Skoda celebrates 20 years of the iconic vRS badge

The Mk1 Skoda Octavia vRS came with a bespoke chassis tuned by the brand's motorsport division.

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-run took place at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, USA.

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