GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: Skoda VisionC concept revealed

Skoda has released preliminary renders of its svelte new green machine, the VisionC, a bold new design that paves the way for all new Skodas to come.

The Skoda VisionC is designed fill the gap between the Czech company's top-selling Octavia medium car and Superb large car, with enough room for a family while emitting hybrid-matching levels of carbon-dioxide.

The stylish new design marks "the next stage in the development of Skoda design language," says the company, effectively signalling its intention to update the look of its vehicles from unexciting to stylish.

Showing off a lower roofline than the current Octavia and an assertive, sporty stance, the new design represents a paradigm shift in exterior design for the car maker.

Indeed, the new Skoda VisionC could be the most important concept for the European brand in decades. Skoda CEO Dr Winfried Vahland described the design as "highlighting the dawn of the brand". That's code for Volkswagen, which owns Skoda, allowing the company to design attractive cars at long last.

Vahland added that the new concept signals "the next stage in the evolution of Skoda's design language" which is good news for customers looking for attractive but affordable European machinery.

According to the official press statement, the car's "interplay of soft, slightly contoured, concave and convex surfaces, as well as sharp, precise lines creates an immediate impact".

It is a striking design but Skoda may have to scale back some of the angular design cues to avoid stepping on Audi's toes, with which the concept shares some fundamental visual elements.

But as Skoda seeks to develop a new, upmarket style for its fleet of vehicles, its CEO says it will still remain a value brand.

"The vehicle demonstrates the company's outstanding design and engineering expertise, and underpins the dynamism and value of one of the world's longest-established automotive companies," stated Vahland.

The new car is being pitched as an "elegant five-door coupe" not unlike sister brand Volkswagen's CC, with enough room for four occupants and their luggage.

Based on the same MQB platform that underpins the Volkswagen Golf and Skoda Octavia, the VisionC concept is powered by a 1.4-litre TSI four-cylinder turbo engine that runs on compressed natural gas. It generates 81kW and Skoda claims the large-sized car emits just 91grams of CO2 per kilometre, only slightly more than the Toyota Prius, while consuming 3.4kg of the gas per kilometre.

Details on the car's interior layout, technologies and dimensions have not yet been released. We'll have more details and photos from the 2014 Geneva motor show which begins on Tuesday March 4.

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