Skoda Kamiq design sketches revealed

Skoda’s new ‘city’ SUV, the Kamiq, will make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March and the Czech company has released a couple of sketches of the compact SUV. It will be launched in late 2020 and when it comes to India, it might not be called Kamiq. It is based on the MQB-A0-IN and is being engineered jointly by Skoda’s India and Czech tech centres.

A noteworthy element that you will notice is the split headlamp treatment, with the LED DRLs placed above as a separate entity. As a result, it looks aggressive and this is the first time that Skoda has attempted this styling. Let’s hope that the production model gets split headlamp treatment as well. The Kamiq is also the first Skoda to have dynamic indicators at the front and rear. The tailgate will bear the Skoda lettering instead of the Skoda logo, similar to the Vision RS concept, which was showcased at the 2018 Paris Motor Show. The SUV sports a muscular look with the sculpted bonnet and the creases on the sides. Skoda says that the Kamiq will have a high ground clearance.

Oliver Stefani, Škoda chief designer on the Kamiq

“In our new Kamiq city SUV we’ve implemented a completely new headlamp configuration. The two-part headlamps with daytime running lights above are a first for Skoda. They give the Kamiq a unique appearance and represent another interpretation of our successful SUV design language.”

Furthermore, the sketches of Kamiq that you are looking at were drawn by Antti Mikael Savio, a Skoda Design team member. Here’s what he has to say about the design process:

How important is sketching in the design process?

It’s an essential part of the design process. Every car design starts on paper, which is the fastest way to communicate. When we sketch, we transfer an idea into a visual shape. This hints at what is about to happen to the brand identity.

What does every proper car design sketch need to have?

It needs to have a clear idea, emotion, and should propose some new design features. The key elements are harmony and desirable proportions. The sketch has to inspire people into wanting what it represents as a final product.

What is specific about car sketching compared to other kinds of sketching?

In my opinion, there is little difference between car sketching and drawing other things. The aim of a sketch is to capture the essence. The nub of a car sketch is to bring something unexpected and new to the field of car design, and you can also see those same rules in almost any other art form.

Did sketching bring you to car design, or did cars lead you to design and sketching?

Hard to say. They came together. I’ve always sketched cars, ever since I was a little boy…

What inspires you in your sketching?

I would say music and beautiful objects. Sometimes something as simple as an inspiring conversation can do the trick!