Škoda Vision RS, a preview of the next Czech compact and the RS versions

A couple of days ago, Škoda urged all its followers on social media to stay tuned for a very special piece of news they were preparing for us, and that day has arrived, revealing through two sketches what will be the brand’s next compact model, which will also be closely linked to the ever-exciting RS badge of Škoda.

Škoda Vision RS is the name chosen for this concept that we will be able to see next October during the upcoming Paris Motor Show, where its world premiere will take place. This concept will be a compact sports model, which is why the brand has decided to accompany it with the RS badge, which began to be used in 1974 to designate its rally models, the 180 RS and the 200 RS, although it was not until 2000 that Škoda began using the RS badge to differentiate the sportier variants of its models.

The Škoda Vision RS was born in the Czech city of Mladá Boleslav, where, among the various complexes the brand has in the city, there is a mansion dating from 1890 that is home to Škoda Design. It is there that Oliver Stefani created and brought the Vision RS to life, a designer who joined Škoda a year ago to become the company’s Design Director, although Stefani is already a familiar face in the VAG Group, having been part of it since 2002, and from his ideas and hands have come models such as the Up!, the Jetta, the Tiguan, the Polo, the ID range and the current Volkswagen Golf.

Oliver Stefani’s task in creating the Vision RS was to immerse himself in Škoda’s more than 100 years of history, taking as a particular source of inspiration the 130 RS, the car with which they achieved a double at the 1977 Monte Carlo Rally in its class and another victory at the 1978 Rally Sweden, thus ending all the mockery they had suffered and which ironically earned it the nickname “the Porsche of the East”.

Oliver Stefani’s work has resulted in a concept that, even in the sketches alone, shows its sporty character, starting with restrained dimensions (it measures 4,356 mm long and 1,810 mm wide, with a height of just 1,431 mm and a wheelbase of 2,650 mm) and where aerodynamics will play an important role. From the front, the characteristic look of Škodas has become aggressive on the Vision RS thanks to the narrow headlights, accompanied by a grille and a bumper with large air intakes that reveal its intentions. Meanwhile, the rear is dominated by an aerodynamically optimised spoiler and a diffuser that protrudes outward.

As for what engine it may house under its bonnet, Škoda has not revealed any details so far, although since the presentation date is not far off, we are likely to get more information soon.