Fuchsröhre, Schwedenkreuz and Karussell are sections of track on the Nürburgring’s legendary Nordschleife circuit that are well-known to motorsport fans around the world. It is known commonly that no other race track is more challenging and there is scarcely another location, where drivers and vehicles can be pushed to their limits like they are on the 20.832km length lap in the Eifel region of Germany. The latest Skoda Kodiaq vRS, which is yet to make its public debut, withstood the track conditions at the ‘Green Hell’ (as it is often nicknamed) and, at 9m 29.84s, set the Nordschleife record for a seven-seat SUV. To be fair, it has very few contenders at the moment but it is a quick time all the same.
Sabine Schmitz was at the wheel of the Kodiaq vRS during the record-breaking lap. She participates regularly in the long-distance race championship (VLN) and the 24-hour race held annually at the Nürburgring. In 1996, she became the first woman to win the 24-hour race and she lifted the honours again in the following season. For many years, she has been a ‘Ring Taxi’ driver, aided by her father’s role as circuit manager, and, as a presenter on various car shows (inc. BBC Top Gear), she has become well-known to a wide audience. Ms Schmitz estimates she has driven more than 30,000 laps on the Nordschleife to date.
“The vRS was great fun on the track,” said Sabine. “and I would state that Skoda has made full use of its large SUV’s potential in the sportiest specification. I can certainly imagine that I’ll be encountering the Kodiaq vRS regularly during my laps around the Nordschleife in future years.”
František Drábek, head of compact models at Skoda and responsible for the development of the Kodiaq vRS, was also present at the successful record attempt. He highlighted: “The Kodiaq vRS embodies equally the versatility and spaciousness of a family SUV as well as emotion and dynamism.”
Powered by a new 2.0 bi-turbo TDI engine that produces 235bhp, the car’s dynamic power delivery and responsive qualities, even at lower engine speeds, will be appreciated by enthusiastic drivers. Its diesel exhaust gases are purified by an SCR catalytic converter. In the Kodiaq model range, the 2.0-litre BiTDI diesel engine is reserved exclusively for the vRS and, thanks to Dynamic Sound Boost that feeds intake roar to the cabin, the high-torque diesel engine’s potency is audibly apparent.
Equipped with adaptive Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC), which includes Driving Mode Select and progressive steering, the all-wheel-drive vehicle, which was still in its camouflage wrap for its appearance in the Eifel region, was perfectly equipped for its record-breaking lappery of the beautiful but challenging race circuit. Firm suspension dampers and progressive differentials in the drive-train aided stability during the fast laps.
