Skoda to ditch chrome for lighting

Light is the new chrome.

So says a senior Skoda executive, who believes exterior lighting will become de rigueur on future models from the Czech car-maker.

Pointing to the new Vision RS concept shown at last month’s Paris motor show, Skoda board member for sales and marketing, Alain Favey, previewed Skoda’s new corporate face.

“What you see in the front of the Vision RS, this is a hint that light is the new chrome of design,” he said.

“Clearly we will use more light as a design effect and we have a crystal design strategy which is based on the crystal-making know-how of people in Prague, in the Czech Republic.

“That area is very well known for the work on crystal, and clearly this work on the lighting is part of this design direction of the future. This is a direction, again, that is based on more appeal and keeping the essence of the brand in terms of functionality and interior space, but packaging it into a design which is much more appealing and friendly. In terms of the Vision RS, it is a design that is very sporty as well.”

The Vision RS’ edgy styling is of course punctuated with the use of lighting across its vertical grille slats, and via its surrounding front headlights.

The concept, which previews the upcoming Scala small car, wowed showgoers in Paris. Favey, who is in Australia this week in a bid to ramp up sales volumes, says the Vision RS is an accurate preview for future Skoda models.

“That’s the direction we want to give to the brand in the future,” he said.

“You will find that with most of our models, be it the Scala, the cross-over, or the next generation of Octavia.”