Four years ago Skoda decided to "change its cars completely" in terms of design and technology...
Two years later, it produced the Vision D concept at the Geneva motor show which was "a bible of Skoda design," said Peter Olah, the company's design co-ordinator.
Vision D demonstrated where all new Skodas would go, embracing "clever engineering with a human touch," he explained at the launch of the Rapid, a new model that sits below the Octavia and is designed in particular to take on Kia cee'd and Hyundai i30, said Skoda UK product marketing manager Chris Horrell.
Olah said that Skoda's slogan of ‘simply clever' is not just a marketing claim, it means trying to bring clever solutions and understandable technology to Skoda's cars.
"One of the best examples of this is the little hook in the trunk to hold your shopping - it costs almost nothing but really changes your life. This is what we call the human touch."
This ‘human touch' continues with the Rapid which includes a combined ice scraper and magnifier concealed inside the fuel filler cap. It means you can remove snow and ice from the windows and around the door before getting into the car. And that means you won't get snow falling onto the seats when you open the door.
The first clues to Skoda's new look arrived with the Citigo in the summer with the new, bolder Skoda logo.Rapid continues the theme. "We want to make our cars as clean as possible and get rid of unnecessary lines. Customers have had enough of shiny, bling bling stuff," he said.
The Rapid is on sale now, priced from £12,900 for the 1.2-litre S model.
I have to agree, Skoda have come a long way in such a small amount of time!
ReplyDelete