And Skoda joins the rush with hybrid Octavia vRS

THE new Golf GTI isn’t the only new hot hatchback from the Volkswagen Group. Skoda has revealed a brand new Octavia vRS, which features a plug-in hybrid powertrain for the very first time.

Available as both hatchback and estate (pictured), the new car is called the vRS iV and is powered by a 1.4-litre four-cylinder engine and a 113bhp electric motor.

It’s the same powertrain as the new Golf GTE, with 242bhp and 400Nm, while CO2 emissions could be as low as 30g/km.

As well as that CO2 figure, Skoda claims that this hot Octavia is capable of 0-62mph in 7.3 seconds and a top speed of 139mph. And that’s all while being able to cover 37 miles on electric power only – just as long as you can keep the car’s 13kWh battery pack fully topped up.

Skoda has also confirmed that the sports suspension on the new vRS is set 15mm lower than the standard car’s, and the steering gets a unique tune.

This is not the only vRS variant of the new Octavia planned, either; both petrol and diesel versions are scheduled too, but these will be revealed at a later date.

Elsewhere, the latest Octavia vRS gets a sporty visual transformation. It has a bodykit with new, aggressive cuts, and air vents with gloss black surrounds, a new front bumper, rear diffuser and roof spoiler, while wheels of up to 19 inches can be specified. Full LED-matrix headlights come as standard, as do LED tail-lights.

In the cabin, the Octavia vRS is fitted with Alcantara-trimmed sports seats, while the dashboard and headlining are also lined in the same material, and two 10-inch screens – one behind the steering wheel and a central display – take care of both the instrumentation and the infotainment.

The new vRS will be launched in the UK this autumn. Prices for the plug-in iV version are likely to start from £32,000, and it will be positioned as the most expensive version of the new Octavia vRS trio.

“Octavia vRS iV will do 0-62mph in 7.3 seconds, and can cover 37 miles on electric power alone”