Skoda in Qatar: The model offensive continues
Skoda’s attendance at the 2012 Qatar Motor Show reinforces the brand’s international growth strategy. MissionL, a close-to-production concept, reveals the future design direction for the brand and is being displayed outside Europe for the first time.
The new compact saloon will be launched in major international markets in late 2012 and will play a central role in Skoda’s model offensive. It will extend the model range of the brand in a new segment between Fabia and Octavia models, and is set to be launched in Qatar late this year.
The model offensive is off to a successful start with the Citigo being launched in the Czech Republic and the Rapid compact saloon in India.
Skoda aims to substantially increase global sales of all models to at least 1.5 million units per year by 2018. A record 879,200 Skoda cars were sold in 2011, an increase of 15% when compared to 2010.
“2011 was a very important year for us, in which we made significant achievements,” said Jürgen Stackmann, Skoda Board Member for Sales and Marketing. “We set new records in 2011 and we are well on course for our 2018 growth strategy. The brand sold more cars in all regions than in the previous year,” said Stackmann, speaking at the presentation of Skoda’s MissionL concept in Qatar.
“Strengthening our international activities is a central element of our growth strategy.” added Stackmann. For this reason Qatar will see the introduction of the Skoda Yeti during 2012.
In addition to MissionL, Skoda is displaying Fabia, Octavia, Yeti and Superb at the Qatar Motor Show, all models are available in the local market.
MissionL: Ambassador of the Skoda model offensive with a new design language
The new compact saloon will be the continuation of the manufacturer’s offensive. MissionL, offers a detailed preview of the appearance of this future saloon.
The MissionL concept impresses with its clear and precise lines. “We gave this study a great deal of clarity and a simple and effective allotment of surfaces,” says Skoda design chief Jozef Kaba?. This creates a vigorous and athletic appearance. “Life has become so complex that many people long for simple yet precise statements. This is what MissionL’s design delivers,” says Jozef Kaba?.
The car’s clearly modelled surfaces and sharply drawn lines especially enhance its perfect proportions. The front shows Skoda’s new design. The revised and freshened Skoda logo is now prominently positioned on the bonnet’s rounded front end. The grille sports a chrome frame and is made of vertical plate fins. The car’s front clearly displays the cloverleaf shape formed by the headlight ensemble.
Below the main headlights, with their soberly styled double reflectors, fog lamps of almost equal size frame the grille. Blinkers and daytime running lights run as finely contoured bands along the lower edge of the main headlights. The crystalline structures of their covers are marked by sharp lines – a design theme reminiscent of Czech glass grinders that appears in many body components as well as inside the car.
A black transparent glass roof spans across the car’s interior, which radiates its elegant appearance and impresses with its clear ergonomics and high functionality. The cockpit conveys spaciousness thanks to its horizontal arrangement. The control panel, seat covers and steering wheel are bichrome and exudes a youthful appearance. The doors feature backlit textile covers with small integrated structures reminiscent of crystal, thus further transporting the theme of glass into the car.
