The 262bhp Mk4 Skoda Octavia vRS is now a police car

Crims, meet your new nemesis: the recently facelifted Mk4 Škoda Octavia vRS, which is set for policing duties in a hood near you. And in case you’re sarcastically wowing behind your dark web-covered screen, we think it’s one of the best cars in the real world right now.

Powered by the same 2.0-litre four-pot found in the Mk8 Golf GTI, it’ll wolf you down with 262bhp and 273lb ft worth of blues and twos. That means 0-62 in 6.4s, and if you think the estate would be easier to evade, that’ll get there just one-tenth later. We can smell the fear already.

Škoda’s also ditched the option of a six-speed manual for the facelift, so a seven-speed DSG transmission is the sole offering. It means crims can’t even bank on dodgy gear changes from pursuers any more.

It’s also worth noting the police won’t be the only team using the new vRS. Škoda UK’s bespoke conversion service will also repurpose it for the ambulance, fire and rescue services too.

Getting an urge to transition from small-time felon to friendly neighbourhood, er, Škoda driver? You can grab yourself a hatch for £38,670 or an estate for £39,775.