Skoda gives us another peak at the future look of it's All-New SUV model.

• ŠKODA VisionS shows the future of ŠKODA’s SUV portfolio
• Modern, powerful, expressive design language
• Three rows of seats and a total length of 4.70 m

ŠKODA communicates its new, modern design language in the SUV segment. The brand will be showcasing its new show car – the ŠKODA VisionS – at the 2016 Geneva International Motor Show, hinting at how ŠKODA’s future SUV could look.

The design represents a perfect balance of aesthetics, power and function. Over recent years ŠKODA has completely renewed its model range and the next phase will involve broadening the range of models in the SUV segment.

ŠKODA unveiled its new design language in 2014 with the VisionC design study. The brand is now transferring this to the SUV segment with the the VisionS (‘S’ stands for SUV) showing how ŠKODA’s future SUV, which is larger than the Yeti model, could look. With a length of 4,700mm and a width of 1,910mm the 1,680mm high show car creates an instant presence on the road.

Inside traditional brand values are recreated with a large interior, here featuring three rows of seats, offering a generous space for six occupants.

Externally the ŠKODA VisionS reflects the brand’s new emotional appeal. All the edges and lines are clear, precise and sharp, while crystalline design elements accentuate the exterior. The interplay of light and shadow creates powerful effects on the strikingly chiselled surfaces.

At the front the bonnet relies on the creative use of plastics, with contours flowing towards the brand logo. The wide grille and four tapered, high-set LED headlights characterise the face of the show car, emphasising the vehicle’s SUV character. Crystalline elements in the vertical struts in the grille and on the logo are ŠKODA’s tribute to the Czech art of crystal-glass design.

The side view also illustrates the strong SUV character of ŠKODA’s VisionS with sharp tornado line spanning the entire length of the powerful car body. Angular wheel arches emphasise the off-road character and the upper-shoulder contour forms a deep groove over the sills. The quickly sloping roofline with the long spoiler and tapered rear visually accelerate the show car even when stationary.

The rear of ŠKODA’s VisionS has been sculpturally designed with a strong diffuser insert bordering the large exhaust pipes, giving the large SUV a visually powerful stance. The ŠKODA logo and shallow rear lights with dynamically cut crystalline housings sit just beneath the low rear window, while ŠKODA’s characteristic C-arm, beginning at the rear lights, runs into the flat reflectors in the bumper.

4WD, VW Golf R 400 Concept storms into Beijing.

Volkswagen is displaying the potential of its flagship Golf R hatchback at the Auto China show in Beijing, in the muscular form of the Golf R 400 concept. If the ‘400’ in the name doesn’t give the game away that this is a seriously powerful machine, then the body and bumper modifications and flared wheelarches should give more than a hint.

Based on the standard Golf R hatchback, which with its turbocharged 300 PS engine and 4MOTION four-wheel drive is hardly a shrinking violet, the Golf R 400 ups the ante considerably, with 400 PS and an extra 70 Nm of torque, making for 450 Nm in total, available from 2,400 to 6,000 rpm. 

Developed by Volkswagen R GmbH, the arm responsible for high-power and customisation projects, the Golf R 400 uses a modified version of the engine found in the Golf R: a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine (Type EA888). The extra power of the 400 helps propel this six-speed DSG-equipped model from rest to 62 mph in just 3.9 seconds, a whole second faster than its 300 PS sibling. Its top speed is 174 mph (governed).  

To achieve the increase in power, the Golf R 400 features a newly developed turbocharger with a higher maximum charge pressure and reinforced crankcase. A water-cooled exhaust gas feed to the turbocharger integrated in the cylinder head helps to reduce full-load fuel consumption, while variable valve control with dual camshaft adjustment improves economy and performance.

At 1,420 kg, the Golf R 400 weighs the same as the standard Golf R, but its appearance has been substantially altered. The body is 20 mm wider on each side, with flared wheelarches that are reminiscent of those on the 1988 Rallye Golf G60. These arches, like most of the body, are painted in ‘Silver Flake’ metallic, and contrast with the gloss black roof and carbon door mirror caps. New sill extensions seamlessly bridge the gap between the widened arches.  Filling those arches are 19-inch alloy wheels on an increased offset. A development of the Golf R’s standard ‘Cadiz’ wheels, these are highly modified, with high-gloss back inserts that act as air vanes, helping to cool the reinforced braking system. The tyres are 235/35 R19s.

At the front, the bumper has been completely redesigned to take into account the greater cooling requirements of the R 400. A carbon fibre splitter and aerodynamic ‘wing element’ help to push air towards the honeycomb mesh of the grille – one of many aspects influenced by motorsport. The ‘R’ badge on the gloss black radiator grille sits on a ‘Lemon Yellow’ background, while the horizontal stripe across the grille (which, like the chrome strip on the Golf R, continues into the bi-xenon headlights) is also ‘Lemon Yellow’.

The redesigned rear bumper includes vents on each side, and the Golf R’s four tailpipes have been replaced with two centrally mounted items, like those on the 2002 Golf R32. These 110 mm diameter items are 200 mm apart, and point slightly upwards, displaying a honeycomb mesh. A black double spoiler with LED brake lights atop the tailgate finishes the look.

Inside are motorsport shell seats with integrated head restraints and belt openings. These are upholstered in cross-quilted panels covered in Alcantara, and ‘carbon leather’, as are the two individual rear seats. Stitching throughout the interior is in contrasting ‘Lemon Yellow’.

The Golf R 400 is only a concept at this stage, with no production plans.

4WD, 400PS, 174mph, that will be the concept Golf R400 - no production plans, YET !

Volkswagen has released design sketches of the Golf R 400 concept car, ahead of its official unveiling at the Auto China show in Beijing on 19 April. 

As the name suggests, the Golf R 400 is an even more extreme concept version of the already powerful Golf R hatchback, with power increased from 300 to 400 PS.

As well as a series of engine modifications to increase power, the R 400 features body and bumper modifications, flared wheelarches, uprated wheels and a reworked interior that includes motorsport shell seats with integral head restraints and belt openings.

The flared wheelarches are deliberately reminiscent of those on the 1988 Rallye Golf G60, and most of the concept is painted in ‘Silver Flake’ metallic, in contrast to the gloss black roof and carbon door mirror caps. 

‘Lemon Yellow’ highlights on the outside include the horizontal stripe across the grille (which, like the chrome strip on the Golf R, continues into the bi-xenon headlights), while the interior stitching is also ‘Lemon Yellow’.

The four-wheel drive, DSG-equipped Golf R 400 promises a zero to 62 mph time of just 3.9 seconds – a full second quicker than the standard Golf R – and a top speed of 174 mph.

The Golf R 400 is only a concept at this stage, with no production plans.