Secret Aussie Skoda breaks cover

Signalling its commitment to the local market, Skoda has developed a tricked up high performance version of the Octavia RS for Australia, called the RS-P.

Though there are no plans to release the vehicle for sale, the new vehicle shows that Skoda is serious about the Australian market and its unique performance bent.

The Skoda RS-P is based on the Octavia RS wagon and features mild powertrain upgrades, including a three-inch exhaust and a carbon fibre airbox, which combine to deliver a slight increase in power and give the engine more resonant tone.

Skoda's engineers reckon power rises by about 8kW to 155kW, but the serious upgrades were applied to the chassis. On top of a 14-way adjustable (for damping/rebound) suspension rig, the RS-P gets a huge rear strut brace that takes up much of the boot space. There is also a front strut brace in the engine bay.

Furthermore, the fettled Octavia RS-P gets big 345mm front disc brakes with fish-hook grooves, fitted to four-pot calipers, while at the rear 310mm discs are worked by single piston calipers.

Taking advanatage of the beefy brake package, which also feature high performance pads and making use of much stickier tyres (Yokohama AO48 with 225/50 R18 aspect ratios), the Octavia RS-P's stopping power is staggering.

At a makeshift circuit at Camden Airport in New South Wales, the RS-P pulled up from around 170km/h to 50km/h (with four passengers one board) unbelievably rapidly, forcing the safety belt pre-tensioners to rip into action as bodies flopped forward under the decelerative G-forces.

Grip levels were dramatically improved also, due to the Yokos and the adjustable suspension, while the handling also felt more direct and responsive. While we only got to ride shotgun, it was clear that the tuning work carried out on the locally developed Skoda Octavia RS-P has paid off.

Adding to the experience was the gruff bark between gear changes that emanates from the three-inch exhaust. It really stirred the soul.

Skoda revealed that development on the RS-P will be ongoing, so we can expect more tinkering under the bonnet in the future with tweaks to the ECU boosting power to around 190kW. And who knows where this could lead?

Matthew Wiesner, the Head of Skoda Australia, told the Carsales Network that the Octavia RS-P "...puts the focus on key RS technologies" such as the chassis, powertrain and particularly the DSG, revealing that more modifications are coming.

Quizzed on whether an RS-P would be offered for sale in Australia, Mr Wiesner hinted that Skoda was looking at a couple of upgrades that could be made optionally available to drivers seeking improved performance.

Visually the car isn't wildly different to the Octavia RS wagon. It features RS-P badging, green indicators and a honeycomb grille, not to mention powder coated black alloy wheels and the three-inch oval exhaust.

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