THIS is the sporty top model of Skoda's best-selling Octavia range which is the most powerful to date.

The Octavia vRS 245 will be on the road in late July.

It comes as a hatchback or estate and is fitted with a 2.0 TSI engine which produces 245bhp giving the hatch version a sprint time from 0to 62 mph in just 6.6 seconds, 6.7seconds for the estate.

It is the most powerful Octavia in the Czech company's history and also comes with many exterior and interior features and details to emphasise its sporty nature.

The four-cylinder TSI petrol engine in the new Octavia vRS develops 15bhp more than the current vRS engine. Maximum power is on stream from 1,600 to 4,300 rpm.

There is a choice of a six-speed manual or a seven-speed DSG gearbox and its top speed is limited to 155mph.

Fuel consumption is claimed at 44.1 mpg for the DSG model with emissions of 148g/km.

As far as looks go the vRS 245 new offering has the Skoda brand's new nose with the radiator grille's vertical slats and frame in gloss black.

The Octavia vRS has a predominantly black interior with Alcantarasports seats fitted with integrated headrests. The driver's seat has electrically adjustable, lumbar support, and memory function for up to three people.

The car also offers a multifunction sports steering wheel with integrated steering wheel paddles on the DSG. A heated wheel is optional.

Driving and safety aids include predictive pedestrian protection, blind spot detect, rear traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, lane assist, driver alert fatigue detection, traffic sign recognition, automated parking, hill-hold control and an auto high beam system for the headlights.

There's also a lap timer contained in the instrument cluster.

Skoda "Simply Clever" features include a bottle holder in the centre console for one-handed opening of bottles, two USB ports in the rear of the car and a wireless phone charging pad in the centre console.

Exclusively for the estate there is a removable LED torch in the boot, an adjustable boot floor, multifunctional shelf under the boot cover, a boot barrier net, four bag hooks, two lights and a 12-volt socket in the cargo area.

Prices run from £27,595 for the hatchback and £28,795 for the estate.