Skip advert
Advertisement

Skoda Kodiaq vRS looks ready for launch as it takes to the Nürburgring

The second-generation Kodiaq will gain a hot vRS flagship

The new Skoda Kodiaq was launched earlier this year and quickly secured our ‘Large SUV of the Year’ award in July, but it’s set to broaden its appeal even further with a new, performance-focused vRS option. 

It’s likely to be the final combustion-engined car created by the Czech brand’s performance sub-division, and we caught the new model testing around the Nürburgring and nearby streets with almost no camouflage. The tweaks to the regular Kodiaq’s design are similar to the old vRS’, with some sporty flourishes to go with an expected boost in performance. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

Up front we can see the vRS will have the same grille and matrix-LED lights as the Sportline model, although the side air vents beneath have been restyled, as has the lower bumper. The wheels on this test car are the same 20-inch rims found on the old model, minus their plastic aero covers. 

There’s a thin veil of camouflage on the fake diffuser to the rear, and embedded within it is a new set of wide exhaust tips to help give the Kodiaq vRS some sporty presence. The interior looks production-ready too, suggesting a full reveal could take place before the end of the year. 

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

The first Kodiaq vRS was launched with a diesel engine before swapping to a petrol unit – the same engine as in the Volkswagen Golf GTI – in 2022. What’s powering the forthcoming Kodiaq vRS has yet to be detailed, but the company’s board member for technical development, Joannes Neft, confirmed to Auto Express in 2023 that his team have “already decided not to do it with a plug-in hybrid”. That rules out a more powerful version of the new Kodiaq iV’s 201bhp powertrain, and makes it all but certain that the Kodiaq vRS will use a version of the VW Group’s 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol motor, producing around 270bhp. 

Skoda sources have also confirmed to Auto Express that the Kodiaq vRS will have a dual-clutch automatic transmission, like the rest of the range. And Martin Jahn, the company’s sales and marketing boss, previously told us, “The Kodiaq vRS, by definition, is a 4x4.” The previous Kodiaq vRS was offered with seven seats and we expect this layout to continue with the upcoming car. 

After the new generation of Kodiaq vRS makes its expected public debut before the end of the year, first deliveries to UK customers will start early in 2025. The model should match the newly revealed Kodiaq iV plug-in hybrid on pricing, with a figure approaching £50,000.

Who said practical cars can't also be fun? These are the fastest SUVs in the world...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Senior news reporter

A keen petrol-head, Alastair Crooks has a degree in journalism and worked as a car salesman for a variety of manufacturers before joining Auto Express in Spring 2019 as a Content Editor. Now, as our senior news reporter, his daily duties involve tracking down the latest news and writing reviews.

Find a car with the experts

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Best hybrid SUVs to buy 2025
Best hybrid SUVs - header image

Best hybrid SUVs to buy 2025

Plenty of SUVs now come with hybrid power, and we’ve picked out the very best buys on today’s market
Best cars & vans
7 Aug 2025
Best large SUVs to buy 2025
Best large SUVs - header image

Best large SUVs to buy 2025

Large SUVs are big on comfort, practicality and versatility. Here’s our pick of the best on sale now
Best cars & vans
28 Jul 2025
Best plug-in hybrids to buy 2025
Best plug-in hybrids - July 2025 header image

Best plug-in hybrids to buy 2025

The plug-in hybrid market has grown exponentially in recent years. Here are our electrified favourites
Best cars & vans
22 Jul 2025
Best new car deals 2025: Scintillating offers available right now
Best new car deals - June 2025

Best new car deals 2025: Scintillating offers available right now

Fancy a brand new car and want to pay for it monthly, but don’t know where to start? We’ve scoured the market for the very best offers available right…
Best cars & vans
18 Jul 2025

Most Popular

Best car tyres to buy now 2025: top tyres tested and reviewed
Auto Express Summer Tyre Test 2025 - header image showing a Volkswagen Golf undergoing wet weather cornering

Best car tyres to buy now 2025: top tyres tested and reviewed

Nine brands go head to head in our annual test, but which one should you put on your car?
Product group tests
13 Aug 2025
New Jaecoo E5 is a Range Rover lookalike with a very attractive price
New Jaecoo E5 - front static

New Jaecoo E5 is a Range Rover lookalike with a very attractive price

Chinese newcomer’s first electric SUV is also a rival to the award-winning Kia EV3 and Hyundai Kona Electric
News
13 Aug 2025
Shock new mid-size Range Rover to get EV power and stunning design
Range Rover Velar EV - front (watermarked)

Shock new mid-size Range Rover to get EV power and stunning design

Mid-size SUV will end the four-year wait for a new JLR model and our exclusive images preview how it could look
News
14 Aug 2025