Geneva International Motor Show – “Skoda VisionC” design study:
A brand on the move
* Geneva highlight: five-door coupe design study Skoda VisionC.
* Design study represents the next stage in Skoda design language
* Design: expressive, dynamic, emotional, environmentally friendly
* Concept: Skoda first-ever coupe
* Typically Skoda: functionality coupe with a 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, lightweight and optimized aerodynamics (CW value: 0.26)
* State-of-the-art infotainment: large displays for drivers and passengers
Geneva Boleslav, March 2014 “Skoda’s dynamic model, and design offensive have stepped up a level. In Geneva, the Czech vehicle manufacturer presents the spectacular “Skoda VisionC” design study. The five-door coupe, with its emotionally-charged design, is pioneering the next stage in the development of Skoda design, demonstrating the opportunities for innovative body concepts at the same time.
Skoda VisionC impresses with its expressive and dynamical design language as well as with ultra-modern technical features, low emissions, lightweight, and optimized aerodynamics.
“SKODA is on the move,” says Skoda CEO Prof. Dr. h.c. Winfried Vahland. “The Vision D, just three years ago, was the starting point and design milestone for our model offensive. With Skoda VisionC Skoda’s model and design development of recent years have entered a new stage.
Greater priority is being placed on design, proving the emotional charisma and power of the Skoda brand. Skoda 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
“Skoda VisionC” is a five-door coupe 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. Skoda chief designer Jozef Kaban 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 defined. For Kaban, “avoiding all ornament and frills is essential.”
A self-assured front
The coupe’s front has a confident 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 Skoda 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 “emphasizes 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 Kaban describes it as “an expression of emotion, form, and movement.” This reinterpreted bonnet bears the Skoda logo as its dominating centerpiece, on a harmoniously-rounded bonnet nose stretching into the radiator grille.
Dynamically elegant coupe silhouette with sharp tornado line
From the side view, Skoda VisionC” appears neat with clean lines. “The form is intended to look attractive. We have dispensed with superfluous corners and edges,” says Kaban. The high tornado line, the low-lying front windscreen, and the short overhangs emphasize the vehicle’s dynamic distinctiveness. The same also goes 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 Skoda, the lower side window line slopes gradually backward, sweeping down to the rear side window of the back door. This Skoda design feature described by the designers as a ˜fin was first used in the brand’s model design on the new Skoda Octavia and is continued in the “Skoda VisionC” as a distinctive feature.
The door handles of the “Skoda 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, emphasizing the dynamic aspirations of the “Skoda VisionC” as well as the long wheelbase. The “Skoda VisionC” features large 19-inch aluminum wheels.
Rear: unexpected and exciting
The shape of the tail is dynamic, exciting, and unexpected. The maximum 3-D design creates a sculpture-like shape. The new taillight design is a brilliant, distinctive touch. The C-shaped lights, a typical Skoda 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 CW. Triangular-shaped embossing in the tailgate (described by the designers as “triangular cubist elements”) identifies the “Skoda VisionC” as a member of the Skoda family.
Exacting standards in functionality and eco-friendliness
In addition to its sophisticated design, the “Skoda VisionC” is iconic in terms of functionality and environmental friendliness. The design shows off the conceptual talents of the Skoda engineers: design, technical features, space, functionality, and the emotionally-charged coupe shape combine to make a very impressive package.
The “Skoda VisionC” has plenty of space for four people and their luggage. Typically Skoda is a large tailgate and generous boot space. Also, state-of-the-art MQB technology, a close-to-production drive system, lightweight and optimized aerodynamics all demonstrate significant potential for sensible individual mobility with optimized environmental values and the best possible value for money.
The “Skoda 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 kilometers, corresponding to a CO2 output of just 91 g. This value emphasizes the study’s closeness to reality and is significantly below the much-discussed limit decreed by the European Commission for 2020. Here Skoda shows that even attractive mid-range vehicles with conventional drive technologies can achieve ambitious CO2 values.
Maximizing aerodynamics and minimizing weight were priorities for the Skoda engineers. The perfect interaction between design and technical enhancements has resulted in a drag coefficient for the “Skoda VisionC” of just 0.26. Regarding weight optimization, Skoda has used carbon fiber for the gas tanks and extra-light hot-formed steel. Important bolt-on parts such as the wings, bonnet, and doors are in aluminum.
Interior: perfect elegance and comfort
The “Skoda VisionC” is a glimpse of Skoda’s 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 coupe, four individual seats provide plenty of room for four people to sit in comfort. Despite the coupe-style silhouette, the vehicle is spacious. The accentuated horizontals emphasize the feeling of airy spaciousness. All instruments and controls are laid out by 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 drivers and passengers.
In front of the driver, there is a fully-programmable combined unit with a large 3-D display. The attention-grabbing centerpiece 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 the dashboard and doors is particularly elegant. A continuous ˜light line unites both elements visually, at the same time emphasizing 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-liter bottles.
Each rear passenger also has a foldaway multimedia screen. A screen integrated into the back section of the central armrest 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 of him when there are no rear passengers. When required, the headrests are simply flipped up. There are reading lamps on the sides of both rear doors.
The large boot of the “Skoda 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.
Skoda AUTO
* is one of the longest-established vehicle production companies in the world. Since 1895, the Czech headquarters in Boleslav has seen the production firstly of bicycles and then, shortly afterward motorbikes and cars.
* currently has seven passenger car models: Citigo, Fabia, Roomster/Praktik, Rapid, Octavia, Yeti, and Superb.
º delivered around 920,800 vehicles to customers worldwide in 2013.
* has belonged to Volkswagen since 1991. The VW Group is one of the most successful automotive groups in the world. Skoda, in association with the Group, independently manufactures and develops vehicles, as well as components, engines, and gear transmissions.
* operates at three locations in the Czech Republic, produces in China, Russia, Slovakia, and India mainly through Group partnerships, as well as in Ukraine and Kazakhstan through local partners.
* employs over 26,400 people globally and is active in more than 100 markets.
