New assistance systems and high level of passive safety

› ŠKODA offers up to nine airbags and proactive occupant protection system Crew Protect Assist for the first time in the segment
› SCALA boasts numerous assistance systems from higher vehicle segments
› First vehicle in its segment to come with LED headlights and tail lights as standard

By offering a high-strength steel body, many passive safety features and a wealth of assistance systems previously only available in higher segments, ŠKODA has made the new SCALA one of the safest vehicles in the compact car segment. It is the first ŠKODA model range to always be equipped with Lane Assist and Front Assist, and the first model in the segment to boast LED technology as standard for the headlights and tail lights – and with the option of full LED versions.

Volkswagen Group’s MQB-A0 platform builds the foundation for making the SCALA one of the safest cars in the compact car segment, as it enables the latest assistance systems to be used. At the same time, a robust body gives the SCALA a high degree of torsional stiffness and great stability. ŠKODA uses hot-formed steels for this, almost 70 per cent of which are high-strength or hardened. These are used in the A- and B-pillars, the bulkhead and the tunnel, for example.

Should an accident occur, the SCALA’s occupants are protected by up to nine airbags. In addition to the standard driver and front passenger airbags, curtain airbags as well as the front side airbags, there are also – unique to this segment – the options of a driver knee airbag and rear side airbags. The optional proactive occupant protection system Crew Protect Assist quickly closes any open windows and tensions the front seat belts automatically in the case of an impending collision. Multi-Collision Brake prevents the car from rolling any further in an uncontrolled manner following a collision. ISOFIX anchors and top tether anchor points on the back seats as well as on the front passenger seat improve the protection of the youngest passengers.

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Modern LED headlights last longer, are less sensitive to shocks and vibrations and save more energy than traditional halogen lights. What’s more, their light temperature is very similar to that of daylight and therefore less tiring for the driver’s eyes. The SCALA is the first in its segment to come equipped with LED technology for the dipped beam and daytime running lights as well as for the tail, brake and rear fog lights as standard. Full LED options are an optional extra, including adaptive functions for the cornering, motorway or adverse weather lights, for example. In the full LED configuration, the headlights feature a bi-LED module for the dipped and high beam; three additional LEDs are used for the cornering lights. The daytime running lights and indicators are provided by a clear-cut, narrow LED strip in the upper part of the headlight unit; in the bottom part, illuminated needle-like crystalline LED structures catch the eye. The full LED version of the tail lights also comprises the reversing light as well as – for the first time in a ŠKODA – dynamic indicators, in which individual LEDs illuminate in an outward sweeping motion. These dynamic indicators are easily noticeable by other road users, even in bad weather. The brake lights with LED technology also contribute significantly to improving road traffic safety. These are considerably brighter than traditional lights and react more quickly.

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For the SCALA, ŠKODA is equipping an entire model range with Lane Assist and Front Assist including City Emergency Brake as standard for the first time. Using a camera, Lane Assist recognises lane markings and helps the driver to keep the car in its lane. Front Assist, which includes the City Emergency Brake and Predictive Pedestrian Protection functions, monitors the area in front of the car while driving in the city, thereby helping to prevent accidents or minimise their consequences.

Thanks to two radar systems at the rear of the car, the optional Side Assist detects vehicles approaching from behind or that are in the car’s blind spot. The driver is informed of this by an LED signal on the inner edge of the wing mirror housings. The warning is considerably more noticeable for the driver there than in the mirror’s glass; the display’s brightness is adjustable. While the familiar Blind Spot Detect has a range of up to 20 m, Side Assist can detect vehicles from a distance of up to 70 m away and thus also effectively warns the driver of hazardous situations on motorways and dual carriageways. The system works while accelerating at speeds of 15 km/h or more and down to a speed of 10 km/h while braking. It also improves the reaction time of the proactive occupant protection system Crew Protect Assist. Rear Traffic Alert is an integral part of Side Assist. It warns the driver about objects moving behind the vehicle when reversing at speeds of up to 15 km/h – as well as at its sides at a speed of up to 70 km/h. Should the driver not respond to an initial visual signal, an acoustic warning is emitted, followed by an automatic emergency stop.

The optional Driver Alert fatigue detection system emits a warning when it detects that the driver’s concentration is waning. Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), another optional extra, is designed for use during long motorway journeys. At speeds of up to 210 km/h, it automatically adjusts the speed of the car based on the vehicles ahead and, in combination with a DSG, can even brake the vehicle until it stops. Within up to three seconds of the car coming to a halt, ACC is able to automatically make it pull away again. Furthermore, a maximum speed can be set using the Speedlimiter.

The optional rear-view camera and Park Assist, the latest version of which automatically manoeuvres the SCALA into and out of parallel and bay parking spaces, lend the driver a hand when parking. This system also comes equipped with Manoeuvre Assist. If the sensors detect a dangerous obstacle in front of or behind the car, the SCALA brakes automatically. Auto Light Assist can also be chosen. This uses a camera to detect oncoming traffic as well as vehicles travelling ahead of the SCALA and automatically dips the headlights. At a gradient of more than 5 degrees, Hill-Hold Control prevents the car from rolling backwards or the engine from cutting out. The standard XDS+ electronic differential lock improves the traction on the front wheels, whilst the TPM+ system monitors the tyre pressure.