First sight: Škoda Peaq
Positioned at the top of Škoda’s electric line up, the seven-seated Peaq was revealed at Mont-Salève in France. CDN reports from the launch event
The route to Škoda's latest reveal came with two options: tackle the climb to Mont-Salève by bike alongside Tour de France winner Chris Froome, or board a Skoda-branded cable car and enjoy views of Lake Geneva. Unsurprisingly, most opted for the latter, including this CDN writer. In temperatures nudging 35°C, Froome led a group of brave guests up the mountain before arriving at the summit without having broken a sweat.
Waiting at the top was the Škoda Peaq, a name that encourages alpine wordplay. Positioned at the peak (sorry) of Skoda's electric range, the seven-seat flagship marks the production version of the 2022 Vision 7S concept and the latest expression of the brand's Modern Solid design language.
The Peaq commands an impressive presence at almost 4.9 metres in length and 1.7 metres tall. It borrows elements from the Epiq, Elroq and Enyaq,such as the illuminated glossy black tech-dec face, but the Peaq stands out for its interior. The two-tone seating, LED ambient lighting, 13.6-inch vertical infotainment screen and foldable table all feel ultra-comfortable and well thought-out.
In attendance was a selection of the design team – including head of design Oliver Stefani, head of interior design and UX Chan Park and head of CMF Katerina Vranova.
CDN got the opportunity to speak to each designer about their contribution to the new vehicle.
Car Design News: Oliver, what are the design details we should focus on?
Oliver Stefani: The rear end is one of my favourite parts of the car. We’ve achieved something very unique with the thin T-shaped lights and the Škoda lettering, together they form quite a nice unit. It’s also very purposeful, as the boot offers over 800 litres of space [890 litres, to be exact]. We’ve also tried to make the side very simple with one line that runs all the way around the car – we made this shoulder pad quite sharp to give a feeling of protection.
We’ve found a solution to the new door handle safety regulations too and designed the door handles to be able to be opened manually without any battery/electricity.
CDN: And what about the overall silhouette, given this is now Skoda’s biggest car?
OS: The glasshouse isvery characteristic [of Škoda]. It’s upright and provides good visibility – without being too boxy. As for the front end, it’s super nice. It has a bit of a shark nose, but not too aggressive.
The body is quite robust, like an SUV, but when you look at the cabin and the front screen, it looks more like an estate car. We’ve tried to combine these things to create something new, unmistakable and modern. We want it to be the best and set some records.
Škoda stands for functionality and practicality, but we also want the vehicle to look nice and modern. I think the Peaq represents those values.
CDN: How close were you able to stay to the Vision 7S concept?
OS: The concept is quite similar. Lots of things that we had in the 7S, we were able to bring to the Peaq. The side in particular is quite similar, as well as the face. But it’s not always the case that you can transform a concept into a production car.
CDN: The interior is a stand-out. What was the approach with CMF?
Katerina Vranova: In terms of materials, we wanted to be timeless – while still focusing on practicality and simplicity. We also approach the seat design in a different way because the seats are seen as solitary from the interior, with other elements being made from different materials. There was a huge focus on seat comfort, and the first seat proposal looks a bit different to how they look now. Because of the airbag, we had to implement a split line – we then made this line a design feature, putting nice stitching which corresponds with the dashboard.
Throughout the cabin, we focused on textiles alongside microfibre materials and Tectona PVS – which is easy to clean for families. Also, the vertical screen means that the stitching on the dashboard is more important.
Overall, I’m most proud of the colour blocking on the seating – and the stitching.
CDN: What inspired the vertical screen? How does this improve the UX?
Chan Park: The vertical display can be quite a controversial thing, but with our Modern Solid design strategy we are always looking at what’s next. Perhaps in the next generation, we might go horizontal again. It’s all about user experience, and we try to evolve in our design by listening to what people want.
Our centre console is extendable to the front of the car and can also rise upwards. Therefore, you have a pillow for your elbow and you can easily control the vertical display. The problem is, the lower part can be in a dangerous position [as eyes will be even further from the road], which is why that stability in the arm is important, so you can easily control everything without even looking. There are also physical buttons [for key functions like air conditioning] in the car, which is a feature Škoda is known for.
CDN: What other fun features is the Peaq hiding?
CP: We also have a pop out table, which slots into the cup holders – it’s super easy to use and super intuitive. The in-app development is also really exciting – there’s a camping mode where you can use the car to power your camping equipment.
