Skoda Octavia RS to launch in India on October 17, pre-bookings from October 6
2025 Skoda Octavia RS is confirmed for its launch in India, will be brought in as a CBU
Skoda Auto India confirms the arrival of 2025 Octavia RS with India launched slated for October 17.
Skoda India has finally confirmed the arrival of the 2025 Octavia RS model in India after its showcase at the Bharat Mobility Show earlier this year. This spicier variant of the Octavia will be open for pre-bookings from October 6 on the brand’s official website for a limited time. The official launch and prices for the Octavia RS to be revealed on October 17 with deliveries commencing on November 6. The RS variant will be limited to 100 units, brought in as CBUs from the Czech Republic in a UK-specification under the GSR 870 rule.
2025 Skoda Octavia RS exterior and interior design
The Octavia RS will feature a sportier aesthetic than the standard Octavia with blacked-out accents on the outside, and a lip spoiler along with wheel sizes ranging from 18-19 inches.
On the inside, it will have RS sport seats, RS steering wheel and carbonfibre trim on the dash and a 13-inch central info screen along with a 10.25-inch digital cluster with RS specific graphics.
2025 Skoda Octavia RS performance
It will be powered by the familiar and an Indian enthusiast’s favourite EA888 2-litre TSI turbo petrol engine mated to a 7-speed DSG (dual-clutch) gearbox with a front-wheel-drive configuration. This powertrain will have a peak output of 261bhp (+20bhp than before) and 370Nm of torque. It will sprint from 0 to 100kmph in 6.4 seconds with a 250kmph top speed. The RS may include equipment like electronically controlled VAQ limited-slip differential and sports exhaust with black tips is available as standard.
Significance of the Octavia RS nameplate
Ashish Gupta, brand director, Skoda Auto India was in an exclusive conversation on the evo India podcast on YouTube, expressing his elated feelings for the advent of the brand’s global icon to India.
“Along with going into the mass market with the Kylaq we also need to keep the legacy of the brand alive, and with that in mind the Octavia was the first choice. Octavia is what established the brand in India. Incidentally, we’re celebrating 25 years of Skoda in India this year, which is a big thing for us. How many foreign brands can claim that kind of a legacy? And what better way to celebrate 25 years than 25 years of Octavia in India? The RS sits on top of the Octavia, which in itself has a cult following and is an icon. We’re bringing that back to celebrate our 130 year legacy and 25 years in India,” he said.
On the draw of the RS
Gupta also shared his thoughts on the appeal of the Octavia RS. “It’s a car which I told my team that if you have to sell it, then you’ve lost it. I don’t think this needs to be sold, it needs to be loved. You’re going to see a very different kind of campaign from our side. It’s not going to be a massy campaign. It’s not a massy car anyway. It is for the purists. It is for the enthusiasts,” he elaborated.
“These are not rational purchases to be honest. Having said that, when I experienced the Golf GTI or for that matter the Octavia RS on track, it’s a different feeling. The only parallel I can draw is, I recently watched F1 – you know you're flying. You’re in that zone and it’s a surreal experience,” said Gupta, having launched the 2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI before taking over the reins at Skoda Auto India.
The RS community in India
The standard Octavia nameplate pulls at the heart strings of the Indian enthusiasts in India and the RS models only elevates that excitement amongst the Indian buyers. The model has carved out a cult following for itself with a diverse customer base of factory-stock purist cars to tuner-specialist machines based on the Mk1 Octavia RS, Laura RS, Octavia RS 230 and RS 245. On being asked about getting a pulse of the Octavia RS community and meeting enthusiasts, Gupta responded, “I’m yet to meet the community of Octavia RS enthusiasts and I’m looking forward to it.”
The Indian buyers have a special place for the RS badge and have cherished all the iterations over the years.
Non-viability of localisation
He also reflected on the idea of locally assembling the Octavia RS given the rising enthusiast base in India, “It does not make business sense. It’s a very niche market, the performance cars.”
Relevance of sedans in India
“There’s a kind of a vicarious pleasure in it which you don’t get in an SUV, however equipped the SUV is. Sedans do give a kind of pleasure to which we are all used to which defines a quintessential car,” Gupta voiced his opinion on the relevance of sedans in the Indian car market despite the steady dominance of the SUV bodystyle.
Skoda Auto India with Mk1 Octavia RS from 2004, had introduced India to its first sporty turbocharged saloon car. To honour their RS legacy in the subcontinent, the brand is foreshadowing the possibility of more models like the Kodiaq to wield the RS badge, are under serious consideration for India.
