Cut-price Skoda Scala RS to rival VW Golf GTI

Skoda is plotting a new-generation hot hatch to go head-to-head with the Volkswagen Golf GTI, Renault Megane RS and upcoming Ford Focus ST in the form of the all-new Skoda Scala RS.

According to Skoda's global sales and marketing chief Alain Favey, a hot RS version of the upcoming Skoda Scala, which will replace the Rapid hatch, makes even more sense as a traditional hot hatch than the Czech brand's larger Octavia RS.

“Officially we have not decided anything but, yes, we are considering a Scala RS,” Favey told

Favey said helping win support for the Skoda Scala RS is the success of the current Octavia RS and a positive market reception for the more expensive Kodiaq RS, which in some countries now commands a healthy 20 per cent model mix.

“The reality is that we have been extremely successful with the Octavia vRS. And early signs for the Kodiaq vRS are encouraging; it is hitting its targets and more. So even in a package which is not a conventional sports car, a sporty version makes a lot of sense.”

However, according to senior officials, instead of utilising the turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that powers the Volkswagen Golf GTI, the Czech car-maker is considering a more sophisticated hybrid powertrain to balance performance and emissions, which should therefore undercut its German opposition.

Rumours of a hybrid hot hatch appears to be backed by Favey: "It needs to make sense in terms of profitability and it has to exist in the context of the CO2 targets we have to achieve for next year."

Inspiration for the hybrid powertrain is thought to come from the very concept that originally previewed the Scala hatch -- the Skoda Vision RS.

That car combined a 110kW turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine with an 75kW electric motor, plus a 13kWh battery and a dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Combined, the hybrid powertrain produced 180kW -- enough for a 0-100km/h of 7.1 seconds, a top speed of 210km/h and, crucially, a pure-electric range of 70km and ultra-low CO2 emissions of just 33g/km.

As well as winning support from the sales and marketing boss, the hybrid Scala RS is thought to have the backing from Skoda's own CEO Bernhard Maier.

Confirming that "discussions over electrification in RS models" were taking place, Maier told the Brit mag: "With a very motivating success; in several countries the RS take rate on Kodiaq is north of 20 per cent already.

"This motivates us to think of other vehicles as well, but we know in this transformational stage, of combustion engines to electro-mobility, we have to think of a new idea of a RS. That's why we showed Vision RS. We’re thinking and deliberating about it."

If the plug-in hybrid performance route is chosen for the Scala RS, the small Skoda hot hatch will follow in the trailblazing tyre tracks of the first-gen Fabia RS that, instead of using a turbo-petrol four, was fitted with a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel.

Winning a cult following in Europe, the original Fabia RS won fans with its ultra-low running costs, unbeatable driving range and punchy low-end power delivery.