Skoda’s new Vision E Concept has been revealed at a special event just ahead of the Shanghai Motor Show. This electric concept comes with an AWD configuration, and it shows some of the design cues which will be used for the future models. The very first full production EV from this carmaker will hit the market by 2024, confirmed the CEO Bernhard Maier.
This coupe-crossover is the most dynamic Skoda as it produces 302 bhp and it can go from 0 to 62 mph in just six seconds. The head of technical development Ladislav Rak said: “The agility will be better than on internal combustion cars. The electric drivetrain will offer more power and more fun.”
The Vision E will get the power from two electric motors, and the top speed of this car will be limited to 112 mph, while the range will be about 310 miles. Several versions with different outputs are going to be available, whereas you will be able to charge this car to 80% in just half an hour. Both two- and all-wheel-drive models will be produced, plus the inductive charging is expected to be offered.
The Vision E Concept sits on the VW Group’s MEB platform which also underpins the VW’s I.D. Concept. Skoda is planning to launch five all-electric cars by the end of 2025 whereas they also intend to deliver numerous PHEVs, with the Superb already scheduled for 2019. We should also see the plug-in hybrid versions of the Yeti, Kodiaq and the next Octavia.
This concept hints at the future production EV, but the board member for technical development Christian Strube says: “We have done this bodystyle as the first show car, but who is to say it will be the first production car. We haven’t said that.”
You can see a clear influence of the Kodiaq design on the Vision E Concept, but the carmaker emphasized that this vehicle should not be considered to be a fully-fledged SUV and that there are some styling cues that make it unique. Some of those cues are round wheel arches and horizontal headlights. In the meantime, the SUV will go on with sport square wheel arches and more vertical secondary lights, and this is what we can expect from the new Yeti.
Placing the Vision E in this way allows Kodiaq Coupe to come through, and speaking of which, this car will hit the Chinese market in 2019, while Europe is still waiting for confirmation. We can also see inside this concept, and there are large glass surfaces which make sure that passengers are getting enough natural light inside the cabin. Sculpted shell seats have been added and they can be rotated by 20 degrees. When it comes to the technology, a central infotainment screen is located on the dashboard, but every passenger has a personal screen which can be used to change the settings.
The engineers installed the phone boxes inside the doors which allow you to charge smartphones during the ride. Some of the interesting features you can find in the Skoda Vision E concept are gesture control that helps you operate the audio system or answer phone calls and an Eye Tracking function which monitor driver’s fatigue. There is also a heart rate monitor which can detect driver’s serious medical problems in which case the car starts steering itself.
The so-called “Skoda line” which links the LED headlights dominates the concept. At the front end sits “Phantom grille” which is located over the one-piece light that runs across nearly the full car’s width. There is more of the strip lighting on the sides, whereas the rear end sports an odd interpretation of the C-shaped lights.
This concept looks sporty with the panoramic roof and its length, height, and wheelbase are 4,688 mm, 1,591 mm and 2,851 mm respectively. The lithium-ion battery pack is placed under the floor, and this frees a lot of space in the futuristic cabin, which can be accessed by suicide doors. The entrance is relatively easy, and once you go in, you can see a large 12-inch color touchscreen which occupies and dominates the dash. There is also a head-up display.
The aim of the Vision E Concept was to create a car that will clearly define Skoda’s path in the future. Level 3 autonomy is also promised, and this is a big step because the car will be able to operate in jams, park on its own and search for car park space. Maier talked about the sporty appearance of the car, and he said: “We put the car to clinic and this mixture of sporty crossover limousine was the way to go. It also shows our new direction in exterior design, with more emphasis on lighting.”
It remains unknown when Skoda plans to build the production model. Maier continued: “No decision has been made on that yet, but we will have to decide this year.” Meanwhile, he is worried about the prices which can go up because of the advanced technology. “We are conscious of our core values and value for money will always be one of them, with this car too,” says Maier.
