Skoda RS, synonymous with high performance for 50 years

The RS designation was first added to the 180 RS and 200 RS rally prototypes in 1974.

RS: These two letters have stood for ‘Rally Sport’ and peak performance at Skoda for 50 years. The Czech carmaker aims to continue its success in the Rally2 category with the Fabia RS Rally2, the newest member of Skoda’s RS family. Since 2000, the name has also been used to refer to
distinguish between sports production models from the Czech brand. The current product portfolio includes the Octavia RS and Octavia RS iV models with plug-in hybrid drive, as well as the Kodiaq RS SUV and the all-electric Enyaq Coupé RS iV. The RS models illustrate how the world of motorsport and car manufacturing mutually benefit from technology transfer.

What
abbreviation of ‘Rally Sport’In 1974, Skoda first introduced the ‘RS’ designation for rally prototypes, the Skoda 180 RS and 200 RS. In 1975, the car manufacturer introduced the legendary 130 RS, which still occupies a special place in the company’s history thanks to its numerous racing successes. Designed for racing, the two-door coupe, based on the Skoda 110 R production model, weighs just 720 kilograms thanks to its lightweight construction with body panels made of aluminum (on the roof and door trim) and fiberglass reinforced plastic (on the wings and hood ).

As early as 1983, the rear-wheel drive model with a 140 hp 1.3-litre engine had achieved numerous successes on international rally tracks and circuits. In 1977, the Skoda 130 RS, also known as the ‘Porsche of the East’, finished first and second in its class at the legendary Monte Carlo Rally and also won the Acropolis Rally. On the track he took the overall victory in the European Touring Car Championship in 1981.

In its model name, the current Fabia RS Rally2 commemorates the successes of the 130 RS and the legendary letter combination returns to the rally tracks. The successor to the Fabia Rally2 evo, the most successful rally car in its category, benefits from the improved aerodynamics of the fourth generation of the current Fabia production model, as well as from its particularly rigid body. Its new 1.6-litre turbo engine is based on the 2.0 TSI from the EA888 engine range that Skoda also installs in the Octavia RS and Kodiaq RS models.

For more than two decades, Skoda has also used this designation for high-end sports versions of some production vehicles. The Skoda Octavia RS, which debuted in 2000, had a 1.8-litre turbo engine with an output of 132 kW (180 hp), a sporty chassis and a distinctive rear spoiler. It was initially offered as a sedan and two years later a Combi version was introduced.

Since then, Skoda also offers RS versions of both body styles of the Octavia. The second generation Octavia RS, introduced in 2005, came with a 2.0 TFSI petrol engine with an output of 147 kW (200 hp). In addition, the range was expanded with a 2.0 liter diesel engine with an output of 125 kW (170 hp). The first time that the 135 kW (184 hp) 2.0 TDI was also available in combination with all-wheel drive was in the third Octavia RS launched in 2013. The power of the 2.0 TSI petrol engine increased from the original 162 kW (220 hp) to 180 kW (245 hp) during the production period. The fourth generation, introduced in 2020, brought with it the plug-in hybrid drive with the first Octavia RS iV, which produces an output of 180 kW (245 hp).

After the success of the first Octavia RS, Skoda expanded the RS family in 2003 with a Fabia RS, with a 96 kW (130 hp) 1.9 TDI engine. In 2010, the company launched the RS variant of the second generation Fabia. The 1.4-litre petrol engine with an output of 132 kW (180 hp) was doubly fed by a supercharger and a turbo, and the power was transferred via a 7-speed DSG gearbox. The Fabia RS was also offered as a Combi version for the first time. Launched in 2018, the Kodiaq RS became the first SUV model in Skoda’s RS family. The seven-seater initially had a 2.0 TDI biturbo engine, with an output of 176 kW (240 hp). Since the facelift of this model arrived in 2021, the Kodiaq RS has a 2.0 TSI petrol engine with 180 kW (245 hp).

The brand’s first all-electric RS model, the Enyaq Coupé RS iV, was added to the range in 2022. With an output of 220 kW (299 hp), it is currently the most powerful Skoda production model. And in the near future, Skoda will add another model to the RS family.

Source: La Verdad

Ida

I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.