► New 2022 Skoda Vision 7S concept car unveiled
► Electric seven-seater previews next Kodiaq
► New design language, 370-mile EV range
The new Skoda Vision 7S concept car is here to pinpoint the future of the Czech brand – ushering in a €5.6 billion (£4.8bn) investment in electromobility, a suite of new electric cars and a major rebranding.
It’s a pretty significant new arrival, then. The company pledges to launch three additional EVs on sale by 2026 as it prepares for 70% of its output to be battery-powered by 2030.
Skoda Vision 7S concept: the CAR lowdown
The Vision 7S had been trailed by several sketches and teasers photographed behind frosted glass – but now the covers are off and we can see what all the fuss is about. Something very like this is slated for production by mid-decade.
It’s a Kodiaq-sized SUV with seven seats based around the latest iteration of the VW Group MEB electric car platform. Equipped with a 89kWh battery pack, Skoda claims a range of 370+ miles on one charge for big-batteried versions. It can charge at up to 200kW, guaranteeing a quick top-up (should you be able to find a sufficiently fast charger, no mean feat in the UK).
This concept is significant on several levels, not least its new design wardrobe. Notice the thin T-shaped headlamps pushed out to the extremities of the bonnet, a distinctly Jeep-inspired seven-slat lower grille and crisp body surfacing – all destined for future electric Skodas, CAR understands.
A new Skoda logo, too
The face of future Skodas will change to include this so-called ‘Tech Deck’ – a new way of packaging all the radars, sensors and cameras required for autonomous driving in one zone. And the Skoda branding has been redrawn, with both the badge and the company script adopting a crisper, more modern look designed to translate to more digital surfaces (sound a bit like VW’s rebranding a couple of years ago?).
Volkswagen’s no-nonsense Czech brand has evolved beyond all recognition in recent years, from eastern European budget specialist to a high-volume contender that has moved from cheap ’n’ cheerful to a supremely rational choice for the value-obsessed mainstream buyer.
It’s maybe become a bit bland, a bit too close to the VW mothership in the process – and this relaunch is the first step in Skoda’s plan to reinvigorate its product line-up.
Read our Skoda Enyaq EV review
We’ve seen Skoda concepts galore in recent years… What’s special about the Vision 7S?
It’s true that the Czechs love a concept car and it can be hard to decode their import. Trust us: this one is important. It’s the first physical manifestation of the company’s ‘modern solid’ design mantra, which will eventually reshape every model in the line-up.
‘The new design language is based on traditional brand values such as robustness, functionality and authenticity,’ the company says. ‘The upcoming design language is characterised by spaciousness, durable and sustainable materials and an aerodynamic, efficient shape.’
So what else do we know about the Skoda Vision 7S?
That name indicates this is a preview of a production seven-seater. CAR understands that means the next Kodiaq, due to switch to the VW Group’s electric car platform some time mid-decade.
The eye-grabbing overhead interior shot reveals a family flourish – placing an integrated childseat in the heart of the cabin, so newborns are positioned centrally to share family attention and receive maximum impact protection. Skoda’s adamant this is a seven-seater, so if this feature did make production we predict that families with older kids would be able to choose a three-across middle pew instead.
The Czechs promise the new design language will major on sustainable materials and there is widespread use of recycled plastic across the bumpers, wheelarches and sidesills. Skoda reckons it has productionised this process and expects to first to market with the visibly recycled, hardwearing speckled plastic cladding. Classy or virtue signalling? You decide…
Inside the Vision 7S cabin
Expect a minimalist, uncluttered interior with a symmetrical wraparound design – all the better to share access to touchscreen information (and to reduce conversion costs from left-hand drive to RHD, presumably…).
Head of design Oliver Stefani said: ‘The new design language is minimalist, functional and authentic. In the future, we will continue to focus on Skoda’s traditional strengths, such as generous space, easy usability and a high degree of functionality. With our new design language, we are taking the next step and placing even greater emphasis on the customer experience.
‘The great creativity of our designers and engineers is demonstrated through movable interior elements and newly developed Simply Clever features such as an integrated child seat. The deliberately minimalist lines also extend the clear exterior design into the interior.’
Skoda’s Simply Clever details: the next chapter
The Czech car brand has won over many fans with its functionality features: umbrellas integrated into door skins and ice scrapers nestling in the fuel filler flap. Fresh ideas set to be launched on the next generation of electric cars include:
- Integrated smartphone holders in second and third rows
- Removable backpacks built into seatbacks
- Interior lighting to show state of battery charge
- Haptic controls built into steering wheel
One final design flourish on the Skoda Vision 7S that may not make production is its configurable layout: Driving mode deploys regular seat positioning and a portrait-oriented touchscreen – but when stopping for a rest, Relax mode moves the electric chairs to a more restful pose, retracts the dashboard and rotates to widescreen so the central display can show movies and entertainment in landscape orientation.