GENEVA - Skoda's VisionC' makes its debut.

• ‘ŠKODA VisionC’ makes its debut at the Volkswagen Group Night on 3 March
• Design study represents the next stage in ŠKODA’s design language
• Design: expressive, dynamic, emotional, environmentally friendly
• Concept: ŠKODA’s first ever coupé
• Typically ŠKODA: functionality – coupé with large tailgate
• Environment: CO₂ emission value of just 91 g/km falls well within the stringent EU2020 standard specifications
• Technology: close-to-production drive technology, light weight and optimised aerodynamics (cW value: 0.26)
• State-of-the-art infotainment: large displays for driver and passengers

Strong start for ŠKODA in Geneva: The spectacular design concept, ‘ŠKODA VisionC’ celebrated its world premiere last night at the Volkswagen Group Night on the eve of the Geneva Motor Show. The five-door coupé, with its emotionally-charged design, is pioneering the next stage in the development of ŠKODA design, demonstrating the opportunities for innovative body concepts at the same time. “ŠKODA VisionC” impresses with its expressive and dynamical design language as well as with ultra-modern technical features, low emissions, light weight and optimised aerodynamics.

“ŠKODA is on the move,” says ŠKODA CEO Prof. Dr. h.c. Winfried Vahland. “The ‘VisionD’, just three years ago, was the starting point and design milestone for our model offensive. With ‘ŠKODA VisionC’ ŠKODA‘s model and design development of recent years has entered a new stage. Greater priority is being placed on design, proving the emotional charisma and power of the ŠKODA brand. ‘ŠKODA VisionC’ shows off the company‘s outstanding design and engineering skills while highlighting the dynamism and importance of one of the longest-established vehicle brands. Over the coming years we intend to grow with the launch of ever more sophisticated cars and consolidate our position as an international high-volume manufacturer,” says Prof. Dr. Vahland.

Maximum elegance, dynamism and style

‘ŠKODA VisionC’ is a five-door coupé with expressive styling and dynamic elegance. Its design language is a striking development of the new design line adopted three years ago. Elegant lines accentuate the vehicle’s exciting proportions. ŠKODA Chief designer Jozef Kabaň and his team have achieved a unique combination of soft, light contours, concave and convex surfaces as well as sharp, precise lines. Surfaces and proportions convince with a clear structure, the interplay of light and shade is crisp, the edges are clearly defined. ForKabaň,“avoiding all ornament and frills is essential.”

A self-assured front

The coupé’s front has a self-assured and dynamic look. The wide radiator grille and distinctive shape of the headlamps with their tapering triangular form dominate the powerful front end. The headlamp contours are sharp-edged, like cut glass crystals. In combination with the fog lamps, also triangular, they give the car an expressive, three-dimensional four-eyed look.

The grille retains its slightly curving form, it is however somewhat flatter and broader than in current ŠKODA models. The vertical fins are a distinguishing feature. In the design study, they are hand-made crystal elements with discreet indirect illumination.

In the lower area of the front view, a large air inlet – extending over the entire width of the vehicle – emphasises the vehicle’s elegant dynamism.

The bonnet is elongated and is accentuated with longitudinal chamfering to the right and left, extending in a slight arc from the A pillar through to the transition between headlamps and radiator grille. Jozef Kabaň describes it as “an expression of emotion, form and movement.” This reinterpreted bonnet bears the ŠKODA logo as its dominating centrepiece, on a harmoniously-rounded bonnet nose stretching into the radiator grille.

Dynamically elegant coupé silhouette with sharp tornado line

From the side view, ‘ŠKODA VisionC’ appears neat with clean lines. “The form is intended to look attractive. We have dispensed with superfluous corners and edges,” saysKabaň. The high tornado line, the low-lying front windscreen and the short overhangs emphasise the vehicle’s dynamic distinctiveness. The same goes also in particular for the sharp waistline which starts on the elegant bonnet at the wings, snugly and naturally hugging the sides.

The powerful, sleek silhouette, the roofline sloping gently down at the back over the C pillar, the fine flowing lines without visible gradations, frameless side windows and the strong side-transition to the tail – all this is aesthetically pure.

Typically for a ŠKODA, the lower side window line slopes gradually backwards, sweeping down to the rear side window of the back door. This ŠKODA design feature described by the designers as a ‘fin’ was first used in the brand’s model design on the new ŠKODA Octavia, and is continued in the ‘ŠKODA VisionC’ as a distinctive feature.

The door handles of the ‘ŠKODA VisionC’ are a feature in themselves. The designers have simply made them ‘disappear’. The door handles – running directly under the tornado line – are set invisibly into the external door trim. To open the doors, you press the handle – the door then comes out automatically and can be operated.

The rear flanks of the vehicle are particularly exciting due to the broad, striking design of the wheel arches. The rear lights reach far into the sides of the vehicle, emphasising the dynamic aspirations of the ‘ŠKODA VisionC’ as well as the long wheelbase. The ‘ŠKODA VisionC’ features large 19-inch aluminium wheels.

Rear: unexpected and exciting

The shape of the tail is dynamic, exciting and unexpected. Maximum 3-D design creates a sculpture-like shape. The new tail light design is a brilliant distinctive touch. The C-shaped lights, a typical ŠKODA form, are divided into two parts, with the C being separated horizontally through the middle. The upper part is in the tailgate, housing all the lighting functions. The lower part of the C is formed by the reflector elements (cat’s eyes) inset into the bumper.

The vertical closure of the tailgate has a surprising and unique shape. In particular the sharp, inward crease is a striking accent. This radical rear end has a positive effect on the drag coefficient C_W. Triangular-shaped embossing in the tailgate (described by the designers as “triangular cubist elements”) clearly identifies the ‘ŠKODA VisionC’ as a member of the ŠKODA family.

Exacting standards in functionality and eco-friendliness

In addition to its sophisticated design, the ‘ŠKODA VisionC’ is iconic in terms of functionality and environmental friendliness. The design shows off the conceptual talents of the ŠKODA engineers: design, technical features, space, functionality and the emotionally-charged coupé shape combine to make a very impressive package.

The ‘ŠKODA VisionC’ has plenty of space for four people and their luggage. Typically ŠKODA are the large tailgate and the generous boot space. In addition, state-of-the-art MQB technology, a close-to-production drive system, light weight and optimised aerodynamics all demonstrate great potential for ‘sensible’ individual mobility with optimised environmental values and the best possible value for money.

The ‘ŠKODA VisionC’ has outstanding emission values thanks to the innovative CNG drive, light bodyweight and excellent aerodynamics. The technology under the bonnet is an up-to-the-minute and state-of-the-art bivalent 1.4 TSI/81 kW CNG and petrol turbo engine which will accelerate the vehicle up to a maximum speed of 214 km/h.

In CNG mode, the vehicle only consumes merely 3.4 kg or 5.1 m³ natural gas per 100 kilometres, corresponding to a CO₂ output of just 91 g. This value emphasises the study’s closeness to reality and is significantly below the much-discussed limit decreed by the European Commission for 2020. Here ŠKODA shows that even attractive mid-range vehicles with conventional drive technologies can achieve ambitious CO₂ values.

Maximising aerodynamics and minimising weight were priorities for the ŠKODA engineers. Perfect interaction between design and technical enhancements have resulted in a drag coefficient for the ‘ŠKODA VisionC’ of just 0.26. In terms of weight optimisation, ŠKODA has used carbon fibre for the gas tanks and extra-light hot-formed steel. Important bolt-on parts such as the wings, bonnet and doors are in aluminium.

Interior: perfect elegance and comfort

The ‘ŠKODA VisionC’ is a glimpse of ŠKODA interior design of the future. Interior and exterior design are in harmony, both asserting the overall impression of a sleek, dynamic and elegant vehicle. Striking interior features include a recurrent elegant interplay of convex and concave surfaces, precise lines and the use of top quality, state-of-the-art materials.

In the coupé, four individual seats provide plenty of room for four people to sit in comfort. Despite the coupé-style silhouette, the vehicle is spacious. The accentuated horizontals emphasise the feeling of airy spaciousness. All instruments and controls are laid out in accordance with up-to-date ergonomic requirements, just in the right place. The infotainment system sets clear benchmarks with data processing and presentation of all relevant information on large displays for driver and passengers.

In front of the driver there is a fully-programmable combined unit with a large 3-D display. The attention-grabbing centrepiece of the dashboard is the touch-sensitive multimedia screen which projects gracefully from the dashboard, seeming to be hung-up in the interior. The visual effect is intensified by accents of back-lighting. Additional brilliance is provided by the finely polished glass structure – another reference to the art of the Bohemian glassmakers.

The air-conditioning controls are accommodated under the screen, on the decorative glass surface in the central console.

The transition between dashboard and doors is particularly elegant. A continuous ‘light line’ unites both elements visually, at the same time emphasising the breadth of the vehicle. The light line runs over the entire width of the door, circles the armrests and ends in the seat-belt tensioner. Additional visual accents are provided in the doors with backlit crystal decorative elements. Nevertheless, functional aspects are by no means neglected, including storage compartments for one-litre bottles.

Each rear passenger also has a foldaway multimedia screen. A screen integrated into the back section of the central arm rest shows basic information on vehicle operation.

Comfort for the rear passengers is of paramount importance. Individually-adjustable air-outlets are integrated into the backrests. The rear headrests retract into the backrests when not in use, so that the driver has a clear view behind him when there are no rear passengers. When required, the headrests are simply flipped up. There are reading lamps in the sides of both rear doors.

The large boot of the ‘ŠKODA VisionC’ is impressively spacious. The tailgate swings open wide, making loading and unloading quick and easy. Moreover, the luggage space has a range of ‘Simply Clever’ solutions such as bag hooks or straps integrated into the boot floor for securing luggage. On the sidewalls there are lockable compartments for small items.