Having already released the facelifted version of its Octavia saloon at last year’s Paris Motor Show, Czech carmaker Skoda has finally added the updated versions of the performance Octavia RS and the Octavia Scout soft-roader to its lineup. Besides numerous design changes, both cars offer new technological solutions including, for example, an air quality sensor for the Climatronic air conditioning system and a new illumination system.

The facelifted Octavia RS has a redesigned front-end with an RS logo and new headlamps that, for the first time in the RS version, can be fitted with xenon units combined with an adaptive front lighting module. Other details include new bumpers with integrated fog lamps and LED daytime running lights.

The car’s sports-tuned chassis has also been lowered to 127mm, while its weight has been reduced by 20kg in the petrol version and 15kg in the diesel one.

The engines fitted to the Octavia RS include a 2.0L TSI petrol unit with 200hp (147kW) and a 2.0L TDI turbodiesel with 170hp (125kW). Both engines come exclusively with a six-speed DSG transmission.

Also new to the lineup is the 2009 Skoda Octavia Scout. The new vehicle has been facelifted to toe the line with the other models of the Octavia portfolio, including a redesigned radiator mask and new headlamps.

With 179mm of ground clearance, the Octavia Scout is well geared for off-road driving. The AWD system includes the fourth-generation Haldex clutch able to transfer as much as 85% of the torque to a single wheel. Like the RS model, two engines are available: a 160hp (118kW) 1.8L TSI petrol unit and a 130hp (103kW) 2.0L TDI turbodiesel.

2009 Skoda Octavia facelift
2009 Skoda Octavia RS facelift
2009 Skoda Octavia Scout facelift