Skoda's New SUV Concept Is An All-Electric, Twin-Motor Glimpse Into the Future

The Volkswagen Group’s wholesale move towards electric power has taken another baby step with the reveal of Skoda’s new Vision E concept; an all-electric, twin-motor, semi-autonomous SUV unveiled at the Shanghai Motor Show.

At 4645mm long, 1917mm wide and 1550mm tall, the 302bhp design study is a little shorter, a little wider and about 10cm lower than the Kodiaq SUV, but expect its dimensions to slim down and stretch a little if it ever makes production – which it may not. The autonomous driving systems within it definitely will, though.

Skoda says the Vision E meets all the criteria for Level 3 autonomous driving, which means it can take pretty much full control until it needs a human’s attention. It can adopt an autopilot mode on the motorway, stay in lane, swerve to avoid crashes, make overtakes and find parking spaces, before, of course, slotting itself into them, potentially without a driver on board at all.

As you’d expect, it’s rammed full of sensors and cameras that monitor the road layout, road markings, other traffic and more, but a driver has to be aware that it might just suddenly decide to stop doing its thing and hand control back. Some rivals, like Ford, are aiming straight for Level 4 autonomous driving, which is where Tesla are already at, and where cars become much more self-sufficient.

Onto the more practical stuff, then, and Skoda says the Vision E is capable of 112mph and 311 miles on a single charge – although obviously not simultaneously. One motor at each axle means the concept is four-wheel drive, and can split power to whichever axle it needs to under any given circumstance.

The Vision E comes two years ahead of the first production part-electric Skoda. The Superb is set to gain a plug-in hybrid in 2019, with the first full-electric Skoda pencilled in for 2020. Five years after that, the brand is planning to have five all-electric cars across its range, and potentially more hybrids as well.