First look: Skoda previews electric Octavia estate concept

Silhouette takes familiar Octavia shape and applies new 'Modern Solid' cues Vision O concept to be revealed in September as a preview of the next-gen Octavia, twinned with VW ID Golf Skoda has given a first glimpse of an electric estate car concept it will reveal at the Munich motor show in September. Named Vision O, the show car will gives clues to the next-generation electric Octavia, due to arrive by the end of the decade as the first Skoda atop the VW Group's new SSP EV platform. The first official preview image reveals a silhouette that stays true to the general shape of the current car, but with distinctive new light signatures and sharper edging in line with Skoda's new 'Modern Solid' design language. Skoda also says the "steeply raked" windscreen and "gently sloping roofline" are "design cues that have characterised Skoda's most successful estate models". The brand says the Superb and Octavia estates are among its best-selling global models, with the Octavia 'Combi', particularly, ranking as its top seller in certain markets. "It's no surprise, then, that Skoda is committed to continuing the estate bodywork legacy into the future," it said. Exterior designer Jounggeen Kim shaped the Vision O's silhouette, and said his task was "to apply the Modern Solid language to an estate car". He said he designed the concept to be an "all-in-one" proposition. "This car is built to do it all," he added. “I see Škoda as a family-oriented brand—practical, reliable, and trustworthy,” Kim continues. “I aimed to reflect those qualities through the new Modern Solid design language.” Kim added that while the Vision O will be a future-looking concept that adheres to Skoda's current design principles, he took inspiration from past models including the Yeti and Roomster. Announcing the concept car earlier this year, CEO Klaus Zellmer said: “In September in Munich, we're going to have a concept car that gives an indication of what the new design language will be for the Octavia and what the technology in that car will be able to deliver.” Skoda had originally planned to launch an electric estate version of the Octavia based on the Volkswagen Group’s current MEB electric architecture. However, Zellmer said it will instead be underpinned by the SSP architecture that’s in the works because it will offer “more performance and be more cost-efficient”. He said: “Wait and see until September, and then we will show you the full potential and technical package that we envision. It will be a concept car, so this is also a test bed for us to see what the resonance from the media, from our dealers and from our potential customers is.” The production version of the electric Octavia estate is due by the end of the decade at a similar time to the related Volkswagen ID Golf, which will also be based on the SSP platform. It is expected to lead the next generation of electric Skodas and mark the point where its combustion-engined and all-electric ranges start to converge. To date, Skoda’s electric vehicles have existed in a parallel line-up as the brand prioritises consumer choice and will continue to do so. This suggests the hybridised combustion-engined Octavia estate will continue to be sold as Skoda gradually introduces battery-electric vehicles into its more familiar nameplates. Before the electric Octavia, two more Skoda EVs are due. The Epiq, a sibling to the Volkswagen ID 2 and Cupra Raval, will be launched next year as the Skoda's entry-level electric car. The brand will also put its previous Vision 7S concept car into production in 2026 as an electric equivalent of the Kodiaq. This is likely to be Skoda’s most expensive car yet, but Zellmer said it will retain its core principles of “design functionality and value for money”. However, there are no plans to launch a Skoda version of the recently unveiled Volkswagen ID Every1 concept car, which will arrive as an entry-level VW electric city car in 2027 and be priced from around £17,000. “We have decided not to be part of that segment,” said Zellmer. “Within the Volkswagen Group, VW [will be left to] conquer that part of the market.” Skoda is not abandoning entry-level cars altogether, though, and Zellmer confirmed a sub-£17,000 starting price would remain in its range as the Fabia, Kamiq and Scala have all been signed off for updates to keep them in the market for the years ahead. This will include mild-hybrid versions, something that’s required for the upcoming Euro 7 emissions regulations, which re-engineered versions of these cars will have to meet. Zellmer is keen to add more hybrids to Skoda’s range, including more long-range plug-in hybrids off the back of the success of Superb and Kodiaq hybrids. He said: “We want to have more hybrids in our portfolio because this is clearly something that we see reflected in the competitive landscape and consumer sentiment. "The feedback we get from our dealers and from our customers in those cars [Superb and Kodiaq plug-ins] is very reassuring that we're heading the right way to have the best of both worlds: the range and the ease of a combustion engine, and the peace and quiet driving around and more than 100km [62 miles of electric range] with the E drive mode.”

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