Skip advert
Advertisement

Skoda design revolution to usher ‘Simply Clever’ out and ‘Simply Surprising’ in

Skoda plans to ditch its ‘Simply Clever’ tag line with new, more emotional design direction for future models

Skoda future design direction

Skoda will aim to stir up more emotion through design as well as delivering elegance and comfort, the firm’s chief designer Oliver Stefani has suggested. 

The Czech manufacturer has announced that it wants its motto ‘Simply Clever’ to evolve into ‘Simply Surprising’, and Stefani says that adding emotion to traditional Skoda values - in particular, functionality and practicality - is required to take the firm to the next level.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Best hatchbacks on sale now

“With emotions you can inspire people for something and generally reach more people,” Stefani said. “Design is often the most important reason why we choose to buy a particular car or not.” The design chief wants this evolution of Skoda styling to create cars that deliver ‘smart understatement’ instead of ostentatious models. “We are not luxury, we are not premium, but we can be elegant and still surprising,” he said. 

The first model to contain elements of the new language will be the Skoda Scala, a rival for the Ford Focus and VW Golf that’s due on sale early in the new year. It is said to follow the looks of the Vision RS concept, introducing a new grille design that will be adopted, in various guises, as Skoda overhauls many of its key models in the next few years.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Skoda has issued a single sketch of a design project that shows how the existing styling approach - which uses sharp creases to reflect the Czech heritage of cut crystal - will be twisted and, in some cases, inverted in the next generation of models.

The cabins of cars, starting with the Scala, will also better reflect the exterior styling. In particular, Skoda’s designers are taking the angles from around the badge at the leading edge of the bonnet and introducing them on the facia as ‘character lines’ that provide a base for the touchscreen - and give the user’s hand a resting point from which to better interact with the system.

One element that has already been confirmed for production is the Skoda name written in capital letters across the tailgate, instead of the company’s badge. This has already been seen on the teaser images for the forthcoming Scala hatchback and Stefani confirmed that it will be rolled out across the range. 

“In Europe, the badges are very well known,” Stefani said, “but that’s not the case in China. So when we asked the people there if writing out the name SKODA was useful, they were very enthusiastic. Then we went to our museum to see if we’d been there before and there are a lot of examples from the past. So it’s something that we can draw from our heritage to take into the future.”

Would you like to see a more emotional design language from Skoda? Have your say in the comments...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Editor-at-large

John started journalism reporting on motorsport – specifically rallying, which he had followed avidly since he was a boy. After a stint as editor of weekly motorsport bible Autosport, he moved across to testing road cars. He’s now been reviewing cars and writing news stories about them for almost 20 years.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

New Skoda flagship electric SUV to get Vision 7S inspiration
Skoda Vision 7S SUV design render - front

New Skoda flagship electric SUV to get Vision 7S inspiration

This all-electric seven-seat SUV is bigger than the Kodiaq, and it'll be the next Skoda to adopt the Modern Solid styling philosophy
News
23 Jan 2025
New Skoda seven-seat electric SUV spotted for the first time
Skoda's seven-seater electric SUV - front tracking

New Skoda seven-seat electric SUV spotted for the first time

Testing has begun on the production version of Skoda’s bold Vision 7S concept
News
14 Jan 2025
Best new cars coming soon: all the big new car launches due in 2025, 2026 and beyond
Best new cars coming soon - header image

Best new cars coming soon: all the big new car launches due in 2025, 2026 and beyond

These are the biggest and most important new cars headed our way, from brands including Audi, BMW, Dacia, Ferrari, Ford, Skoda and more
Best cars & vans
1 Jan 2025
New super-cheap Skoda Kylaq is a baby SUV that’s sadly out of reach for UK buyers
Skoda Kylaq - front

New super-cheap Skoda Kylaq is a baby SUV that’s sadly out of reach for UK buyers

Made for the Indian market, the Kylaq is a Jeep Avenger rival that costs 789,000 rupees, or just £7,270
News
7 Nov 2024

Most Popular

Car Deal of the Day: new Ford Capri looks a lot less controversial at this price
Ford Capri - front cornering

Car Deal of the Day: new Ford Capri looks a lot less controversial at this price

Rebooted Seventies classic is now an electric SUV for a low monthly outlay. It’s our Deal of the Day for 5 February
News
5 Feb 2025
Car Deal of the Day: sleek ‘n’ sporty Mazda 3 hatch at just £173 a month
Mazda 3 front corner tracking

Car Deal of the Day: sleek ‘n’ sporty Mazda 3 hatch at just £173 a month

Mazda’s high-quality family hatch might cost less than you expect with low initial payment and monthly fee
News
2 Feb 2025
Electric company car megatest: Tesla, BMW, Polestar, Hyundai and BYD head-to-head
Electric company car megatest - header

Electric company car megatest: Tesla, BMW, Polestar, Hyundai and BYD head-to-head

Drivers are spoiled for choice in the flourishing EV company car market, but which of our six rivals does the business?
Car group tests
3 Feb 2025

Find a car with the experts