The Czech carmaker Skoda just turned its sportiest model towards the electricity avenue with the fourth generation of its performance model, the Octavia vRS.
They even called it iV, instead of a simple 4th or IV. And it is not just a hybrid, it is a plug-in hybrid. It is the kind of vehicle that might steer petrolheads towards electric mobility.

The first three generations of the Octavia vRS were mostly gasoline turbocharged engines and it was a cheaper alternative for hot-hatches, but packed into a more practical bodywork. Now it is not that cheap anymore, but it is more practical. Under the hood, Skoda installed a 1.4-liter TSI engine that offers 150 hp. On top of that, an electric motor of 85 kW helps things up obtaining a total combined output of 245 hp and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque.

Transmission is on the front wheels only via a 6-speed DSG (double-clutch) gearbox. But the performance numbers are not so impressive. Actually, since it is a plug-in hybrid and it is heavier than the previous generation, it is much slower. The 0-100 kph (0-62 mph) sprint is obtained now in 7.3 seconds, compared with 6.8 seconds for the former generation. The top speed now is 225 kph (140 mph), which is 25 kph (15.5 mph) slower than the Octavia vRS from the 3rd generation. But it is more fuel-efficient. If that will count for a petrolhead.