New Skoda Vision iV SUV concept teased

Skoda has shown the first official images of the Vision iV concept ahead of its unveil at the Geneva motor show in March. The Vision iV is a near-production-ready concept of the all-electric SUV than the 2017 Vision E and is said to provide "a specific outlook of the brand's electric future". However, official sketches of the model show the "four-door crossover coupé" concept's design to be very similar to that of the older concept.

The two concepts may look nearly identical in profile; but the Vision iV seems to feature a traditional slatted grille design as opposed to the blanked-off item seen on the older Vision E. A darkened image shows that the Vision iV will also have a full-width LED daytime running light underneath the main headlights; and the Skoda name seen at the rear is back-lit red.

Last year, the brand has announced that the production-spec Vision iV will be sold as a standard SUV as well as a coupé variant – much like the Kodiaq and China-only Kodiaq GT.
First deliveries of the production-ready Vision iV are due at the end of 2021, but it has not yet been made clear which of the two versions will arrive first. Both variants are to be based on the Volkswagen Group’s electric-only MEB platform – a platform that will be used across all of the brand's EV line-up.

In a prior conversation with our sister publication, Autocar UK, Skoda sales and marketing boss Alain Favey said that the Vision E “gives a very good idea of what the EV will look like.” Both versions of the model will fit between the Karoq and Kodiaq in terms of size and have a battery that will be able to provide nearly 500km of range. Its pricing will be comparable with that of a mid-to-upper-range Kodiaq.

Inside, the car will feature the 'floating' screen which was seen in the Vision X concept earlier this year.

Ahead of these models arriving, Skoda will launch the electric Citigo-e, a sibling of the Volkswagen e-Up and future Seat eMii. The car is largely intended for Skoda and its network to gain experience in electric cars, to make sure dealers and repairers are ready. “The real first step [into electric cars] will be with the [stand-alone SUV]," Favey has said.

In the coming months is a plug-in hybrid version of Skoda's Superb flagship is also also due to be unveiled, likely close after the unveiling of the standard facelift model.