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Skoda will debut a new concept car at the 2018 Paris Motor Show under the name of Vision RS. The hatchback will use a plug-in hybrid powertrain and signals a shift in the Skoda line-up that could make this a more competitive challenger to established names such as the Focus and Golf, at the same time justifying an increase in size for the next Octavia.
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For now, we can only go off these early design sketches, but they preview a car with clear sporting intentions and plenty of inspiration from the world of motorsport, in particular, rallying. Looped door handles and individual grab rails in the rear all indicate that Skoda isn't shying away from its performance heritage in the future.
Somewhat unsurprisingly, the dashboard is a minimal affair with one large freestanding touchscreen display. It's likely that this, along with the digital instrument cluster, will be capable of relaying plenty of performance-related detail to the driver.
A spaceframe centre console extends through the car into the rear where there are two more individual sports seats. The structure is made entirely from carbon and uses polyester fibres that are one hundred per cent recycled. Skoda's design team also chose to swath the seats in vegan Alcantara, as part of its drive to use more sustainably sourced materials.
We'll get to see the car in the metal (and carbon) when it makes its debut at the Paris Motor Show next month.
Dave Humphreys - 6 Sep 2018