Skoda Slavia Monte Carlo track drive: Red Alert

The Skoda Slavia has always been one of the nicest-driving sedans on the market, and ever since its launch, enthusiasts have been demanding a sporty version akin to its cousin, the Volkswagen Virtus GT. Well, it’s finally here in the form of the Slavia Monte Carlo, and I got a chance to experience it at India’s premier race track, the Buddh International Circuit.

The Monte Carlo can be had in two colours: Tornado Red – seen here – and Candy White.

Skoda Slavia Monte Carlo exterior

Before we get to the laps, let’s see what changes it gets over the standard Slavia to make it the Monte Carlo. Gloss black has become synonymous with being sporty and the Slavia Monte Carlo gets plenty of that treatment on the outside. The front grille, elements in the front bumper, the alloys, the wing mirrors, the roof, the window line, the rear diffuser, boot-lid spoiler and the badging are finished in black, and these give it that nice contrast against the red or white colour the Monte Carlo is available in. 

What’s unique to the Monte Carlo are the smoked-out tail-lamps, and the glossy black side skirts and badges on the front fenders. However, Skoda has not given the Slavia the stylish 17-inch ‘Vega’ dual-tone alloys and red brake calipers that feature on the Kushaq Monte Carlo. A lower ride height, which would have involved some mechanical work, isn’t a part of the Monte Carlo’s menu.

Skoda Slavia Monte Carlo interior

Dual-tone theme continues on the inside.

Pull the door handle, which sports a dark-chrome effect, and you’ll notice the Monte Carlo scuff plates. The interior, like the exterior, follows a black and red theme. Most of the upholstery, including the roof liner, is black and is nicely contrasted with red details. There’s some red upholstery on the seats, on the trim piece, on the dash, and even in the graphics of the digital instrument cluster. Completing the treatment are sporty metal pedals and Monte Carlo embossing on the headrests. Other than that, it continues to get features like a 10-inch touchscreen, a sunroof, leatherette upholstery, ventilated seats, 6 airbags, and more.

Skoda Slavia Monte Carlo powertrain

Mechanically, the Monte Carlo remains identical to the rest of the Slavia range: a 110hp, 1.0 TSI engine with the 6-speed manual (Rs 15.79 lakh) or torque converter automatic (Rs 16.89 lakh), and the 150hp, 1.5 TSI that’s only available with the 7-speed DSG automatic (Rs 18.49 lakh). Interestingly, the Monte Carlo is no longer the top-spec version like earlier Skodas, and instead, it sits below the Prestige variant of the Slavia.

Skoda Slavia Monte Carlo drive, handling

Now for the fun bit – the hot laps. With plenty of media persons present, track time was limited. Nevertheless, it was a lot of fun. Having VW Polo Cup champion Saurav Bandhopadhyay as my instructor was an added bonus. Having never driven on this track, he helped me with my racing lines and braking points. 

It’s assumed that a small car like this is bound to feel slow on a track, but, from my perspective, that wasn’t the case. The 1.5 TSI with its 250Nm of torque has plenty of grunt to haul you out of the slow corners, and the 150hp on tap meant I was able to cross 180kph on the back straight. I was also impressed by the grip on offer from the 205 section, 16-inch tyres around the flowing middle section of the track. What enhanced the experience further was the quick-shifting DSG gearbox, which can be operated via paddle shifters; a manual option with the 1.5 TSI would have been nice, though.

I also got to experience the Monte Carlo around a tight and twisty autocross track and slalom course, and the Slavia felt stable and predictable during the multiple direction changes. The steering also felt direct and gave me a good idea of what the front wheels were doing. The brakes, too, felt up for the job and stopped the Slavia on a dime despite repeated hard braking.

Skoda Slavia Monte Carlo price and verdict

The Slavia Monte Carlo is priced between Rs 15.79 lakh and Rs 18.49 lakh. We will drive the Monte Carlo out in the real world for a proper first drive review soon, and until then, this is just a taste of what this sedan has to offer. Overall, it remains an enjoyable drive, and the sportier aesthetics should attract even more buyers than before.