Skoda Vision 7S previews new SUV flagship

After a brief but busy teaser campaign the covers have come off the Skoda Vision 7S electric SUV concept, which the Czech brand says previews not only its latest design language but “an entirely new e-model”.

That e-model will be one of three all-new electric vehicles added to Skoda’s global portfolio by 2026, the others being a city car and a compact SUV.

The large three-row, seven-seat (7S) electric family SUV will be positioned upstream of the mid-size 2023 Skoda Enyaq that’s due for release in Australia late next year.

It’s also set to be sold alongside the Skoda Kodiaq, which the Volkswagen-owned car-maker has today confirmed will enter a new generation in 2023 and continue with “highly efficient combustion engines.”

The next-gen Kodiaq and Superb large car will be unveiled in the second half of next year.

Underpinned by the Volkswagen Group’s MEB architecture, the Vision 7S is unlike any Skoda model we’ve seen previously with a decidedly more rounded aesthetic devoid of many of the current portfolio’s bold crease lines.

The front fascia is noticeably bigger and more bulbous, with the contrasting grey and silver front bumper (made from recycled tyres) emphasising this impression.

The bumper is adorned with a series of vertical air intakes which direct fresh air to the battery cooling and brake systems, with the look being replicated at the rear, albeit with more slits.

Above the rugged-looking bumper is a new take on the ‘Skoda grille’, which has been elongated, flattened and filled in with black glass to now house various vehicle sensors.

The new grille – above which is a new printed logo – is crowned by a full-width LED lighting signature which feeds into the T-shaped headlights sitting on either side.

Follow the body around and you’ll find squared-off wheel-arches housing 22-inch aerodynamically optimised alloys, split by a low-set but pronounced air channel originating from the air vents on the back of the front guards.

Other key styling features include suicide rear doors, flush-sitting door handles, a ‘tornado’ character line, floating roof and a fin-shaped C-pillar.

The T-shaped headlights are complemented at the rear by T-shaped tail-light clusters which are met by the contrasting grey rear bumper, almost lending them a J-shape, while the rear spoiler features the same sunken centre section at the bonnet.

Inside, drivers greeted by an integrated slimline 8.8-inch digital cockpit, a similarly shaped steering ‘wheel’ and a vertically oriented 14.6-inch infotainment interface.

Most of the major vehicle functions and infotainment controls are accessed via three rotary dials on the centre console which stretches back into the second row.

The console features an integrated child seat directly behind the first row, forward of the second-row seats, which Skoda says positions bub in the “safest position in the vehicle”.

Elsewhere, the Vision 7S features a ‘Relax’ mode for the interior which reorients the infotainment screen horizontally and moves it to the top of the dashboard for better multimedia viewing.

The cockpit and steering wheel can also be moved away from the driver to create a roomier area when the vehicle is stationary, such as when recharging.

Speaking of which, the SUV’s 89kWh battery can be charged at up to 200kW and a full charge can deliver a claimed driving range of more than 600km.

Skoda board member for technical development Johannes Neft said “these parameters underline the technical possibilities” of the MEB architecture, while the interior “offers a glimpse into the future of individual mobility”.

No other specifications or performance figures have been given for the powertrain.

For reference, the Skoda Enyaq vRS develops a maximum of 225kW/460Nm from its dual motors – enough to launch it from 0-100km/h in a claimed 6.5 seconds.

“Through our new brand identity, we’re getting ready for the electric future and clearly positioning Skoda among the external competition while at the same time distinguishing ourselves even more clearly from the other brands in the Volkswagen Group,” said CEO Klaus Zellmer.

“The Vision 7S is the forerunner of our new design language that we’ll be rolling out across the entire product portfolio over the coming years.

“We’ll also be using it to sharpen our customer appeal; with the new styling, we are taking the brand to the next level and aligning it to our customers’ new needs and expectations.”

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