The Skoda RS range acts as a valuable attraction for the brand’s customers who are carried away by the most emotional component when purchasing a new car. Not in vain, in the last five years, sales and sportier finishes of Skoda -RS, Monte Carlo and Sportline- have multiplied by six, which now account for one in every four deliveries of the brand in Spain.
The evolution of the design and the qualitative leap of the Czech brand of the Volkswagen group have decisively influenced the success of an RS range that arrived in 2001 with the Octavia RS and that in recent years has been expanded with the Kodiaq, the Enyaq RS and, in competition, the Fabia RS Rally 2.
When we talk about a perfect garage, we often think of having a car to move around in the usual daily trips and another sports car to enjoy on those special occasions when we want more emotions.
That spirit, precisely, is what Skoda captures in its RS models. It is about uniting both concepts in a single model, and offering cars with which to move daily with the performance and sensations of a sports car with the best possible compromise between performance, quality and price.
“One of the pillars of the brand’s growth in Spain is the increase in sales of sportier vehicles or those with this type of high-end finishes, which also helps to raise our brand image,” explains Fidel Jiménez de Parga. , general director of Skoda Spain. “Having the entire RS range in Spain is very special for us, especially taking into account the link with competition that the brand has in general and especially in our country.”
The current RS range includes the Octavia and Octavia Combi RS models, as well as the Kodiaq RS SUV and the all-electric Enyaq Coupé RS. These sports models are an example of the synergies between competition and vehicle production.
The Octavia RS, which appeared in 2000, had a 1.8T engine with a power of 180 HP, a sports suspension and a striking rear spoiler. Initially it was offered as a sedan, and two years later the Combi version was launched. Since then, it has also been offered in RS versions of the two body variants of the Octavia.
Skoda is currently marketing the fourth generation since 2020 with the 2.0 TSI engine based on the Octavia RS 245 of the previous generation. The development of the engine focused on maintaining its dynamic characteristics and a maximum power of 245 HP. And at the same time make it more efficient.
In 2018, Skoda presented the Kodiaq RS, the first SUV in the RS family, with a diesel engine with a power of 240 HP. The car demonstrated its sporting ambitions at the time by setting a lap record for seven-seater SUVs on the legendary Nürburgring circuit.
Since the technology of this SUV was modernized in 2021, the Kodiaq RS is even sportier and more efficient; Its current 2.0 TSI gasoline engine has a power of 245 HP and weighs 60 kilograms less than its predecessor.
The Enyaq and Enyaq Coupé RS head the Czech brand’s current model range and offer extensive standard equipment, including the Crystal Face with 131 LED lights that illuminate the vertical ribs of the Skoda grille, as well as a horizontal light strip .
They have two electric motors and all-wheel drive to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 6.5 seconds, with a maximum speed of 180 km/h.
Both 100% electric variants have a range of more than 500 kilometers in the WLTP cycle. The maximum charging power of 135 kW allows for faster charging at compatible charging points.
The RS Lounge and RS Suite trims are available for the interior of both Enyaqs. The black seats of the RS Lounge trim are upholstered in Suedia microfiber and feature lime-colored piping and stitching that contrasts with the upholstery. On the dashboard, black Suedia microfiber with decorative stitching is also used.
In its current configuration, the Fabia RS Rally2 commemorates the successes of the 130 RS and returns the legendary letter combination to the rally stages. This season, José Antonio “Cohete” Suárez and Alberto Iglesias Pin, aboard their Fabia RS Rally2, have won the Spanish Rally Super Championship, the brand title for Skoda, and the Spanish Gravel Rally Cup, thus certifying the competitive spirit of this model.
And to take advantage of the momentum, Skoda has launched the “Corner RS” in the brand’s dealerships. We are talking about a space dedicated exclusively to this sports range, already present in 60% of the establishments along with the firm’s renewed corporate image. An update that is also seen in the RS logo, evolved with the introduction of electrified options such as PHEV or 100% electric with the characteristic lime green color.
