Skoda Rapid Sport concept actually looks rapid

This past May, Skoda pulled in to the Worthersee festival – a gathering of Volkswagen Group hot-hatch enthusiasts in Austria – with a gussied-up version of its Rapid sedan. It was awesome, but we missed it because a) we weren't there and b) let's face it, it's a Skoda. But the Czech automaker was kind enough to bring its Rapid Sport concept with it to Frankfurt this week to give us the opportunity to correct that wrong by seeing it up close and bringing it to your computer, tablet, smartphone, typewriter or whatever means you use to read these words.

Skoda never did reveal what was under the hood of the Rapid Sport concept, which tells us it probably isn't anything spectacular, but the way this thing looks comes a lot closer. The two-face paint scheme has it wearing flat grey on one side and red on the other, with flared fenders, 19-inch alloys (also different colors port from starboard), twin exhaust tips and a beefed-up aero kit. The interior was also upgraded with Recaro buckets and a sportier steering wheel.

Altogether it's an impressive transformation of a budget-oriented car, even if said transformation is mostly visual. Of course the leggy blonde standing next to it didn't hurt, but if Skoda is looking to expand its vRS line of performance models, we hope it does so with something like this – and maybe consider offering it Stateside, too. Because a Rapid that's actually Rapid is a rather enticing prospect.