A 600bhp 'salt spec' Skoda Octavia vRS has achieved a 227mph run at Bonneville Speed Week, USA. The official high-speed run, which consists of two runs of 225.513mph and 228.647mph over Bonneville's five-mile track, sees Skoda take the 2.0-litre forced-induction production car record.
It may be a 'production' car, but the 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine has been heavily modified with a huge Garret turbocharger. Combined with high octane methanol mix fuel, this vRS develops 600bhp. Lower suspension, revised aerodynamics and a parachute to help stop it are all features you wouldn't find on a showroom vRS, either.
Driven by journalist Richard Meaden, the 227mph run far exceeds the firm's expectations and betters the previous record by 11mph. Robert Hazelwood, Director for Skoda UK, said: "This is a truly stunning achievement. Our goal was to break 200mph as a celebration of ten years of vRS, and we have achieved that, and significantly more."
Don't be surprised to see a vRS Bonneville or 227 stickered special edition in showrooms soon. Us? We'd like to see a celebration model with its power boosted to 227bhp... Skoda?
Kyle Fortune - 22 Aug 2011