Skoda’s latest Octavia RS is fast and sold out for the year

This is yet another sign that India does have a market for affordable performance cars. The Octavia RS got hearts beating with its 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine that generates 230bhp of power and 350Nm of torque. It also manages 0-100kmph in under seven seconds with an electronically limited top speed of 250kmph. Now those are some serious numbers that would be better associated with a sportscar rather than a premium sedan. 

Launched at Rs. 24.62 lakhs (ex-showroom, India), the entire stock of around 250 cars have been sold out with the new lot slated to arrive in early 2018. This clearly indicates the fact that the Indian car market has plenty of potential for affordable performance cars and not just econo-hatches. 

Apart from the staggering performance, the RS is also loaded with convenience and safety features, which includes electronically adjustable seats, sunroof, rear AC vents, ABS with EBD and multiple airbags. Differentiating it on the outside is a functional body kit which includes a tail gate spoiler, 17-inch alloys and side skirts and other sportier bits.

Along with the Octavia, you also have cars like the Maruti Baleno RS, the Abarth Punto and to some extent the VW Polo GT TSI which are more performance oriented versions of their mortal counterparts and we hope other manufacturers like Honda, Hyundai and Toyota take a cue from this to give us performance hungry souls something to feed on!