The latest Volkswagen Golf GTI isn’t the only new hot hatchback from the Volkswagen Group. Skoda has revealed the new fourth-generation Octavia vRS, which features a plug-in hybrid powertrain for the very first time.

Available as both hatchback and estate, the new car is called the vRS iV and is powered by a 1.4-litre four-cylinder engine and a 113bhp electric motor. It’s the same powertrain as the new Golf GTE, with 242bhp and 400Nm, while CO2 emissions could be as low as 30g/km under WLTP rules.

As well as that CO2 figure, Skoda claims that this hot Octavia is capable of 0-62mph in 7.3 seconds and a top speed of 139mph. And that’s all while being able to cover 37 miles on electric power only – just as long as you can keep the car’s 13kWh battery pack fully topped up. Power is sent to the front axle only, via a six-speed DSG gearbox that can be controlled using paddle-shifters found behind the steering wheel.

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Skoda has also confirmed that the sports suspension on the new vRS is set 15mm lower than the standard car’s, and that the steering gets a unique profile.