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Feann Torr6 Mar 2014
NEWS

GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: Skoda Coupe firms for production

Skoda to expand model line-up, four-door coupes and SUVs next in line

The wraps came off Skoda's futuristic VisionC concept at the 2014 Geneva motor show, heralding not only a new design ethos for the company but also a desire to build a greater variety of car types - including a slinky four-door coupe.

Skoda's head of technical development, Dr. Frank Welsch, told motoring.com.au that while it was too early to say if the Skoda VisionC four-door coupe would make the journey from concept to reality, early indications were positive.

"To decide whether this could be a production car for Skoda is too early to say. We have to wait for the reaction from the market, but up until now we get some very positive feedback."

If Skoda did decide to build a slinky new four-door coupe in the vein of its latest concept car, it would have to adhere to the company's philosophy of practicality, asserted Welsch.

"We will keep to our brand values which mean in terms of a coupe, more head space than other coupes. We will have more luggage space than other coupes. This is typical for Skoda, but all the rest you see is show car, there is one centimetre missing and less edges as you can imagine [for a production car]."

The fashionable new model is powered by a compact 1.4-litre four-cylinder 81kW engine that runs on compressed natural gas, but its powertrain is merely an adjunct. The car is representative of how Skoda cars will look in the future, and though a production version of the VisionC concept would certainly be toned down, the foundations for a bolder design language are there.

"It shows the direction of our design philosophy," said Welsch of the VisionC.

"We go forward, step by step, and our main focus is to keep practicality as our brand value, but give more emotion. As you can see this is more expressive, and this is what we want in our future cars."

The first vehicles to benefit from the new design language will be the Fabia and Superb, launching in late 2014 and 2015 respectively.

"Definitely we'll some of these elements you see in VisionC in the next cars to come, in the next generation Fabia and next generation Superb at the end of the this year and also next year," confirmed Welsch.

The next generation Fabia is expected to make its debut at the Paris motor show, and will be the first all-new Fabia since 1999, based on a shortened version of the Volkswagen Group's MQB platform that will also underpin the next VW Polo, Audi A1 and possibly even a compact version of the Audi TT.

Welsch also confirmed that Skoda's highly anticipated seven-seat 'Snowman' SUV will swell the brand's product portfolio in future, with a concept design already approved.

"We have the concept ready, but don’t have the platform ready," said Welsch, contradicting previous comments made by Skoda's press chief Peik von Bestenbostel, who reckons the MQB platform has been locked in for the new Skoda SUV.

Rumoured to see the light of day in 2016, Welsch concluded, "We are working on the SUV, but I cannot tell you when it arrives".

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