Skoda Vision E concept to arrive in 2020
Skoda's first all-electric car will be a family SUV designed to rival the Tesla Model X...
Skoda is on a roll at the moment, with the Fabia hatchback retaining its position as our favourite small car and the Kodiaq sweeping up our large SUV title at the 2017 What Car? Car of the Year Awards.
Although Skoda's sister brands Volkswagen and Audi already have all-electric cars in their product ranges, Skoda's value for money proposition has so far meant the company has stayed away from pricey electric vehicles.
Bold styling
The Vision E concept car is being aimed at the Tesla Model X, although Skoda will entice buyers by offering a similar level of technology for a lower price. It's shorter and wider than the Kodiaq, and has a four-seat interior layout, which is likely to increase to five seats in the production model.
Powering the new car are two electric motors – one mounted on each axle – which together produce a combined 300bhp and give the Vision E four-wheel drive. Skoda hasn't divulged the Vision E's electric driving range, but it's likely to be competitive with the Model X, which can travel for 259 miles in its most basic form, and 303 miles in 90D specification.
Thanks to clever packaging, the Vision E is claimed to have impressive interior space – a quality which we already love about the Octavia and Superb hatchbacks.
Although conceptual, elements of the Vision E's interior, such as its 12.0in touchscreen infotainment system and digital instrument cluster, are likely to be carried over to the production car. The model's name is unknown, but the most likely option is Aratan, which Skoda already holds a trademark for.
Electric future
Skoda's Vision E is only the start of the brand's electric ambitions. Its boss, Bernhard Maier, has said that by 2025 there will be five electric Skoda models on sale, as well as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of the Superb.
Elsewhere in the Volkswagen Group, Audi is readying its own all-electric SUV, dubbed Q6 e-tron, for 2018, while Seat is also bringing a new large SUV to market.
See more of the Skoda Kodiaq in the video below.
Got a motoring question? Our experts are standing by to help, just tweet us your question using #askwhatcar
For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here
