► Next-gen electric Vision O driven
► Bold new design direction for Skoda
► But don’t worry, it will still have a gigantic boot
Skoda has finally got around to building an electric car that’s not an SUV, and it’s decided to tackle the EV estate class. This Vision O concept should give us a few clues of what to expect from a battery-powered Octavia wagon.
Originally unveiled at the IAA Munich motor show, CAR magazine has now been given some one-on-one access in Valencia and the chance to drive it. The Vision O shows off the next evolution of the brand’s ‘modern solid’ design language, along with 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’.
Woah, that design is wild for a Skoda estate car!
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 an evolved 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.
The front of the interior looks quite production ready
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.
Don’t worry it’s still very spacious
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 comparable to the current pure ICE Octavia Estate. Skoda’s Simply Clever features include a portable Bluetooth speaker in the centre console, a fridge under the front central armrests 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…
It has fully autonomous driving capabilities
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 driver’s display.
It’s fully working, then?
Well, no. This is very much a design-led concept car that’s largely for show. You won’t find an early version of the new SSP platform underneath this concept’s hand-crafted bodywork, you will in fact find a Superb iV estate.
I didn’t think to ask whether there was still an engine under the bonnet, but it wouldn’t have mattered anyway. All drives on this event are conducted under electric power at carpark speeds, but it’s enough to see Skoda’s thoughtfulness with the interior design.
A giant panoramic roof and large windows mean the interior feels light and airy despite a high-mounted driver’s seat. There’s no real need for a head-up display with the high-mounted Horizon Display, putting your speed and other key information in your eyeline.
You are very aware that this is a concept car, though. The massive panoramic roof and B-pillar chop means this is a very creaky car, and the suspension feels a bit stiff. Brake feel is also a bit wooden although the steering felt absolutely fine in the limited confines of our test location.
Proof that I really shouldn’t be holding the Vision O to the standards I usually expect comes as rain starts falling. There is no proper drainage or waterproofing on this rolling design study so my drive has been cut short and the car parked under the flyover you see in these pictures.
It’s a short drive that’s a solid proof of concept. Skoda hasn’t gone too crazy on touch-sensitive controls, and Horizon Display is indeed a set up from a lower-mounted driver’s display. This airy, spacious and largely user-friendly interior on a new generation platform should make for a fine family EV.
So when are we likely to see it in production?
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.