In the coming years, Skoda will be gradually expanding its offering in the SUV space and the brand is planning to do so with the VisionS concept. Shown at the ongoing Geneva Motor Show, the VisionS gives an insight into the future SUV above the Yeti, which will be presented in the second half of 2016.
Besides the future SUV design language, the VisionS also boasts of new technologies that Skoda will be placing an emphasis on in the coming years. Based on Volkswagen Group’s modular transverse matrix (MQB) platform, it’s the first Skoda with three rows of seating arrangement. Depending on the position of the seats, Skoda is claiming a boot space of up to 460-litres
Interestingly, the VisionS offers a glimpse into Skoda’s electric future. A plug-in hybrid engine will be available, followed shortly afterwards by a purely electric powered engine. With a power output of 225bhp from its petrol-electric drivetrain, the show car accelerates from zero to 100 kmph in 7.4 seconds and has a top speed of almost 200kmph. The VisionS can even cover up to 50km on electric mode alone, and travels up to 1,000km with both systems combined.
The petrol engine is a 1.4 TSI with 156bhp and 250Nm of torque. It works alongside an e-motor that provides 40kW of power and a peak torque of 220Nm. Meanwhile, a 6-speed DSG transfers the power to the front wheels. Furthermore, a second electric motor with up to 85kW and 270Nm of torque drives the rear axle. It works independently from the front-wheel drive, meaning the show car has four-wheel drive, which requires no mechanical coupling.
The VisionS, then, is quite clever in the way it makes and delivers power and is thereby quite a crucial product for Skoda’s future line-up. The forthcoming SUV which is scheduled to arrive later this year should offer a good blend of practicality and efficiency thanks to its six-seater arrangement and a clever drivetrain.
