While in standard trim the Skoda Octavia vRS sports a 200 horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter TFSI engine, the Octavia vRS Bonneville special you see here packs a modified version of this powerplant complete with a Garret turbocharger pumping 26-28 psi of boost--the end result being an output of 500 horsepower.
Importantly, Skoda has left the engine itself unchanged, which allowed the car to be entered into the '2.0-liter production car' category at this year’s Bonneville Speed Week, which took place over the weekend.
Other modifications to the car include a high-octane race fuel supply, a full safety roll-cage, several aerodynamic aids, and a ride height that’s been lowered by more than 3-inches.
You may be wondering why Skoda, a brand not even sold in the U.S., headed to Utah to achieve such a feat with a car modified well beyond the performance limits of its production twin. It turns out Skoda’s UK branch did it to celebrate 10 years of the brand’s performance vRS badge being sold in its own country.
The team is now hoping to beat the 2.0-liter production car category record of 216 mph.
