Urban Skoda electric SUV gets the go-ahead for launch

At its annual press conference this year, Skoda announced the launch of three new electric cars that are more affordable than the Enyaq iV by 2030. One of these future models is an urban Skoda electric SUV, Martin Jahn, BoM Member responsible for Sales and Marketing, Skoda Auto, confirmed at the event.

We will have at least three more models of electric cars in the near future. I think a smaller city BEV car is one of them and I think we will be bringing cars that are suited for the new mobility.

Martin Jahn, BoM Member responsible for Sales and Marketing, Skoda Auto (Skoda Auto Annual Press Conference on 22 March 2022)

Modern Solid

The next-gen Skoda vehicles will incorporate a new design language called Modern Solid. Debuting during the second half of the year in the concept version of the urban Skoda electric SUV, the design language will mark the shift in Skoda’s focus towards family and outdoor lifestyles.

Because our customers’ requirements are changing rapidly, we want to align ourselves even more closely with their lifestyles. In doing so, we are guided by our corporate vision – ‘we will help the world live smarter’. I can assure you: There will be a real wow moment – both for our customers and for our competition, too.

Thomas Schafer, CEO, Skoda (Skoda Auto Annual Press Conference on 22 March 2022)

Skoda released a teaser of the urban electric SUV concept at the annual press conference. The squarish, boxy-looking model features an upright front fascia, visibly raked A-pillars, angular windows, and a slightly hunched rear end. Our rendering sharpens the blurred details to preview the concept’s expected design well ahead of the reveal. We foresee minor design changes from the concept, such as replacing the digital mirrors and flush door handles with conventional units in the production version, which will be developed as an EV from the outset.

Jahn said that adopting the Modern Solid design language will be the biggest change for the brand since it became a Volkswagen Group family member. Modern Solid will prepare it for the highly digital and fully electric era.

This shift represents the most dramatic change for ŠKODA since it became a part of the Volkswagen Group. We will newly define our purpose, positioning, and customer groups, which will shape our new brand design and design language, as well as brand communication.

Martin Jahn, BoM Member, responsible for Sales and Marketing, Skoda Auto (Skoda Auto Annual Press Conference on 22 March 2022)

Features

The Skoda city SUV will break new ground, while still commemorating the brand’s philosophy of being “Simply Clever.”

Obviously, we don’t want to talk about more details but if you ask what will be typical of Skoda cars, we will keep the elements of being simple, of being simply clever, of being human, so these are still cars for the family. These will be beautiful cars but different. But please have some patience and we will be showing more details throughout the year. It will be Skoda but for the next level of the mobility.

Martin Jahn, BoM Member, responsible for Sales and Marketing, Skoda Auto (Skoda Auto Annual Press Conference on 22 March 2022)

MEB or MEB eco platform?

Underpinning the urban Skoda electric SUV should be the MEB eco platform, meaning that the drive may consist of an electric motor integrated into the front axle. Skoda may offer battery pack capacity options as big as 57 kWh at launch, targeting a WLTP range of 400 km (249 miles). If not, the MEB platform that underpins the VW ID.3 would be the choice of architecture.

We are now preparing, as I said you know, into the new models for the future, the new electric models, changing the factories into electric model capabilities. That is a huge effort that we have to go through. So, it will keep us well under stress in the next couple of months to get it all under control and soon deliver a great result again at the end of this year.

Thomas Schafer, CEO, Skoda (Skoda Auto Annual Press Conference on 22 March 2022)

The urban Skoda electric SUV could debut as a concept at the 2022 Paris Motor Show (17-23 October 2022) and as a production model in 2025, made either in the Czech Republic or Spain.

Urban Skoda electric SUV FAQs

Featured Image Source: Skoda Auto