Skoda has pulled the wraps off the Vision iV, the company’s all-electric crossover coupe. It is the first vehicle from Skoda to be based on Volkswagen Group’s MEB modular electric car platform.
The design of the car is futuristic and one thing that grabs your attention is the full width LED DRL, running across the grille. When viewed from the side, the Vision iV reminds you of the BMW X6 Coupe. The slim Matrix LED headlights and the newly designed hexagonal grille with vertical slats give it an aggressive look. The doors don’t have any handles and Skoda says a touch will open the doors automatically. The wing mirrors have been replaced by cameras providing a 180-degree view which is relayed in the rear-view mirror. The Vision iV is 4,665 mm long, 1,926 mm wide and has a height of 1,613 mm; its wheelbase is 2,765 mm. Another cool feature of the concept car is the illuminated Skoda lettering in one of the spokes of the 22-inch alloy wheels. Moving to the rear, the Vision iV has C-shaped LED taillamps along with a strip of lights above the rear diffuser. The tailgate houses the Skoda lettering which is illuminated in red.
The cabin design is minimalistic and futuristic at the same time, courtesy the newly designed two-spoke steering wheel and a big floating touchscreen infotainment system dominating the centre console. The various driver modes can also be selected via controls mounted on the steering wheel. The driver information cluster is also fully digital with information like battery level, speedo and maps. Between the driver and passenger seat, there is space for two mobile phones, which can be wirelessly charged and integrated into the operating systems of the car. The car can be unlocked via a smartphone and the concept car is equipped with gesture control and speech recognition as well. Skoda says that the interior materials for the instrument panels and door trims are made from Ultrasuede, a premium material which is manufactured in a particularly eco-friendly way. The seat materials are made from Dinamica, which is made from partially recycled polyester.
The Vision iV is powered by two electric motors – one on the front axle and one on the rear axle. The combined power output of both the electric motors is 302bhp, sent to all four wheels. Top speed of the car is a claimed 180kmph and Skoda says that the Vision iV will accelerate to 100kmph from standstill in 5.9 seconds. The car also boasts a maximum range of up to 500km in the WLTP cycle. The 83-kWh liquid cooled lithium-ion battery can be charged to 80 per cent in just 30 minutes, according to the company. The battery pack is placed between the front and rear axles to give a low centre of gravity.
The Vision iV is fitted with various laser scanners, radar sensors and cameras, allowing it to navigate its surroundings and respond accordingly. It also gets connectivity to interact with other cars and infrastructure like traffic control centres. The Vision iV is capable of level 3 autonomous driving, which means that it can completely take over steering on motorways, for instance. Here, the systems control overtaking and evasive manoeuvres, accelerate and apply the brakes. In dangerous situations, the driver is prompted to take over the steering wheel again within a defined time frame. From level 3, vehicles also communicate automatically with other vehicles, allowing them to inform one another of potential dangers.
The Vision iV is an important car for Skoda as it gives a glimpse of its design language for future models and its next steps towards sustainable electric mobility. Stay tuned for more action from the Geneva Motor Show.