A FAREWELL LAP FOR THE FAITHFUL

Fast, focused, and already gone

- Words By: Sohil Nikam

There are a few badges that stir the enthusiast's soul quite like RS. And among them, the Skoda Octavia RS holds a special corner of reverence. It's the kind of car that manages to blend everyday practicality with spine-tingling performance. It's a sleeper sedan that's equally happy carving up racetracks as it is idling in rush-hour traffic. The fourth-generation Octavia RS, though, feels like something different. Maybe it's the exclusivity. Only 100 units have come to India as CBUs, all sold out in a blink. Or maybe it's the bittersweet feeling that this could be the last of its kind. At the Buddh International Circuit, I had the chance to experience it for what it truly is: a car that doesn't just go fast, but feels fast. Three laps were all I had. But sometimes, three laps are enough to leave a mark.

THE LAP DANCE BEGINS

The Octavia RS greets you with subtle aggression. It doesn't scream for attention, but rather, asserts it. The sleek silhouette, sharp LED matrix headlamps, and signature RS detailing give it that purposeful stance. But there's one design choice that'll divide opinions: those black plastic wheel inserts. They look like a cost-cutting afterthought on an otherwise stunning design. It's a minor gripe, but on a car that's meant to be special, it stands out.