2017 Skoda Octavia RS245 pinches Golf GTI's engine

Skoda has unveiled the Octavia RS245, its most powerful production vehicle to date, at the Geneva motor show.

The latest performance Octavia, expected in Australia later this year, not only nabs the latest Volkswagen Golf GTI Performance (180kW/370Nm) engine, but picks up its new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission as an option.

More power and the option of an auto are not the only good news - the upcoming Octavia RS245 will be a regular production run and not a limited edition version like the RS230 that saw only 70 come into Australia (as a manual-only).

Speaking at the Geneva show, Skoda's chief executive Bernhard Maier confirmed that the RS245 in wagon and liftback guises, would be coming to Australia.

The hottest Octavia's arrival may mean Australia could have more than one RS variant to choose from.

Mr Maier explained that all markets were important to the brand and "Australia especially, because we have earned a great success story so far and we are about to continue."

The hottest Octavia's arrival may mean Australia could have more than one RS variant to choose from. The RS245 will replace the limited RS230 but customers will also have the choice of the less-expensive and less potent RS with the 162kW/350Nm engine.

Skoda Australia has now confirmed the ‘standard' RS will receive an update mid-year that includes a power jump to 169kW, retaining the current torque figure of 350Nm.

The RS245's big news is the 180kW power output, up 11kW on the RS230, while its 370Nm peak torque figure is 20Nm higher.

But the RS245's torque delivery is on a slightly narrower band of 1600-4300rpm compared with the RS230's 1500-4600rpm - likely a result of the latter's manual-only transmission.

The upcoming hottest version will also add a seven-speed dual-clutch 'DSG' automatic as an option to the six-speed manual - previous RS editions that have an auto-option have used six-speed DSG units - and a mechanical VAQ limited-slip differential with electronic control.

Skoda claims the RS245 has a 0-100km/h time of 6.6 seconds, only 0.1 second slower than the Golf GTI automatic that is 67kg lighter.

This VAQ diff is regarded as one of the best solutions for providing maximum torque delivery to a front-drive chassis, using a mechanical heart but with a hydraulic clutch that can vary the degrees of locking, while communicating with the car's stability control system.

Skoda claims the RS245 has a 0-100km/h time of 6.6 seconds, only 0.1 second slower than the Golf GTI automatic that is 67kg lighter.

Compared with the RS230, the RS245 sits 15mm lower and has a 30mm wider rear track.

There are no body panel changes but the new sports version will have standard 19-inch wheels, a wider grille with honeycomb air inlets, full LED lighting and a black-tipped sports exhaust.

Inside it will have RS-branded front sports seats and door sills, and a leather-clad sports steering wheel with shift paddles in automatic versions.

Skoda will announce prices and specifications closer to the Octavia RS245's 2017 mid-year launch.

Is Skoda's RS245 a better buy than the Golf GTI Performance? Tell us what you think in the comments below.