ŠKODA Rapid Spaceback wins the Red Dot Award for high quality product design

Mladá Boleslav, Czech Republic, 16-7-2014 — /EuropaWire/ — ŠKODA Rapid Spaceback: Innovative compact car wins the Red Dot Award for high quality product design. ŠKODA Octavia RS awarded ‘Honourable Mention’. ŠKODA extremely pleased to have won seventh Red Dot Award.

The ŠKODA Rapid Spaceback has been awarded the globally coveted Red Dot for outstanding product design. A high profile expert jury awards this prize annually as part of the Red Dot Design Awards, one of the most internationally renowned design awards. The new ŠKODA Octavia Combi RS also won over the judges with its design, receiving an ‘Honourable Mention’. To date, seven of ŠKODA’s model series have won a Red Dot Award.

Impressive proportions, clean, contoured surfaces, and sharply drawn lines characterize the exterior of the new ŠKODA Rapid Spaceback. ŠKODA’s new design language is reflected in this car with its clean, expressive and fresh shape.  The Rapid Spaceback pays testament to over a hundred years of sophisticated ŠKODA design. It is with these strong genes that ŠKODA’s chief designer, Jozef Kaban and his team are now setting new trends in the design of modern cars.

After being exceptionally well received on the consumer market, the manufacturer’s modern design philosophy has now won over the panel of judges for the prestigious Red Dot design awards. The ŠKODA Rapid Spaceback, the Czech carmaker’s compact five-door model prevailed against tough competition and received the ‘Red Dot’ for outstanding design quality.

The 2014 Red Dot Design Awards involved 40 international design experts scrutinizing the ŠKODA Rapid Spaceback and all the other models.  In addition to criteria such as innovation, functionality, ergonomics and durability, they also assessed environmental compatibility and clarity of function. A total of 1816 manufacturers, designers and architects from 53 countries submitted 4815 designs.

With its victory in the 2014 Red Dot Design Awards, the ŠKODA Rapid Spaceback builds on the success of the Rapid hatchback version, which won the coveted design prize a year ago. This result proves that the harmonious and balanced appearance of the compact car series has won over experts and consumers alike.

We are delighted that our work and the distinctive look of the ŠKODA models have been so well received. The ‘Red Dot’ confirms that we are on the right path in the development of ŠKODA’s design language,” says ŠKODA chief designer Jozef Kabaň. “The ŠKODA Rapid Spaceback proves that sophisticated design is important and should be taken seriously even in the compact class.”

In addition to the new Rapid Spaceback, the Red Dot judges also awarded the new ŠKODA Octavia RS. The timelessly elegant, creatively designed sports model received an ‘Honourable Mention’ for particularly successful design solutions. The ŠKODA Octavia saloon also won this award last year.

Not only a great exterior but also an interesting interior

The new ŠKODA Rapid Spaceback combines aesthetic designs with many practical features. This ranges from the extensive safety equipment, economical engines and excellent value for money to the spacious interior. Despite the Rapid Spaceback’s compact construction, the car opens up a variety of uses.  In addition to generous legroom – even in the back – the boot has a capacity of between 415 and 1380 litres, making the modern five-door car one of the best in its class.

This is the seventh time that ŠKODA has received the ‘Red Dot’ award for design. The successful Octavia Combi was the first of the Czech carmaker’s models to be adorned with the coveted seal of quality in 2006.  A year later, the design experts singled the versatile ŠKODA Roomster out, before the ŠKODA Fabia won the ‘Red Dot’ in 2008. In 2010 the Mladá Boleslav-based carmaker was delighted to achieve a double success with the ŠKODA Yeti and the Superb Combi.  Last year, the ŠKODA Rapid was the first model to be awarded for the new design language of the traditional company.

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ŠKODA Rapid Spaceback wins the Red Dot Award for high quality product design