The Vision 7S from ŠKODA. It's a concept study planning a spacious car for up to 7 people and changes the way the interior architecture is designed to be used. Robustness, functionality and authenticity are keywords in the design brief alongside recycled materials and sustainability. A great choice for those who like to explore the great outdoors or have a young family.
The key ideas focus on sustainable materials, inclusion of intuitive controls and digital technologies and the flexible use by passengers of all ages in the interior.
The all-electric SUV offers generous space for up to seven passengers and numerous Simply Clever details, rounding off the top end of ŠKODA’s product portfolio. The concept study is based on the Volkswagen Group’s Modular Electrification Kit (MEB) and has an 89kWh battery. This delivers a maximum range of more than 370 miles, in the WLTP cycle.
The Vision 7S is intended to be fully electric and use minimalist, functional design language. Simply Clever ideas from ŠKODA's technicians include an integrated child seat. This is located in the centre console, the safest place in a vehicle. Seated opposite to the direction of travel, passengers in the second row can monitor the child. Alternatively an optional interior camera can transmit video of the child to the front central infotainment display. This definitely focusses the emphasis on usability by all members of the family.
With very minimalist design, the interior features a symmetrical wrap-around design with a wide, horizontal dashboard extending to the doors, giving a greater sense of space. The VISION 7S is the first model to feature ŠKODA’s new, striking design language. Along with the Tech-Deck Face at the front end, it sports a solid underbody and aerodynamic roof lines, enhancing its efficiency. A carefully positioned hand-rest allows interaction with the touch screen and haptic* buttons more convenient and easy. Haptic controls are integrated into the redesigned steering wheel. Ambient lighting is used to emphasise areas of the interior and highlight easier entry and exit from the car.
The VISION 7S has nine vertical air outlets in the rear bumper. A control element in bright Flashy orange is located in the centre of both the front and rear. These can be pulled out to serve as hooks. They can also be used to safely cut off the vehicle’s high-voltage current from the outside, if required.
The matt metallic paint finish in the bright colour Explorer green underscores the minimalistic look of the VISION 7S. This is also the first ŠKODA with a matt body colour.
The door panels also feature interactive haptic and visual elements. The back rests of the front seats are fitted with holders for multimedia devices for passengers in the 2nd and 3rd rows. They also have backpacks integrated into them! The ŠKODA VISION 7S interior can be configured by the owner to be in either driving or relaxing mode - for the journey or for resting on the way. The seating rotates and reclines for everyone's comfort.
The centre of the interior is dominated by the large, rotating 14.6-inch screen: the largest ever installed in a ŠKODA car. In drive mode the display is oriented vertically, allowing for information to be perfectly stacked; the upper area of the screen, for example, is dedicated to important visual content such as the map and navigation guidance, while the lower area is easy to reach and control. It’s supported by an ergonomically placed hand rest atop the centre console. The user can adjust the amount of information simply by swiping up or down.
In addition, the menu widget can be used to scroll through various functions. For instance, the baby camera image can be placed anywhere in the user-defined area. The remaining area could be used in high-resolution for the maps, for example. In relax mode, in particular with the screen oriented horizontally, user-installed apps can be used for watching films or gaming. Given the longer distance to the screen when the seats are reclined, the infotainment system can also be operated by smartphone.
Passengers in the second and third rows can magnetically attach their devices to the seat backrests in front of them for optimal viewing. Interactive surfaces with coloured lights shining through the fabric are integrated into the door panels; a bright light in Flashy orange, for example, points to the door openers hidden in the lower part of the panel, while a blue or red light visualises air conditioning temperature changes. You can also write on the fabric with your finger – to leave short notes or for children to create little drawings.
Is this the future of the family car? We can't wait to see!
To be kept in the loop about the ŠKODA VISION 7S's progress into production and to our showrooms, please complete a handraiser enquiry form and we'll keep in touch.
*Google defines haptic as "the use of technology that stimulates the senses of touch and motion, especially to reproduce in remote operation or computer simulation the sensations that would be felt by a user interacting directly with physical objects". Haptic refers to manual and virtual refers to on-screen controls.
