[RahulNagaraj]

Skoda is celebrating 20 years since their first vRS-badged car was introduced in the UK. The first Skoda to wear the iconic vRS badge was the Octavia, introduced back in 2001.



The Mk1 Skoda Octavia vRS came with a bespoke chassis tuned by the brand's motorsport division. It featured a 1.8-litre turbocharged engine producing 178 BHP, making it the most powerful production model from the Czech brand at the time. It was also the fastest, capable of reaching a top speed of 146 mph (235 km/h).

The first-gen model was on sale till 2005, before the introduction of the Mk2 Octavia vRS. The second-generation model came with an even larger 2.0-litre engine producing 197 BHP, capable of a higher top speed as well.

This Mk2 Octavia vRS was even heavily modified in 2011, registering a new land speed record of 227.080 mph (365.44 km/h). The record was registered at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, USA.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfA6-SGBpp8

The Skoda Octavia vRS is currently in its fourth-generation iteration. However, Skoda has over the last 20 years also introduced other models in its 'vRS' range. This includes the Fabia vRS hatchback and the more recent Kodiaq vRS SUV.

With the brand now moving towards electrification, the company also offers the Octavia vRS iV. The electrified vRS model uses a hybrid drivetrain system, offering an electric-only range of 38 miles (61 km).

The Skoda vRS models gained immense popularity in a short span. The vRS versions of the standard models became a tempting VFM proposition for enthusiasts, offering high levels of performance at an affordable price point.

The Mk1 Skoda Octavia vRS was introduced even in the Indian market, back in 2004. It came with the same specifications as its European counterpart and was priced at around Rs 13.50 lakh. Skoda even introduced the Laura vRS a couple of years later, which also had a similarly affordable price tag.

Source: JCBGroup

Link to Team-BHP news

[venkyhere]

Want to see the underbody of that Bonneville car - how flat has the underbody been made.

[GTO]

An icon indeed . I still remember my first drive in the '04 Octavia vRS - you can read mine & Navin's review here (just for the sake of nostalgia, if nothing else ). Truly value for money, f-a-s-t & among the best executions of a "sportier" variant on a regular car. IMHO, the 1st-gen Octavia vRS is still a deadly classic, the 2nd-gen (Laura) vRS was lukewarm, but boy did they get their groove back with the 3rd-gen.



Let's see what the 4th-gen holds. Not easy to continuously support such initiatives & roll out one fast vRS after another. Even parent company VW doesn't do a 'vRS' of its Jetta.

[Axe77]

I don’t know if its me but that silver Mark 1 still looks the handsomest of the four.

One limiter with the VRS is that ultimately it will always NOT be a RWD car. And therefore even a 330i will always hold the dynamic edge over it. With its price flirting in nodding distance of 3 series territory, it will always have its work cut out even in the enthusiastic segment.

[Eshan Joshi]

I think this is the best way the discribe the vRS brand:

It’s this unique Swiss army knife approach that has served vRS models so well over the past two decades. While rivals have become ever more focused on driver thrills at the expense of day-in and day-out habitability, Skoda has stuck to its guns in providing quick and capable cars that won’t break the bank, are usefully discreet and can turn their wheels to almost anything.

Twenty years on, its vRS brand remains as popular and relevant as ever, and the only laughs are from owners who have cottoned on to one of the most affordable and adaptable fast family cars out there.

For More:
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/f...orts-car-brand

[sea_eagle]

It was a weekend and I just got the 'old_yellow_lady' from a regular service. I was itching to test a new prime lens (135mm F2) I had purchased. So, I did a small photo shoot of my VRS.

About the ride: Mine is a 2004 VRS; The previous owner had modified the engine to a Stage 2 remap. I have been using it for little over a year now. Every time I take the car out for a spin, which is mostly on weekends, it puts a smile on my face