Enthusiasts wanting to get their hands on the Skoda Octavia RS 245 – which was launched at Auto Expo 2020 for Rs 35.99 lakh (ex-showroom) – will have to set some time aside this weekend to book one. Skoda will open bookings for the spiced-up Octavia at 12pm on Sunday, March 1, and orders can only be placed online via the www.buyskodaonline.co.in portal, with the booking amount set at Rs 100,000.

Bookings will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis, and those wanting to buy one will have to make sure they’re quick as the Octavia RS 245 that’s is being shipped to India in completely built-up (CBU) form. This allocation is limited to just 200 cars. Deliveries of the Octavia RS 245 will commence in April.

Skoda has also confirmed there will be five colour options in total for the Octavia RS 245 – Rallye Green, Race Blue, Corrida Red, Magic Black, and Candy White.

Zac Hollis, brand director, Skoda Auto India said, “With the Octavia RS 245, we translate our century-long motorsports legacy into the fastest Skoda offering in India. It offers a compelling combination of the high-performance engine, sporty appearance and dynamic driving capabilities along with class-leading safety and intelligent connectivity features. These 200 units of the RS 245 are being introduced in the market after an overwhelming response from brand loyalists and auto enthusiasts, across the nation.”

An interesting point to note is that Skoda has brought in the outgoing generation of the Euro-spec Octavia RS. It features a more powerful version of the 2.0-litre TSI turbo-petrol engine and puts out 245hp and 370Nm of torque (15hp and 20Nm more than before). Paired with a 7-speed DSG (with paddle-shifters), the Octavia RS 245 has a quicker 0-100kph time of 6.6sec (the previous car did it in 6.8sec), while the top speed remains the same, at 250kph. Being the Euro-spec model, it rides 15mm lower than the standard Octavia on sale in India.

The Octavia RS 245 also gets an updated suspension setup, 18-inch dual-tone ‘Vega’ alloys and a body kit that gives it a decidedly aggressive look. The exteriors also come with blacked-out elements, LED headlights, tail-lamps, fog lamps, daytime running lights (DRLs), steel exhaust tips and a boot spoiler. On the inside, it features Alcantara sports seats, a flat-bottom steering wheel, Skoda’s Virtual Cockpit system and nine airbags.

Skoda will reveal the next-gen Octavia RS iV at the 2020 Geneva motor show in March. This model will make the shift to a plug-in hybrid powertrain, with a 1.4-litre TSI turbo-petrol being paired with an electric motor.