2019 Geneva Motor Show: Skoda Vision iV Concept Unveiled

Skoda has revealed the Vision iV Concept at the ongoing 2019 Geneva Motor Show. The Skoda Vision iV Concept is the first all-electric vehicle from the Czech automobile manufacturer and it gives us a glimpse into the future of electric vehicles from Skoda.

The crossover revealed at Geneva is part of the build-up towards the production model that will be launched in 2021. The Skoda Vision iV Concept imbibes several signature Skoda design traits. It features a typical crossover-coupe design stance.

Running across the entire front end is a horizontal LED strip that connects the LED headlamps. It also sports an updated Skoda grille and a sharp and edgy bumper design. Characterising the side profile is a floating roof design and 22-inch alloy wheels that according to Skoda are 'aerodynamically optimised'.

Like most concept cars, it comes with 180-degree cameras as a substitute for ORVMs and it also features electric doors. The interiors are as funky as one would expect it to be in a concept. Right in the middle of the dashboard is a floating touchscreen display for infotainment.

Another display behind the unique two-spoke steering wheel takes care of instrument duties. Bucket seats add a sporty feel to the interiors and Skoda claims to have made use of eco-friendly materials in its floor mats.

Connectivity has been given utmost priority as the Skoda Vision iV Concept comes with wireless mobile phone charging built into the dashboard. The infotainment system supports connectivity of two phones.

The Skoda Vision iV Concept is powered by a liquid-cooled 82kWh lithium-ion battery mounted between the axles. Two electric motors - one at the front and one at the rear – drive the crossover. Together, they produce 302bhp, allowing it to have a 0-100km/h time of 5.9 seconds.

Acceleration from 80 to 120km/h takes less than four seconds and top speed is said to have been limited to 180km/h. Skoda claims that the Vision iV will have a range of nearly 500 kilometres on a fully charged battery. It will also be equipped with fast charging capabilities, taking the battery from zero to 80 percent charge in just 30 minutes.

The Skoda Vision iV Concept is a level 3 autonomous car with cameras, laser scanners and smart connectivity. The crossover is equipped with park assist and traffic jam assist. Skoda claims the systems can take complete control of the car in motorway scenarios. It also comes with smart features like gesture control, real-time traffic updates, driver well-being monitoring, speech recognition, etc.

Thoughts On Skoda Vision iV Concept

The Skoda Vision iV Concept is Skoda's most daring one yet. The automotive industry is headed in the direction of electric vehicles and this is exactly why Skoda has chosen the same direction. It would be interesting to see if most of the features on the Vision iV Concept would filter down to the production variant due in 2021.