Photo: Skoda
Because Ford defended the right to use the RS name for cars sold in Britain, Skoda had to add a v for victory at the beginning. Thus, the 15th anniversary of the vRS is unique to the UK.
Right, it's time for the history lesson. The first Skoda vRS model sold in the isles was a 2001 Octavia that became available from a very reasonable £15,535. Yes, Skodas were a lot cheaper back then, but not as powerful.
Back then, an average Octavia vRS came with a 1.8-liter 20-valve engine producing 180 horsepower. At that time, this was the most powerful and the fastest car they sold.
A couple of years later, they made something else. While the Polo GTI of the time had a 1.8-liter turbo as well, Skoda gave its first vRS Fabia a diesel engine.
We still remember how First Gear magazine, a much younger Tiff Needel to be precise, compared the 130 horsepower 1.9 TDI of the Fabia against the naturally aspirated 1.6-liter of the MINI Cooper. At 310 Nm, the Skoda had twice the torque of its UK-made rival car. We think that car was ahead of its time in many ways.
The generation that followed after... was not so great. Volkswagen engineers believed the 1.4 TSI was the future of EVERYTHING. With a supercharger, turbocharger, and standard DSG gearbox, the 2010 to 2013 Fabia vRS was horrible. It also looked kind of tall and handled accordingly. The only redeeming feature we can think of was its availability as a wagon.
Right now, the only vRS model you can buy anywhere in the world is the Octavia. The model launched in 2013 has more versions than ever. There are two kinds of engines available, a petrol and a diesel one, a high-performance 230 hp model and two gearbox choices.
Starting this year, the Octavia vRS 2.0 TDI can also be ordered with Skoda's AWD system. Not surprisingly, 20% of all Octavias sold in the UK are vRS badged.
Back then, an average Octavia vRS came with a 1.8-liter 20-valve engine producing 180 horsepower. At that time, this was the most powerful and the fastest car they sold.
A couple of years later, they made something else. While the Polo GTI of the time had a 1.8-liter turbo as well, Skoda gave its first vRS Fabia a diesel engine.
We still remember how First Gear magazine, a much younger Tiff Needel to be precise, compared the 130 horsepower 1.9 TDI of the Fabia against the naturally aspirated 1.6-liter of the MINI Cooper. At 310 Nm, the Skoda had twice the torque of its UK-made rival car. We think that car was ahead of its time in many ways.
The generation that followed after... was not so great. Volkswagen engineers believed the 1.4 TSI was the future of EVERYTHING. With a supercharger, turbocharger, and standard DSG gearbox, the 2010 to 2013 Fabia vRS was horrible. It also looked kind of tall and handled accordingly. The only redeeming feature we can think of was its availability as a wagon.
Right now, the only vRS model you can buy anywhere in the world is the Octavia. The model launched in 2013 has more versions than ever. There are two kinds of engines available, a petrol and a diesel one, a high-performance 230 hp model and two gearbox choices.
Starting this year, the Octavia vRS 2.0 TDI can also be ordered with Skoda's AWD system. Not surprisingly, 20% of all Octavias sold in the UK are vRS badged.
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