Celebrating 10th anniversary of its vRS performance brand, Skoda UK decided to take on the Bonneville Salt Flats in an Octavia sedan!
It is no ordinary Octavia of course. It is an one-off modified Octavia vRS saloon, powered by production-standard 2.0-litre four-cylinder TSI petrol engine. The only difference is the turbocharger unit, which has been replaced with a high performance one from Garret. With 26-28 PSI of boost pressure and high-octane race fuel (with water methanol mix), it generates 600 PS.
That Skoda reckons is good for a top speed of over 200 mph.
The car also features changes to improve aerodynamics and performance. That includes lowering it to run almost 80mm closer to the ground and a new sub-frame which houses a race prepared intercooler. The unique racer has been built to stringent Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) safety regulations, which means a reinforced roll cage, parachute, fire extinguishers and window cage.
The vRS is entered into the ‘2.0-litre production car’ category and will race over a nine-mile straight, which includes a timed mile in the middle. Performance through that section determines the class winner. The legendary Bonneville Salt Flats begin 90 miles west of Salt Lake City and cover around 50 square miles of north-western Utah. It has been the spiritual home to high-speed racing for almost a century and each August a variety of hot rods, roadsters, belly tankers, lakesters, motorcycles, streamliners and diesel trucks compete in Speed Week.
| Performance | ||
| Škoda Octavia vRS (Bonneville Special) | Škoda Octavia vRS (Standard production car) | |
| Max speed – mph (km/h) | 200+ (322+) | 149 (240) |
| Acceleration 0–62mph | TBC | 7.2 secs |
| Max. performance (PS) | 550-600 | 200 |
| Max. torque (Nm/rpm) | 450/6,000-7,700 rpm | 280/1,700-5,000 |
| Fuel consumption mpg (l/100km) | TBC | 36.7 (7.7) combined |
| CO2 emissions g/km | TBC | 180 |
| Engine | ||
| Engine type | TSI | TSI |
| Valves per cylinder | 4 | 4 |
| Traverse-mounted | Yes | Yes |
| Fuel injection type | Direct fuel injection | Direct fuel injection |
| Cubic capacity | 1,984 | 1,984 |
| Bore x stroke (mm) | 82.5 x 92.8 | 82.5 x 92.8 |
| Compression ratio | 9.6:1 | 9.6:1 |
| Turbo | Garret G05 65mm twin blade billet cut compressor wheel with ported intake housing & TIAL exhaust housing with 40mm external waste gate and 55mm blow-off valve | Stock Škoda IHI turbo with internal recirculation valve mounted on cast exhaust manifold |
| Boost pressure | 26-28 psi | 18-20 psi |
| Fuel type | 120 RON high octane race control fuel with water methanol injection | 95 RON unleaded petrol |
| Engine management software | Stock Škoda engine control unit with REVO Technik software AIM data logging | Stock Škoda engine control unit |
| Transmission | ||
| Clutch | Hydraulically- activated single plate four-pad sintered clutch with single mass flywheel | Hydraulically-activated single-plate dry clutch with diaphragm spring, asbestos-free coating |
| Manual transmission | Six-speed Octavia GreenLine II manual transmission,fully synchronised with direct gearshift and GripperDiff Limited Slip Differential | Six-speed manual transmission |
| Chassis | ||
| Front axle/rear axle | MacPherson axle with independent multi-link suspension | MacPherson axle with the bottom triangular control arms and independent multi-link suspension with one longitudinal and two cross arms and torsion stabiliser |
| Suspension | K&W coilovers two-way adjustable with anti-roll bar removed. Ride height of 50mm (subframe from floor). | Coil springs, telescopic shock absorbers, rear springs located outside the shock absorbers (gas shock absorbers in rear) |
| Front brakes | Škoda Octavia GreenLine front discs and calipers for reduced drag | Disc brakes, with hollow discs, internal cooling and single-piston floating calliper |
| Rear brakes | None | Disc brakes with full discs and single-piston floating callipers |
| Measurements and Weights | ||
| Kerb weight (kg) | 1,450 | 1,395 |
| Total weight (kg) | 2,000 | 1,950 |
| Ground clearance (mm) | 50 | 128 |
| Wheels & Tyres | ||
| Wheel type | Škoda GreenLine 15” steel wheels | 18” Neptune alloys |
| Tyre type | Goodyear Eagle Land Speed Tyres | 7.5J x 18” 225/40 R18 92Y |
