SKODA Octavia vRS Hits 200 Mph At Bonneville

[ColinD]

· ŠKODA Octavia vRS breaks through the 200 mph barrier

· World’s fastest ŠKODA hits 202.15 mph on legendary American salt flats to mark 10 years of vRS

· ŠKODA Bonneville team now focuses its attention on the ‘2.0-litre production car’ record of 216 mph

ŠKODA’s Octavia vRS has become the latest member to join Bonneville’s legendary 200 mph club. The 500 bhp ‘salt spec’ challenger – built to celebrate the 10^th anniversary of the iconic vRS performance flagship badge – pushed its way through the 200 mph barrier, four days ahead of schedule. In doing so the car, dubbed the ‘vRS Bonneville Special’, has become the fastest ŠKODA ever.

The Octavia vRS achieved an impressive 195.69 mph on its first run of the day. On the car’s sixth official outing at Bonneville Speed Week (13-20), the Octavia vRS propelled itself to an impressive 202.15 mph.

Ahead of the event at the world famous salt flats the brand’s UK technical team – who prepared the car in Milton Keynes - arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah to finalise months of hard work and preparation. In an environment where bhp is king and traction loss is your nemesis, the car underwent a rigorous dyno programme with the assistance of performance software and tuning outfit specialist REVO Technik.

Driven by journalist Richard Meaden, the Octavia had demonstrated its potential on Sunday (14 August) as it powered its way to 191 mph securing all four speed licenses required before heading to the magical 200 mph barrier.

Robert Hazelwood, Director for ŠKODA UK, said: “Months of rigorous planning, testing and preparation have all been worthwhile. At 13:24 on Monday 15th August, we took our Octavia vRS past the 200 mph barrier. The entire team has done an outstanding job. Our special thanks go to Richard on an incredible drive.

“This marks another exciting milestone in the brand’s motorsport achievements and is a great way to celebrate 10 years of the vRS range and commemorate 110 years of ŠKODA’s participation in motorsport.”

With four days remaining the team is now focusing their efforts on closing the gap on the 2.0-litre production car record which stands at 216 mph.

The Octavia vRS Bonneville Special

The car is a factory-fresh production Octavia vRS, with some changes made to improve aerodynamics and performance. That includes lowering the ride height to run almost 80mm closer to the ground and a new sub-frame which houses a race prepared intercooler.

It retains its production-standard 2.0-litre four-cylinder TSI petrol engine, with the standard turbo replaced with a large unit from respected component firm Garrett. Generating over 500 BHP, and producing 30+ PSI of boost pressure, the Bonneville Octavia vRS drinks high-octane race fuel (with water methanol mix) rather than unleaded petrol.

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.

Since its launch in 2001, vRS has captured the hearts of UK motorists who enjoy the thrill of sports car driving. Since then, the UK has become ŠKODA’s largest market for the Octavia and Fabia vRS with more than 12,000 cars sold since launch.

This post has been promoted to an article

[ColinD]

Well done!

More info can be found here:

200MPH Bonneville Octavia ready for action

If only Des had taken a gps on the M4 :p

[Brimma]

Let's see if they'll give us a genuine production model capable of that

[tussey]

Good work!!

[16V]

WOW!!! Congrats to all involved!!! Pretty damn awesome!!!

[FUBAR]

woooohooooooo Cheers for the good news ColinD im all happy now

look at her go in this vid looks like a computer game lolol

[djdazzy]

woooohooooooo Cheers for the good news ColinD im all happy now

look at her go in this vid looks like a computer game lolol

All I noticed in the video was the leaking back door carrier over the drivers shoulder

[MontyPythonFan]

Excellent news for the team and for Skoda UK and their initiative in doing this, a great result for them. Even though I am interested in older and classic cars this kind of achievement keeps brands in the public eye which is why people have been competing, racing, trialling and speed record setting with Skodas for so long

cheers

Matt

[samuir1974]

Stunning effort and great result for all involved!!!

[Beryl's Chief Pilot]

Way to go!!

[wilsy7]

Awesome pretty sure my fab could top that....

[philc]

Sounds like 2 spitfires and a Sopwith Camel, and goes even faster. Amazing. If they could get their production lines going as fast they'd be great:)

Phil

[The Plumber]

Thanks for the mail letting us know that the 200 had been reached, brilliant effort by all the team out there. Heres hoping they can also get that 216 record in the bag

TP

[Clunkclick]

Might this be the basis for the next advertising campaign ?

Nick

[dbskoda]

Didnt see the parachute on the options list when I ordered my Superb - Maybe its a 3rd party thing??

[FUBAR]

Didnt see the parachute on the options list when I ordered my Superb - Maybe its a 3rd party thing??

you got the umbrella option ..... same thing ??

[FellyMagic]

Well done Skoda is all I can say. Pats on the back all round. Brim will be wondering if he can make 'The Hearse' do the double ton now LOL

[rockhopper]

Wow I knew the vRS was fast, but didn't realise it was that quick!!!! Good for you Skoda Uk. Let's hope you can break the 216 mph barrier and grab some headline news.

Skoda Octavia faster than most Ferrari's. :-)

[blackielawless]

Excellent results for Skoda- well done all

[ColinD]

Might this be the basis for the next advertising campaign ?

Nick

Ha maybe I like it... I wonder if there is enough budget to cover the royalties

[SimonK24]

Brilliant

[springlea]

Thats the way to do it. Well done go for the 212 recornd

[blackielawless]

Ha maybe I like it... I wonder if there is enough budget to cover the royalties

laughed at ne of the yt commentspretty expletive as it's in stages 1of 5, 2 of 5 tsk, no patience. Anyway, thoroughly enjoyed the vid. Well done Skoda

[Delcac]

Well done!

More info can be found here:

200MPH Bonneville Octavia ready for action

If only Des had taken a gps on the M4 :p

200MPH.........Did they not have their foot to the floor then. I can do that down the M2.

That is some feat to reach 200mph. A leap in top speed, say an extra 10mph over 170 mph takes a hell of a lot more power, another 10mph takes maybe 2-3 times the power hike......and then there is the shape to consider.

[gadgetman]

200MPH.........Did they not have their foot to the floor then. I can do that down the M2.

That is some feat to reach 200mph. A leap in top speed, say an extra 10mph over 170 mph takes a hell of a lot more power, another 10mph takes maybe 2-3 times the power hike......and then there is the shape to consider.

Wonder what the MPG return on that is!