Skoda’s best-selling model, the Octavia, is about to become even more interesting, as the Octavia RS (vRS in the UK) is in development and will be introduced later this year.

Over the years, many see the Octavia RS’ newer iterations as an attainable, pseudo-alternative to luxury performance compact models from Germany like the Audi S4. Yes, it’s not as fast, but fast enough, and while based on a smaller C-segment platform, it’s roomy enough for a family adding a massive and practical boot space to the equation.

It’s not hard to imagine what it would look like either, as all you have to do is mentally (or in our case, digitally) remove the bumpers and replace them with ones inspired by its predecessor, add a wing on the tailgate, specific wheels along with some other mild sporty accents. Kind of what Kolesa did in their renderings, only we wouldn’t have guessed that the car would be such a looker with so few changes – guess it’s that new design.

Comparison: New 2020 Skoda Octavia Vs. Predecessor: What’s Different?

Finished in a dark shade of grey and adorned with black accents in the grille, the new Octavia RS rides closer to the ground compared to the regular variant. This is due to the sports suspension, which should encourage drivers to cut them corners faster. The red calipers signal the presence of beefier brakes, which are mandatory for reducing the stopping distance of the car, as this is, after all, the range-topping version of the fourth-generation Czech family sedan.

Based on the same platform as the eighth-gen VW Golf, the 2021 Octavia RS will reportedly arrive with a 2.0-liter diesel engine, likely tuned to develop up to 200 PS (197 hp / 147 kW). The powertrain that should be of interest to most customers is the rumored plug-in hybrid found in the new Golf GTE, where it develops 218 PS (215 hp / 160 kW) and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque. To further differentiate the two, the Skoda should be a tad more powerful, probably enjoying close to 250 PS (246 hp / 184 kW).

The electric motor and battery, which will allow it to travel in complete silence for a few tens of kilometers, is expected to add 250 kg (550 lbs) to the weight, thus affecting the performance. The 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) should be dispatched in around 7 seconds.