The recently unveiled Skoda Scala could be next in
line to get the RS (vRS in UK) treatment. The car would become a rival to the
likes of the Renault Megane RS, Ford Focus ST and other compact hot hatches.
A decision is yet to be made, but it’s nonetheless
on the company’s radar. Skoda’s Board Member for Sales and Marketing, Alain
Favey, told AutoExpress at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show that “officially, we have
not decided anything. But yes, we are considering a Scala RS. As far as I am
concerned, it would make sense for us to have one.”
Making the case for a Scala RS more compelling is
the fact that both the Octavia RS and Kodiaq RS are doing well. Nonetheless, unlike the outgoing Volkswagen Golf
GTI, a potential Scala RS might not be ICE-powered. Instead, the automaker is
considering a hybrid powertrain that would help them lower their overall CO2
emissions as well as make the car meet the new, stricter European standards.
The Vision RS Concept, which served as a preview for
the Scala, was powered by a plug-in hybrid powertrain. The 1.5-liter
turbocharged engine was combined with an electric motor, which led to a total
output of 245 PS. The car could hit 100 km/h in 7.1
seconds and a top speed of 210 km/h. Moreover, it was able to drive
on electricity alone for up to 70 km.
Such a unit would tick all the boxes the Skoda
officials seem to have set for a hot RS versions. Given the company’s record
with previous hot versions and the Scala’s modern underpinnings, if it gets
greenlit it’d make for a very interesting entry in the hot hatch segment.
