The new Škoda Scala seen through a designer’s eyes

The modernised Škoda Scala has been given a new design inspired by the Vision RS concept. As a result, the new car looks more sporty, and a number of clever details are a nice surprise.

2. 8. 2023 Škoda World

“The Vision RS concept was a great success at the 2018 Paris Motor Show, so when working on the facelift we tried to stay as close to this concept as possible,” explains designer Dalibor Pantůček, who led the exterior design team. The Scala now looks sportier and more dynamic, and Pantůček says that customers and fans of the brand should be able to see this at first glance. “That’s always the task of a facelift, to give the car a new character,” says Pantůček. The Škoda Design team achieved this primarily by modernising the exterior with a number of sophisticated details.

Dalibor Pantůček points out the grille of the Monte Carlo version of the new Škoda Scala, which again has a black frame.

The overall shape of the car remains the same, but the Scala has been given a redesigned radiator grille, front and rear lights and bumpers. The extent of these alterations really gives the impression of a completely new car. The Scala now has a completely new daytime running light signature and tail light graphics that make the car easily recognisable from a distance.

The rear lights of the new Scala

Sportier expression

The new radiator grille now has a new octagonal shape and is more vertical, emphasising the model’s agility. The grille also gets all-new vertical slats that feature strikingly shaped ribs, with the main slat supported by two smaller elements at the bottom. The designers have emphasised the play of light and shadow here, so the front elements of the ribs are glossy, while the other surfaces are matte. On the Monte Carlo, the grille frame is black as standard, while other versions have a chrome grille. “The grille takes inspiration from historic Škoda vehicles, such as the Popular Monte Carlo, and clearly signals our brand’s identity and long history,” Dalibor Pantůček says.

Take a look at the Monte Carlo version of the new Škoda Scala

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The dynamic character is accented by the all-new headlights. These have lower proportions and thus look more sporty and modern than in the previous version. “For the first time in this segment we are using LED Matrix technology,” Pantůček emphasises, adding that this is an optional variant, with Full LED headlights as standard. The LED elements also include fog lamps. But back to the headlight. “In order to keep the height as low as possible, we have changed the internal arrangement of the elements to a minimum, giving us a unique split daytime running light signature that also acts as a turn signal,” Pantůček says, describing an important detail. The rejuvenated Scala is thus easily distinguishable from any other car.

The new headlights accentuate the Scala Monte Carlo’s dynamic character

The changes to the bumper are again linked to the sportier look and Czech crystal, which is a major source of inspiration for Škoda designers. “The bumper has precise, sharp edges and distinctive shaping of the intake area,” Pantůček points out. The structural elements in the radiator grille have been given more pronounced shaping in the form of diamonds that catch and reflect light. “It looks like the car is breathing,” Pantůček remarks of this detail that affects the car’s cooling and aerodynamics, among other things. Drag is improved, for example, by the two pronounced ailerons at the corners of the bumper. These not only wrap around the fog light, but also create a channel for airflow and thus reduce aerodynamic drag.

Fine-tuned details

The car’s wheels are also aerodynamic. “We took their design from the Vision RS concept; the Monte Carlo version can have 18-inch wheels in this design, but without aerodynamic covers. Other versions can have wheels with these covers, which again improve aerodynamics and reduce fuel consumption. This shows that even functional design can be attractive,” explains Pantůček.

Wheel of the new Škoda Scala

At the rear, a keen eye will notice in particular the new Škoda lettering with integrated hook accent, but the rear headlights and bumper have also been modified. The theme here is the same as at the front: the lights are narrower and more dynamic and the bumper has sharper lines and a newly refined diffuser. The clever bumper design means that cars with and without a towbar look exactly the same – the bumper is no different. “It’s one of our Simply Clever design features,” Pantůček says with a smile.

The new Škoda lettering on the rear of the Scala Monte Carlo

The Scala’s interior has also been revamped: the car will now be available in three trim levels and a total of six interior options. A digital instrument panel (8 or 10.25 inches) is standard here; the car’s infotainment can have an 8.25- or 9.2-inch display. The easy-to-use climate control has buttons and rotary controls. Compared to the original design, Škoda uses a greater proportion of recycled and easily recyclable materials in the Scala’s interior.

Interior of the Škoda Scala

Customers can also look forward to a broad array of equipment, including a host of assistance systems and a number of optional features that are not common in this class. For example, the Scala can have Adaptive Lane Assist, adaptive cruise control or an electrically opening boot lid opened by a “virtual pedal”. Under the bonnet there are modern and economical TSI evo2 engines.