All-new Skoda Scala teases keep on coming

Skoda has released yet more teasers of its all-new 2019 Skoda Scala which will replace the current Rapid and go head-to-head with the Toyota Corolla, Mazda3 and Volkswagen Golf.

Set to be revealed later this year, the most recent teasers have involved lending the Skoda Scala to Czech street artist Chemis, who subsequently got busy with the spray paint.

Without wearing any camouflage, despite the exuberant paint job, it's now possible to make out the Skoda Scala's styling that looks like it's evolved from the Rapid's quirky design into something more grown-up.

Inside, luckily Chemis left well alone, and we get our first look at the Skoda hatch's all-new cabin.

Already previewed by design renderings, the Skoda Scala will push the brand upmarket in the small hatchback segment, as evidenced by these images showing high-grade interior materials like wood, chrome and leather.

The new interior images also reveal Skoda Scala will also offer the car-maker's 10.3-inch virtual cockpit digital instrument cluster and a huge 9.2-inch touch-screen infotainment panel that slashes the button count in the cabin.

Benefitting from over-the-air software updates, the new infotainment system will come with latest smartphone-mirroring tech.

Claimed to set new standards in its class in terms of technology, safety and design, the Scala (Latin for ‘ladder’) should firmly cement the small Skoda hatchback in the mainstream hatch class.

The Skoda Scala is based on the Volkswagen Group’s MQB chassis architecture and measures 4362mm long, 1793mm wide and stand 1471mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2659mm.

Those dimensions mean it will dwarf the current Volkswagen Golf with which it shares its platform, engines and tech, measuring in at 107mm longer, 30mm wider and 30mm higher.

Add in a 12mm longer wheelbase and the Skoda Scala should lead the class for passenger space.

Boot space is another highlight, with the Skoda Scala offering 467 litres of storage for your luggage — 87 litres more than the closely related Golf.

Heavily inspired by the recent Skoda Vision RS concept that made its debut at the recent Paris motor show, the Scala is set to come with a striking new exterior design that will include full LED headlights and tail-lights incorporating dynamic indicators.

The small hatch will introduce novel options from vehicle classes above, including an electrically retractable tow hook, umbrellas stored in the front doors and an electric tailgate.

In markets like Europe, the Skoda Scala will come with up to five engines including a 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder (offering either 70kW or 85kW), a 110kW 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol four and a highly efficient 85kW 1.6-litre turbo-diesel.

Unusually for the small-car segment, all Skoda Scala models will be available with a new Sport Chassis that reduces the ride height by 15mm and introduces adaptive dampers.

The Skoda Scala also gets new driver-assistance aids. These include a blind-spot detection system that can sense obscured vehicles up to 70m away — far further than current systems that only pick up objects 20m away.

There’s also rear traffic alert and an active cruise control system that can steer, accelerate and brake at speeds up to 210km/h.

Ensuring it’s among the safest in its class, the Skoda Scala will also come with up to nine airbags and the ability to shut the windows and tension the seat belts if the car thinks an accident is about to occur.

Skoda will unveil the 2019 Scala before the end of 2018.