Volkswagen spreads a love for speed on Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is about celebrating love and romance, but for Volkswagen Singapore, the occasion is not just a chance for couples to spend time together, but for them to 'date' others, too.

However, no hearts will be broken, as the aptly named 'Speed Dating' event doesn't feature other guys or girls. Instead, participants are given the chance to get acquainted with the Skoda Octavia and Octavia RS models.

The Volkswagen Golf R-Line and Skoda Octavia Combi were made available to members of the media

Held at Nomad's Cafe, a camping-themed restaurant in Seletar Aerospace Park, the three-day event kicked off with a media gathering that featured the updated Volkswagen Golf R-Line and Skoda Octavia Combi models.

They were joined by the hotter Volkswagen Golf GTI and Skoda Octavia RS. Having also been recently facelifted, the GTI and Octavia RS pack a bigger punch, while offering improved equipment and higher levels of refinement as well.

Prior to the drives, members of the media 'fuelled up' on the special brunch sets offered. With no fewer than four models to try out, both energy and hydration levels had to be kept filled, especially since two of the cars can really turn up the heat.

The grilled steak and eggs was one of the three brunch sets offered to journalists

The GTI, for instance, gets a 21bhp bump from 241bhp to 262bhp. So, although the 370Nm of torque is unchanged, the added ponies hasten its performance, with the century sprint time dropping by half a second to 5.9 seconds.

The Octavia RS receives the same boost in performance as well, with its power figure rising from 241bhp to 262bhp, too. However, as a family-oriented fastback, its zero to 100km/h time only drops by 0.2 of a second to 6.5 seconds.

Drivers will also appreciate the improvements made to the Octavia RS's overall dynamics. Previously, the Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) was rather firm when set to 'Sport'. It's more pliant this time around, without compromising on handling. We can't wait to give the car a full review.

The Golf GTI features numerous upgrades, but the one 'downgrade' drivers will like is the return of haptic buttons to the steering wheel

With Cat B COEs continuing to be costly, the Golf revamp has coincided with its move to the Cat A segment. So, while the pre-facelift model had a turbocharged 1.5-litre delivering 148bhp and 250Nm, the latest one is detuned to 114bhp and 220Nm.

Based on our initial impressions, however, the Cat A Golf still has a lively personality that's eager to follow the driver's inputs, which is primarily due to the low-end torque. We also felt that the ride quality was more compliant compared to the previous model, despite the standard sports suspension.

Performance aside, the cars' cockpits have been enhanced as well, with the Golf and Octavia models now featuring the latest infotainment system. Apart from the larger screens, the menus themselves load quicker and are more responsive to touch inputs, thereby improving convenience.

The Octavia Combi is now a Cat A COE model that remains hugely practical, with the boot capacity ranging from 640 litres to 1,700 litres (rear seats up/folded)

Speaking of touch, the haptic buttons found on the previous GTI and Golf R-Line models have now been replaced by physical buttons, allowing for better tactility and accuracy.

Volkswagen Singapore's 'Speed Dating' event will continue this weekend (15-16 Feb 2025) at Nomad's Cafe. Members of the public who visit will be able to check out the Skoda Octavia and Octavia RS models, which will be joined by the Kodiaq SUV.

In addition, test drive participants will receive a complimentary snack set from Nomad's Cafe, while Skoda owners will enjoy 10% of their restaurant bill.