Skoda Laura RS arriving this September minus the power boost?

2011 Skoda Laura RS

The last RS car from Skoda India was the 150 Bhp Turbo Petrol Octavia, which also heralded the turbo petrol era amongst Indian cars. The Skoda Octavia RS went fast, handled like it was on rails and had the biggest bang-to-buck factor for under 15 Lakh rupees for the Indian driving enthusiast. Now, that we have more than a couple of cars with turbocharged petrol engines for the enthusiast to choose from, Skoda India seems to be mulling a comeback with the Laura RS, that could arrive into India, this September.

Or so says AutocarIndia editor, Mr Hormazd Sorabjee who also goes on to say that the Laura RS will arrive with the RS body treatment but not the 200 Bhp TSI engine that veritably is the cherry on the cake. Skoda, it seems to be taking a safe approach and may outfit the Laura RS with the same 160 Bhp, 1.8 Liter TSI petrol engine found on the current Laura considering fuel economy as a key factor. This, as fuel prices having gone through the roof, the 200 Bhp Laura might be a little to expensive to run.

2011 Skoda Laura RS

But then again, we’re wondering about the very logic behind the move as the Laura RS is anyway expected to be a low volume seller primarily bought by the enthusiast car buyer for whom driving pleasure is what matters, as opposed to stretching every liter of dino remains. So, the Laura RS featuring the same 1.8 TSI engine would mean that the only major change on the RS could be the exterior body kit and sportier interiors for which Skoda India will charge the enthusiast some more money over the stock Laura.

Given Indian car buyers’ fetish for body kits, the Laura RS should find enough takers for Skoda India to be having the last laugh. But, we still hope that Skoda plonks in the 2 Liter TSI engine which produces 200 Bhp and 280 Nm, for a nought to hundred run in just about seven and a half seconds. Now, that is a full couple of seconds quicker than the existing Laura 1.8 TSI, if that matters to you. And this model was even showcased as far back as the 2010 Indian Auto Expo. What say, Skoda?