Skoda's New SUV Concept Is An All-Electric, Twin-Motor Glimpse Into the Future

With five fully-electric Skoda models scheduled to arrive by 2025, the new Vision E concept is an early look at what the brand is cooking
Skoda's New SUV Concept Is An All-Electric, Twin-Motor Glimpse Into the Future

The Volkswagen Group’s wholesale move towards electric power has taken another baby step with the reveal of Skoda’s new Vision E concept; an all-electric, twin-motor, semi-autonomous SUV unveiled at the Shanghai Motor Show.

At 4645mm long, 1917mm wide and 1550mm tall, the 302bhp design study is a little shorter, a little wider and about 10cm lower than the Kodiaq SUV, but expect its dimensions to slim down and stretch a little if it ever makes production – which it may not. The autonomous driving systems within it definitely will, though.

Skoda's New SUV Concept Is An All-Electric, Twin-Motor Glimpse Into the Future

Skoda says the Vision E meets all the criteria for Level 3 autonomous driving, which means it can take pretty much full control until it needs a human’s attention. It can adopt an autopilot mode on the motorway, stay in lane, swerve to avoid crashes, make overtakes and find parking spaces, before, of course, slotting itself into them, potentially without a driver on board at all.

As you’d expect, it’s rammed full of sensors and cameras that monitor the road layout, road markings, other traffic and more, but a driver has to be aware that it might just suddenly decide to stop doing its thing and hand control back. Some rivals, like Ford, are aiming straight for Level 4 autonomous driving, which is where Tesla are already at, and where cars become much more self-sufficient.

Skoda's New SUV Concept Is An All-Electric, Twin-Motor Glimpse Into the Future

Onto the more practical stuff, then, and Skoda says the Vision E is capable of 112mph and 311 miles on a single charge – although obviously not simultaneously. One motor at each axle means the concept is four-wheel drive, and can split power to whichever axle it needs to under any given circumstance.

The Vision E comes two years ahead of the first production part-electric Skoda. The Superb is set to gain a plug-in hybrid in 2019, with the first full-electric Skoda pencilled in for 2020. Five years after that, the brand is planning to have five all-electric cars across its range, and potentially more hybrids as well.

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Comments

Valanti Demetriades

To continue with the current theme, skoda is like the LG/Nexus of EVs then

03/29/2017 - 15:14 |
1 | 2
Anonymous

I’d still rather have a very rude skoda (vrs).

03/29/2017 - 15:16 |
38 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Nice Concept BUT I WANT A DACIA CONCEPT

03/29/2017 - 15:39 |
8 | 0
Anonymous

I’d rather have a Skoda Yeti.

03/29/2017 - 15:28 |
23 | 0
unicornjuice

As much as I hate the concept of full autonomy, something in between like levels 2 or 3 is even worse, because someone will inevitably think it is fully autonomous and cause a massive clusterf*ck

03/29/2017 - 15:41 |
3 | 0
Julian_F

Great, non car people, I meant subhumans can now safe our precious blood

03/29/2017 - 15:57 |
1 | 3
Santusak

We all know how concepts work.

03/29/2017 - 18:17 |
14 | 0
Anonymous

so this is where the lamborghini urus ended?

03/29/2017 - 18:20 |
5 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Well Lambo and Skoda are both owned by VW.

03/29/2017 - 21:23 |
0 | 0
lowie t

“Glimpse into the future”
cries silently

03/29/2017 - 20:17 |
1 | 0
Joel Peñaló

I’d rather have this design as a premium hatch rather than an SUV

03/30/2017 - 03:22 |
0 | 0