Skoda has taken the wraps off its facelifted Octavia vRS, which brings new styling plus a lower ride height and extra power for the petrol version.

The facelifted Skoda Octavia vRS

Revealed just weeks after the standard version, the latest vRS gains the same updated front-end plus four full-LED headlights with Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS) as well as LED side-mounted headlights. Depending on the market, 17-inch wheels are available as standard, while 18 and 19-inch wheels are available as an option.

The interior brings vRS detailing including the sport seats, which are now available in Alcantara as well as leather/fabric. Skoda ‘Simply-Clever’ solutions include an umbrella under the passenger seat and a removable LED lamp in the boot of the estate.

Engine line-up brings a power boost for the 2.0-litre TSI petrol, which rises 10hp to 230hp, making it the most powerful and fastest series-production model in the history of the Skoda Octavia. The front-wheel drive model completes the 0 to 100kph sprint in 6.7 seconds (previously 6.8s) and has a top speed of 250kph. This engine comes with a manual six-speed gearbox, with a six-speed DSG as an option, and has an official combined fuel consumption of 6.5l/100km with 149g/km for the manual.

Diesel output remains unchanged at 184hp and the vRS 2.0 TDI is available either with front-wheel drive (manual or six-speed DSG) or four-wheel drive and 6-speed DSG. For the front-wheel drive manual version, official combined fuel consumption is 62.8mpg with 119g/km.

Chassis changes see the latest vRS gain a 15mm lower sports suspension while the rear track is 30mm wider. The vRS also offers progressive steering, Performance Mode Select with Performance Sound Generator (option), the stability program ESC with electronic cross barrier XDS+ and Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) with a choice of Comfort, Normal or Sport modes.

As with the standard Octavia, the vRS gains latest-generation infotainment systems, with capacitive touch displays designed in glass. The top version is the navigation system Columbus with a 9.2-inch monitor, WLAN hotspot and optional LTE module.

The vRS also offers a wider range of driver assistance systems. New features include Trailer Assist, Blind Spot Detect and Rear Traffic Alert, which monitors side and rear traffic when leaving a parking space. It also offers a Crew Protect Assist, which closes windows and sunroofs in the event of an imminent accident, tightens driver and passenger seatbelts and works in conjunction with the improved Front Assist including city emergency braking and predictive pedestrian protection.