follows is acceleration so intense that you are pushed back into the seat as the ASR (anti-slip regulation) struggles to keep the screeching tyres in check. Heavy showers and wet roads did not really help our launches with the vRS hitting the ton in 9.2 seconds. In better conditions this beast will easily manage mid eight second times. While brisk acceleration was expected, it’s the drivability that astounds you. In any gear as long as above 1800 rpm, the Laura simply surges ahead relentless alacrity.

But when you choose to cruise, the vRS immediately changes character. That’s where the Jekyll and Hyde bit comes into play. One moment it’s as calm and composed as Dr. Jekyll but get it into the zone and you have a snarling angry Mr. Hyde who takes no prisoners. The super stiff suspension will make sure you go around corners like you are literally on rails. On a set of twistys with a smooth black-top this Skoda will decimate absolutely any of its competition. If you notice, I mentioned smooth, because if it is anything other than smooth then be prepared to have to have your teeth shattered. The ride is really that stiff. Driving on bad roads which makes up for a majority here in India, the vRS feels like a pogo stick but without any suspension and hence one really has to baby it over bumps.

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At Rs.15.20 lakh the vRS is about Rs. 2 lakh more expensive than the Ambiente TSI version. While you do not necessarily get more equipment, Skoda has made sure that the focus on performance differentiates it well enough from the standard car. And then there are the colours. The Sprint Yellow that you see in our pictures and the Race Blue that is also available looks simply stunning. If it’s a performance car that you are looking for and do not want any compromise on that front, the vRS has no equally especially in that price bracket. From fiction to fact, this Skoda is truly a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde on wheels.