Skoda Vision O is the electric Octavia wagon of the future
Today's automotive world is filled with high-riding SUVs, and the humble station wagon has been pretty much forgotten. Automakers across the globe have shifted their focus to crossovers and sport utility vehicles, leaving wagon fans with only a few options. Or have they?
Skoda just revealed its Vision O concept at the Munich Auto Show, and it's a bold statement that the wagon isn't dead. In fact, it might be the future of the brand's most popular car.
According to Skoda, the Vision O is a direct preview of the next-generation Skoda Octavia. The current gasoline-powered Octavia is Skoda's best-selling model and a financial cornerstone for the company. Thankfully, instead of abandoning a winning formula for the electric era, Skoda is embracing it.
The upcoming electric Octavia is expected to hit showrooms by 2028, and it will be a long-roof wagon that proves practicality and style can coexist in the world of electric cars. It will share its foundation, the advanced SSP electric platform, with its corporate cousin, the future Volkswagen ID. Golf.
The concept car showcases Skoda's "Modern Solid" design language (same as the new Skoda Epiq), which gives it a powerful presence unlike any Octavia before it. The front features an aggressive look with a unique light signature Skoda calls the "tech-loop."
The body has sharp lines, blocky shapes, and squared-off fenders that create a confident stance. A few design elements are pure auto show fantasy, like the rear-hinged back doors that open outward. But the key features like the blacked-out rear pillar and a unique concave tailgate with "Skoda" spelled out in bright LEDs are expected to make it to the production model.
The interior of the Vision O is where the future truly arrives. Skoda has completely reimagined the dashboard, removing the traditional instrument cluster that sits behind the steering wheel. In its place is a "Horizon Display," a screen that measures 47.2 inches wide and stretches across the base of the windshield.
This unashamedly BMW-inspired display provides the driver with all necessary information in a clean, minimalist layout. It is complemented by a large, portrait-oriented touchscreen that appears to float in the center of the dash. Below it, a console houses dual wireless phone chargers and a rotary dial with haptic feedback for controlling various vehicle functions. And of course, there's "Laura" - an AI voice assistant ready to take commands at a moment's notice.
Station wagons are all about space, and the Vision O definitely delivers. The concept car is 190.9 inches long - that's about 6 inches longer than the current Octavia wagon - and that extra length means more room for passengers and cargo. With the rear seats up, the trunk can hold 23 ft³ of luggage, groceries, or anything else a family needs to haul.
The concept also includes some clever, if not production-ready, features like an integrated refrigerator, a portable Bluetooth speaker, and even four umbrellas tucked away for a rainy day.
Skoda is showing off the design and interior, but the company is keeping quiet about the electric powertrain's details. We know the SSP platform it will be built on is designed for serious performance, with reports suggesting the new electric Octavia will have 800-volt charging technology, allowing for incredibly fast charging times.
The vehicle's advanced software is also being co-developed with Rivian. And for those who crave speed, you can be sure Skoda is already planning a high-performance vRS version that will add plenty more power and aggressive styling to this very promising electric wagon.
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