Skoda plans Evoque-style SUV and Octavia CC

Skoda is poised to expand its range with a sporty SUV in the style of the Range Rover Evoque and a swoopy Volkswagen CC-style four-door saloon version of the Skoda Octavia. Few details are known, but Skoda boss Winfried Vahland confirmed that both models were in development. 

On the sporty SUV, design chief Josef Kaban said: “It is being designed and will do something different from the norm, like the Yeti did. But it won’t be too faddish. It will be a more expensive car, so it needs to still look good in a few years, as customers will probably keep them for a while.”

Before any news of these forthcoming Skoda models is launched, the firm will replace its staple supermini, the Skoda Fabia. The replacement is likely to be previewed at the Paris motor show next October before going on sale in 2015, according to Vahland.

“The next-generation Fabia will be far more youthful and have styling cues from the current S2000 rally car — much lower, much more squat and emotional in its look,” said Vahland. “It will be the first VW Group supermini to utilise the NVQ [Skoda’s internal name for MQB] small car platform.

“Although we are keen not to alienate our older clientele, who traditionally buy Fabia, the next generation will major on features like connectivity to give it a more youthful appeal.”

It is understood the Fabia's width will grow some 50mm, but it will remain no more than 4 metres in length. An estate version is tipped to remain part of the range, and will have a fractionally larger boot.

Hugh Hunston/Richard Webber/Francisco Mota