Skoda previews Aussie-bound Corolla rival

Skoda is going head-to-head with the Mazda3, Toyota Corolla and parent Volkswagen’s Golf in the small car class and plans to top its new model with an RS hot hatch.

Set to replace the Rapid and get a new name, the new model will be previewed at the Paris motor show in October by the Skoda Vision RS concept.

Production launch is expected in 2019 and it seems certain to come to Australia.

“When the final production car becomes available we’ll be all over it,” said Kieran Merrigan, Skoda Australia planning and product manager

Skoda has started the usual preview teasing of the Vision RS, issuing two sketches of the concept overnight.

The Vision RS will star on the Skoda stand alongside the production version of the Kodiaq RS, which is also being teased prior to the upcoming Paris show.

“Currently we have only one RS model line, the Octavia with the ‘245’ drivetrain now standard,” added Merrigan. “A slightly smaller performance model would be perfect for our market.”

“We’re working with the factory to obtain more immediate RS variants such as the Kodiaq, which is currently withheld due to our current climate designation.”

Little concrete information was issued about the Vision RS concept by Skoda, except for key dimensions: It is 4356mm long, 1810mm wide, 1431mm high and has a 2650mm wheelbase.

Compared to the Rapid Spaceback five-door hatch, which is the only Rapid currently sold here, the Vision RS is longer, wider, much lower and has a longer wheelbase.

“With the debut of the Skoda Vision RS concept at the 2018 Paris Motor Show, Skoda will provide a first glimpse of a future compact car while ringing in the next design phase for its sporting RS model range,” a Skoda press release stated.

“Even the rough sketches reveal that a key part of this vehicle concept is about aerodynamics. The front is precisely defined. With its slim headlights, it feels very dynamic. The rear is dominated by a diffuser and an aerodynamically optimised roof spoiler.”

“This car conveys a taste of the next design phase of the RS performance models while building on Skoda’s 117-year-old motorsport tradition.”

Little is specifically known about the production Rapid replacement. European motoring media have reported it will be underpinned by the MQB A0 architecture also used by the Volkswagen Polo range, including the GTI just launched in Australia.

But a direct competitor for Corolla and co makes the Skoda line-up look more orthodox and frees the larger Skoda Octavia up from that duty.

In Australia, the Rapid is the slowest-selling model in Skoda’s line-up, claiming just 0.2 per cent of its segment’s sales, so replacing with a competitive small car would be welcome.