The 2018 Skoda Octavia RS245 will kick off from $43,390 before on-road costs when it arrives in November, the company has confirmed.
Compared to the standard petrol-powered Octavia RS, the RS245 commands a $4500 premium. And, unlike the previous RS230 that came before it, the 245 is now a permanent member of the range. Fans will also note availability of both six-speed manual and seven-speed DSG automatic transmissions.
Under the bonnet is an uprated version of the standard car’s 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine – shared with the Volkswagen Golf GTI Performance Edition 1 – pumping out 180kW of power and 370Nm of torque.
Drive is sent to the front wheels via the aforementioned transmission options and a mechanical limited-slip front differential, also lifted from its Golf relative.
The RS245 is capable of sprinting from 0-100km/h in 6.6 seconds (or 6.7 seconds in wagon guise), 0.1 seconds quicker than the standard RS 169TSI, on its way to a top speed of 250km/h.
While full specifications are to be confirmed, some distinguishing features include black 19-inch ‘Xtreme’ alloy wheels (compared to the anthracite rims optional on the regular RS range), black exhaust tips and leather/Alcantara seat trim.
Carryover feature highlights from the standard RS petrol and diesel models include a 9.2-inch infotainment system with navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, adaptive LED headlights with LED daytime-running lights, LED tail-lights, red-painted brake calipers, front and rear parking sensors, selectable driving modes and a progressive steering weight system.
The ‘Luxury’ and ‘Tech’ option packages remain, though the former is $1300 cheaper than its lesser siblings – likely due to the inclusion of leather/Alcantara trim and electrically-adjustable front seats as standard equipment. Additional equipment in the Luxury Pack ($1500) includes heated front and rear seats, blind spot detection and lane assist.
Meanwhile, the Tech Pack ($2300) is the same deal as the wider RS range, adding niceties like park assist, adaptive chassis control, advanced keyless entry with smart start, a 10-speaker Canton audio system and maneuver braking assist.
Other options include a sunroof ($1500 sedan, $1700 wagon), while colour choices are limited to just four hues – Corrida Red, Steel Grey, Black Magic (pearl) and Moon White (metallic) – with premium paints asking for an additional $500.
Stay tuned for a launch review and full specifications run down at the RS245’s official launch in early November.
Note: Overseas photos shown. Thanks to Fred Bloggs for the tip!
2018 Skoda Octavia RS pricing
Sedan
169TSI manual – $38,890 ($41,990 drive-away)
169TSI DSG – $41,390 ($44,490 drive-away)
135TDI DSG – $42,490 ($45,590 drive-away)
RS245 manual – $43,390 ($46,490 drive-away)
RS245 DSG – $45,890 ($48,990 drive-away)
Wagon
169TSI manual – $40,390 ($43,490 drive-away)
169TSI DSG – $42,890 ($45,990 drive-away)
135TDI DSG – $43,990 ($47,090 drive-away)
RS245 manual – $44,890 ($47,990 drive-away)
RS245 DSG – $47,390 ($50,490 drive-away)
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