The new Skoda Fabia vRS assumes the role of being the fastest production Fabia yet to come from the Czech manufacturer and unlike its predecessor it is powered not by a diesel engine but by a very impressive 1.4 litre petrol engine.
Allied to the power plant is the remarkable 7 speed DSG gearbox and to add extra choice the vRS is also available as an estate.
To get the feel of the newcomer I was based at Prodrive‘s test circuit, there I was able to explore the performance potential to the full and with the added bonus of driving routes in the surrounding countryside, allowing me to sample this newcomer under more normal driving conditions.
You might shudder at the mention of a 1.4 litre engine, but it really does deliver. Power output at its maximum is 180bhp and that is enough to take the Fabia vRS up to a top speed of 139mph and the estate version tops that figure by one extra mile per hour. From rest to 62mph that takes just over seven seconds and despite all of this the vRS can reward with 45.6mpg on the combined fuel cycle.
The TSI engine features both a turbo and a supercharger and they work perfectly hand in hand. The result is a very responsive engine with a CO2 figure of 148g/km.
The twin clutch gearbox can operate in two modes: fully automatic or Tiptronic and the paddle shift works electronically through the ECU and incorporates a feature to prevent over-revving.
With the vRS badge you expect a sporty package with looks to match and that is exactly what you get. Externally Skoda has opted for bright colours and right away your attention is drawn to the bespoke rear spoiler and the chubby 17 inch wheels, all of the same design, but available in a choice of finishes. There are twin exhausts and the tinted windows add further to the sporty styling of this pocket rocket.
Moving to the interior and the well-appointed cabin continues the sporty theme. There are new height adjustable front sports seats, a three-spoke, leather-wrapped steering wheel and it is fitted with paddles for the manual control of the gearbox.
The vRS also has the same updated and styling features introduced across the Fabia range. Onboard you get a feel of quality and comfort, sometimes missing in a small car.
A major feature is XDS. This is an electronically controlled slip differential, designed to improve the handling when driving fast and when cornering. XDS works by gently braking the unstressed wheel on the inside of a corner and transmitting this force to the outside wheel that is doing the bulk of the work. This allows the car to turn in much sharper and you can carry more speed through a corner.
The biggest benefit of this system lies in maintaining the ideal line when driving the vRS fast, especially when accelerating in the last third of a corner, before intervention from the traction and stability control system.
Stopping power is paramount and a booster aids braking and when it comes to safety, there is a full complement of devices to keep driver and passengers out of danger.
With a comprehensive standard equipment package, outstanding drive quality and renowned Skoda build quality; this is simply another winner which highlights perfectly the motorsport heritage of this manufacturer.
