Skoda Opens Octavia RS Second Batch (50 Units) Today, Starts an Interest List for the Superb TDI

By IndiCar · Published 18 August 2026 · News

Skoda Opens Octavia RS Second Batch (50 Units) Today, Starts an Interest List for the Superb TDI

At today's livestreamed event, Skoda opened pre-bookings for a 50-unit second batch of the Octavia RS and opened an Expression of Interest list for the returning diesel Superb — alongside the Slavia facelift reveal.

Key takeaways

Three announcements, one event

Skoda's August 18 livestream wasn't just about the Slavia facelift. Alongside it, the brand opened pre-bookings for a second batch of the Octavia RS — capped at 50 units — and launched an Expression of Interest programme for the long-awaited diesel Superb. Both moves matter more than they might look at first glance: one is a genuinely scarce car, the other is Skoda testing appetite for a segment it walked away from six years ago.

Octavia RS: 50 units, bookings open today

Skoda opened bookings for the Octavia RS's second India batch on August 18, 2026, limited to 50 units. If that sounds small, it's because the first batch was smaller still in spirit: when Skoda opened bookings for 100 units on October 6, 2025, they were gone in about 20 minutes — roughly one booking every 12 seconds, against a ₹2.5 lakh token amount. That first batch launched officially on October 17, 2025 at ₹49.99 lakh ex-showroom, with deliveries starting November 6, 2025. A meaningful pool of buyers missed out entirely and have reportedly been waiting since.

Skoda hasn't published pricing for this second batch as of writing — if the RS badge and 50-unit cap are anything to go by, don't expect it to hang around for long once dealers start converting bookings, and don't assume it'll be priced identically to the first batch either.

What you're actually booking

The Octavia RS is powered by a 2.0-litre TSI turbo-petrol making 261hp and 370Nm, sent through a 7-speed DSG to the front wheels — good for a 6.4-second 0-100kmph run and an electronically limited 250kmph top speed. It's one of the few genuinely quick, driver-focused sedans sold new in India at any price, which is a large part of why the first batch vanished as fast as it did.

Superb TDI: an interest list, not a launch

The Superb's slot in today's event was smaller and more provisional — Skoda opened an Expression of Interest list rather than actual bookings, with no date attached. That lines up with what's been reported about the car's timeline: the diesel Superb's India return has already slipped from an initial end-2026 target to the first half of 2027, and it's expected to arrive as a fully imported (CBU) unit rather than a locally built car, which keeps volumes low by design. Engine-wise, expect a 2.0-litre TDI diesel, likely in the 190hp/400Nm state of tune used on Superb's all-wheel-drive variants elsewhere. If that holds, it'll mark the first diesel Skoda has sold in India since the brand pulled diesel engines ahead of the BS6 transition in 2020.

Treat the EOI as exactly what it is — a way for Skoda to gauge demand and build a contact list, not a price commitment or a delivery promise. Nothing here is locked in until Skoda formally launches the car, likely closer to that H1 2027 window.

Where this leaves buyers

None of IndiCar's current dealer partners carry Skoda — our live stock runs Toyota, Kia, Mahindra, and Maruti Suzuki — so we can't process an Octavia RS booking or a Superb EOI entry directly. If you're set on either car, that has to go through a Skoda dealer. If a fast sedan or a diesel flagship is more of a category itch than a one-badge obsession, it's worth browsing what's actually available at IndiCar while you wait these out.

IndiCar's take

The Octavia RS booking window is the one to move fast on if you actually want the car — 50 units against a pool of buyers who already missed out once isn't good odds, and it won't stay open long. The Superb TDI is the opposite kind of story: register interest if you're curious, but there's nothing to decide yet, and a lot can still change between an interest list today and an actual launch more than half a year out.

Frequently asked questions

How many units are in the Octavia RS second batch?

50 units. Bookings opened August 18, 2026. Pricing for this batch hasn't been announced yet.

Is the Superb TDI available to book now?

No — Skoda opened an Expression of Interest list, not bookings. A full India launch is still expected, most recently reported for the first half of 2027.

What engine does the Octavia RS use?

A 2.0-litre TSI turbo-petrol making 261hp and 370Nm, paired with a 7-speed DSG automatic driving the front wheels.

Does IndiCar stock the Octavia RS or Superb?

No. IndiCar's live dealer partners cover Toyota, Kia, Mahindra, and Maruti Suzuki — Skoda isn't part of the current lineup, so both bookings would need to go directly through a Skoda dealer.

Tags: skoda-octavia-rs, octavia-rs-bookings, skoda-superb-tdi, skoda-diesel, skoda-india