Skoda previews electric future

Seven-seat SUV concept heralds rugged new design language; due on sale in 2026

- WILL RIMELL

Skoda will launch a range-topping electric seven-seat SUV by 2026, plus a supermini and a compact crossover, in a push to become one of Europe's leading sellers of mass-market EVs.

The flagship SUV has been previewed by the striking new Vision 7S concept, which recently appointed brand boss Klaus Zellmer has described as an "entirely new" proposition for Skoda, in the sense that it showcases a radical new design language referred to as 'Modern Solid'.

The SUV will be among the final Volkswagen Group cars to use a variation of the MEB modular platform - which will be phased out from 2025 to be replaced by the new SSP architecture - and will effectively serve as an electric alternative to the combustion-engined Kodiaq.

The concept has a WLTP range of more than 370 miles, courtesy of an 89kWh battery that can charge at rates of up to 200kW.

That's far quicker than any mainstream Volkswagen Group EV on sale today, hinting at how substantially different the SUV will be from Skoda's current electric offering, the Enyaq iV.