What's all this about?

You're looking at the all-new Skoda Octavia vRS iV, which is now a plug-in hybrid (PHEV). Yes, even the sportiest of Skoda's models has had to get with the times, and it debuts with a 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine as part of a PHEV set-up. In keeping with tradition, the Skoda Octavia vRS will come as a five-door saloon or liftback, depending on your preference, and a boxy estate.

Its styling looks a tad more menacing than the regular Octavia, with 18-inch wheels coming as standard and red brake callipers. Optional 19-inch wheels will also be available, and the rest of the car features some tidy black parts such as the grille and intakes in the front bumper section. The window frames and boot spoiler are black too, though the Octavia vRS iV Estate gets a body-coloured roof spoiler instead.

Within the interior, there are sports seats that come upholstered in black fabric with 'vRS' logos on them. Unlike the standard Octavia that gets a Maybach-like two-spoke steering wheel, the Octavia vRS gets a more familiar flat-bottomed three-spoke multifunction steering wheel that is finished in perforated leather. It does feature the newer inset controls that use nifty cylindrical rotary controllers that look and feel more upmarket. Buyers will also be able to specify optional Ergo seats that come with Alcantara and leather upholstery, and contrast stitching in red or silver-grey. Skoda also adds Alcantara to the armrests and across the front of the dashboard.

As it will use only a six-speed automatic DSG transmission, it forgoes the traditional lever in favour of a stubby drive select rocker switch, just like that in the latest Porsche 911 and Volkswagen Golf GTI. Skoda equips the Octavia with a digital instrument display, too.

Tell me more about the PHEV set-up.

The 1.4-litre TSI engine produces 150hp and is accompanied by an 85kW (115hp) electric motor. With these working together, the total system output is 245hp and 400Nm of torque. That's good enough to see the Octavia vRS complete the 0-62mph sprint in 7.3 seconds. But where the PHEV may make more sense to some buyers is that it has much lower emissions, with only 30g/km of CO₂ put out by its exhaust. The battery element is a 13kWh lithium-ion unit that is located in the rear of the car beneath the back seats. When fully charged, that could provide an electric driving range of up to 37 miles before the petrol engine then activates.

If you're uncertain about the Octavia vRS becoming a PHEV, fear not - we understand that Skoda will introduce higher performance diesel and petrol versions in the second half of 2020.