This is the most powerful Skoda Octavia ever

Fast estates aren’t just for the reasonably wealthy. If you lust after a Mercedes-AMG E63 Estate or Audi RS6, but do not have the means to buy one, Skoda has you covered. 

This is the facelifted Octavia vRS in high-power vRS 245 form, its name denoting the 242bhp produced by its 2.0-litre turbocharged engine.

That’s 15bhp up on the car it replaces, the vRS 230, making this the most powerful Octavia ever. Doesn't seem like much nowadays, but it's still enough to enjoy. The 0-62mph time is 6.6secs in the hatch and 6.7secs in the estate (the one you wan't), and the top speed is limited to 155mph. There’s a choice of six-speed manual or seven-speed DSG automatic gearboxes.

The front-wheel-drive-only vRS 245 is 14m lower and has a 38mm wider rear-track than other fast Octavias. The electronically-controlled VAQ limited-slip differential is standard, and there’s a ‘Sport’ mode built into the ESC that presumably slackens everything off nicely. Skoda’s Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) is optional.

The 245’s face is as per the ordinary Octavia, which was facelifted last month. As well as the new headlights, interior technology and active safety kit, the 245 gets Alcantara sports seats and a sports steering wheel, plus special bumpers and gloss black trim. 

No prices yet, but the 230 was a bit of a bargain. We bet this will be too. See it in person at the Geneva motor show next month, when we should have an actual price for you, too.