Skoda will be adding 15 candles to the vRS birthday cake this year to celebrate the 15 years of vRS performance models in the UK. Both the Fabia and Octavia have received the vRS treatment through the years and it was latter that started the new product range in 2001. 20% of Skoda models sold in the UK are vRS badged making it an important range for the brand.
Origins
The Octavia vRS Mk1 may look a bit tame and serious from the outside but don’t let that fool you. Look closely and you will see details which point towards its hot hatch capabilities such as bigger alloys, sportier bodykit and of course, a rear spoiler, a must-have on a hot hatch.
Under the bonnet was a 1.8 litre turbo-charged four-cylinder engine which produced 178bhp which made it the fastest hot hatch of its time with a top speed of 148mph. It was also the most expensive with a price of £15,535 – cheap by today’s hot hatch standards.
Hot hatches that didn't conform
2003 saw the introduction of the Fabia vRS Mk1 which was daring to say the least as Skoda chose to slot a turbo-charged diesel in the hatchback rather than a petrol which has been considered a necessity in hot hatches. The diesel had a capacity of 1.9 litres and from it came 128bhp which may sound tame but thanks to a torque figure of 310Nm it can certainly pull hard. The diesel makes the car more economical as well as it offered a claimed mpg figure of 53.3mpg.
The early models set a good benchmark and they still drive pretty well by today’s standard but I just wish they made the styling a bit sportier, they just look a bit drab in today’s world. The interior of the Fabia is not particularly exciting and is a bit dark.
The next car to roll off the vRS production line was the Mk2 version of the Octavia in 2005 and by this point the car was developed as a range of its own. It fitted a bigger engine than its predecessor, a 2.0 litre TSI unit which was mated with a six-speed manual and produced 200PS (197 bhp) – the first Skoda to do so. A special variant of the car still holds the Land Speed Record on the Bonneville Salt Flats with a speed of 227.080mph set in 2011.
For the Fabia vRS Mk2 the diesel engine was dropped and in its place was a 1.4 turbo petrol which offered 178bhp, not bad for a car of its size. Skoda also made changes to the gearbox, a paddle-shift DSG transmission was installed instead of a manual gearbox in what was another bold move from the Czech brand.
Present day
The Octavia vRS Mk3 has been with us since 2013 and offers plenty of choice for buyers, there are three engine options , two body styles plus the choice to have four-wheel drive. The 2.0 litre TSI petrol engine remains and is available in two outputs: 217bhp and 227bhp whilst the 2.0 TDI diesel offers 181bhp. Both the option of a manual and DSG gearbox can be selected giving greater flexibility for buyers.