► Skoda’s Vision O concept previews electric estate car
► Bold new design direction for Skoda
► But don’t worry, it will still have a gigantic boot
Skoda is finally gearing up to launch an electric car that’s not an SUV, with the reveal of its Vision O concept, previewing an EV estate car.
Unveiled at the IAA Munich motor show, it shows off a completely different design direction for Skoda, as well as new in-car technology and autonomous driving capabilities that have so far not been explored with Skoda. There’s no fixed date for the production car but Skoda says it’s ‘planned for the next decade’.
As popular as Skoda estates can be within the car community, nobody has ever really looked at one and lusted after owning one.
The Vision O changes that, introducing a new design direction for Skoda that builds on its existing ‘modern solid’ design language.
Measuring 4850mm in length, it’s slightly shorter than a current Skoda Superb Estate, and adopts a lower shooting brake-esque profile. The front end has a wide look owing to unbroken lines, as well as illuminated SKODA lettering on the bonnet. The lighting also runs across the front of the Vision O, something the firm calls a ‘Tech-loop’. It also features sliding headlights, with special lighting on the front and side of the car changing colour when the Vision O is driving in autonomous mode.
The rear gets similarly slim lighting, with the overall design mirroring the front, while the side profile is characterised by its trapezoid-shaped B-pillar.
While the Vision O has the usual concept car must-haves, such as rear-opening suicide doors and seats that would never in a million years make production, the rest of this Skoda concept’s interior isn’t hard to envisage on a showroom car in a few years.
One of the main things is a wraparound digital screen that serves as a head-up display, stretching across the full width of the Vision O’s interior, and isn’t too dissimilar from that seen on the new BMW iX3, also revealed in Munch. Skoda calls it the ‘Horizon Display’, and it can be configured to show as much or as little information as needed.
It’s joined by a large portrait touchscreen and, praise be, physical buttons on the steering wheel and centre console.
Skoda’s estate cars are known primarily for one thing, their huge boots, and despite this being a concept car, the Vision O doesn’t disappoint.
With 650 litres of boot space with the seats up and 1,700 litres with them folded, the figures are very comparable to the current Octavia Estate. Other of Skoda’s Simply Clever features include a portable Bluetooth speaker, a fridge and also four umbrellas. One obviously isn’t enough.
Much of the interior is also made from recycled or plant-based materials and circularity is top of the agenda, which Skoda says is where the name from. Us? It seems more than a coincidence that the ‘O’ name is used for something looking a lot like an Octavia Estate…
The concept of self-driving cars refuses to go away and Skoda says the Vision O is able to drive itself independently ‘except for in challenging condition’, which it described as poor visibility and in heavy rain.
A dedicated ‘tranquil’ mode is also available, which pushes the seats back to allow for more space, changes the lighting and puts reduced information on the speed.
Skoda has been the European leader of the estate car market for almost a decade, selling three million Octavia wagons and 650,000 Superb Estates to date and that popularity isn’t diminishing.
Skoda has already confirmed that nameplates, such as the Octavia, will continue into the electric age and it’s strongly expected that this Vision O previews an Octavia Estate EV. We also know the production version will be based on a new Volkswagen electric car platform called SSP (scalable systems platform), which is first due to launch with the ID.Golf, expected by 2028. In typical VW Group fashion, we strongly suspect an electric Octavia will arrive shortly after.
Senior staff writer, car reviewer, news hound, avid car detailer.
By Ted Welford
Senior staff writer at CAR and our sister website Parkers. Loves a car auction. Enjoys making things shiny
