The new Skoda Vision S design study showcased at the ongoing Geneva International Motor Show is the precursor to the Kodiak – the VW Group owned, Czech manufacturer’s upcoming, mid-size SUV with seven seats. With the Vision S, Skoda incorporates the brand’s new design language into the SUV segment. While Skoda would like to refer Czech Cubism and Bohemian crystal art as principal inspirations for the Vision S’s design, we think it looks pretty neat. The Vision S sports immaculate creases, taut surfaces and precise lines, while being draped in a subtle shade of Island-Green.
To put it in numbers, the Vision S has a 2.79-meter wheelbase, is 4.70 meters long, 1.91 meters wide and 1.68 meters tall. Based on the Volkswagen Group’s Modular Transverse Matrix (MQB), this is Skoda’s first vehicle to feature six seats across three rows. Apart from six seats, there are large displays for vehicle and infotainment services for all passengers, who can connect to the network several ways from each seat in the vehicle. Skoda calls this “automotive digital networking”, and it is dependent on mobile services.
The Skoda Vision S concept vehicle features a plug-in hybrid drive: with 225 hp, the show car accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.4 seconds with a top speed of almost 200 km/h, while fuel efficiency is rated at an astounding 52.6 km/l. The Skoda VisionS can go up to 50 km on electric alone, and will travel up to 1000 km with both systems combined. The internal combustion engine is a 1.4 TSI unit with 156 hp and 250 Nm of torque. This works alongside an e-motor that provides 40 kW of continuous power and 220 Nm peak torque. It is integrated into a six-speed DSG transmission, which directs the power to the front wheels.
A second electric motor with up to 85 kW and 270 Nm of torque drives the rear axle. This works independently of the front axle drive, meaning the Vision S has a smart four-wheel drive, which requires no mechanical coupling. The driver can choose between several modes of operation – from purely electric drive to charge modes. The lithium-ion battery with a 12.4kWh capacity is positioned in front of the rear axle.
