The 2018 Skoda Octavia RS245 will kick off from AUD 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 AUD 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 245 Hp of power and
370 Nm 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 0-100 km/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 250 km/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 AUD 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 (AUD 1500) includes
heated front and rear seats, blind spot detection and lane assist.
Meanwhile, the Tech Pack (AUD 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 (AUD 1500 sedan, AUD 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 AUD 500.