Skoda Octavia RS returns to India: Pre-bookings from October 6, price announcement on October 17

Skoda will import the UK-spec Octavia RS to India. (Image - Skoda UK)

Skoda Auto India has confirmed the return of its performance sedan, the Octavia RS, to the Indian market. Pre-bookings will open on October 6, while the price will be announced on October 17.

The Octavia RS will be imported as a fully-built unit (FBU) and offered in limited numbers. It will be powered by a 2.0-litre TSI petrol engine that produces 265PS and 370Nm, paired with a DSG automatic transmission. The car can accelerate from 0-100kmph in 6.4 seconds and has a top speed of 250kmph.

The RS badge, short for Rally Sport, has been a symbol of Skoda's motorsport-inspired engineering for decades. In India, the Octavia RS was first introduced in 2004 as the country's first turbocharged petrol passenger car, quickly developing a cult following among enthusiasts.

Skoda Auto India Brand Director Ashish Gupta said the launch coincides with two milestones -- Skoda's 130th anniversary globally and 25 years in India. "Our journey in India began with the Octavia, and bringing back the RS is a way to celebrate this legacy," Gupta said.

He confirmed that 100 units of the Octavia RS will be imported in 2025 under the GSR 870 rule, which permits up to 2,500 vehicles annually with UK or Japan homologation. The Octavia RS for India will be a UK-spec model, manufactured in the Czech Republic.

Globally, Skoda delivered more than 9,26,000 vehicles in 2024 and aims to expand further in key markets such as India, Vietnam, and ASEAN under its Next Level Skoda Strategy. In India, the company currently retails the Kylaq SUV, Kushaq SUV, Kodiaq SUV and Slavia sedan across more than 177 cities with over 310 customer touchpoints.

The Octavia RS will join the brand's portfolio as its performance halo model. Bookings will be available exclusively through Skoda's official website, with deliveries scheduled post the price announcement on October 17.

In the Indian market, the Skoda Octavia RS will find itself positioned against a handful of premium sedans such as the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe and Audi A4.

Since it is being imported in a fully-built form, we expect the Skoda Octavia RS price in India to be north of Rs 45 lakh (ex-showroom).