Skoda Vision RS Concept Hints At A More Rapid Future Rapid

Skoda has released the first details and renderings of what already looks like it’ll be an exciting concept car to be revealed at the Paris salon this fall.

It’s called the Vision RS, and its stated purpose is two-fold, previewing both a new production model and the styling elements that will characterize all the marque’s future performance models – those which have born, since 2000, the letters RS (or vRS in the UK).

Just which model (the production version of) this concept would seek to replace, Skoda’s not saying, specifically… but it has dropped a few hints. Very strong hints.

For starters, it’s identified as a compact car, which would ostensibly mean either the Rapid or the Octavia, as far as the manufacturer’s current lineup is concerned. For another, it clearly adopts a hatchback form – which the automaker is tipped to favor for the Rapid’s replacement. The exterior dimensions also closely mirror the Rapid’s – already disclosed at 4,356 millimeters (171 inches) long, 1,810 mm (71”) wide, and 1,431 mm (56”) tall, while riding on a 2,650-mm (104”) wheelbase.

More than that, we couldn’t tell you at this early stage. But it looks suitably modern and aggressive, with sharp creases, taut proportions, and a selection of carbon-fiber elements (we particularly dig the protruding grille frame). The Czech automaker also references as inspiration its earliest rally cars, like the 130 RS, 180 RS, and 200 RS – all of which bodes rather well, we’d say, for the sporting pretensions this concept seeks to represent, and the production model slated to follow.