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The Thinking Family Man’s Golf Will Soon Trade Gas For Electric Power

  • Skoda is teasing the Vision O wagon concept heading for September’s Munich IAA show.
  • The Vision O previews the next-generation electric Octavia, which is due on sale by 2029.
  • It’s twinned with the next VW ID.Golf, but a longer wheelbase brings more space inside.

Update: With the Munich IAA show fast approaching, Skoda has dropped another shadowy teaser of its upcoming Vision O Wagon. Original story continues below.

It’s a great time to be a Skoda salesman. The Czech company’s registrations were up 13.6 percent in the first six months of 2025 due in no small part to the success of its electric SUVs, the Elroq and Enyaq. They’ll be joined this year by the smaller Epiq, but today Skoda reminded us that its big-selling sedans and wagons are also getting the EV treatment.

VW’s non-nonsense Czech brand is teasing the Vision O concept it will reveal in full at the Munich IAA in September. The ‘O’ tells us it previews the next-generation Octavia compact, which is due on sale before the end of the decade and features an EV drivetrain for the first time.

Related: Your Insane Appetite For SUVs Is Killing Skoda’s Dreams Of Fun Sports Cars, But There’s Hope

A single silhouetted image shows the unmistakable profile of a wagon, and one that looks sportier than anything Skoda has produced up until now. The windshield is swept back into a low roofline that drops slightly at the rear, where it’s met by a rear hatch angled to earn style and aero efficiency points, rather than luggage-carrying ones.

There’s a definite Audi feel to the design, which calls to mind the A6 e-tron Avant from sister company Audi, though the front and rear LED signature makes clear this is Skoda’s work. Skoda says the concept will show how the brand is developing its Modern Solid design language for the next generation of its cars.

 The Thinking Family Man’s Golf Will Soon Trade Gas For Electric Power
Skoda
 The Thinking Family Man’s Golf Will Soon Trade Gas For Electric Power

Under the skin, the next Octavia isn’t twinned with the bigger A6 e-tron, which uses VW’s PPE platform, but the smaller VW ID.Golf that’s due to hit showrooms by 2029, around the same time as the Skoda. The Golf and Octavia EVs will ride on the Group’s SSP platform, and each gets 800-volt charging tech, but a longer wheelbase and overall length mean the Skoda will offer more interior and luggage space, and should cost slightly less. Owners have long argued that the Octavia is the best Golf.

Single and dual-motor powertrains will be on the menu when the production car hits the street in three to four years, but don’t expect it to render the current combustion Octavia obsolete immediately. The popularity of hybrid powertrains in Europe means the two models will likely overlap for some time.

The gallery below contains renderings Skoda released in 2023 when it first revealed plans for an electric Octavia.

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Skoda

This Electric Workhorse Looks Like A Family SUV Until You Step Inside

  • Skoda’s Enyaq has been converted into a light commercial vehicle for the UK market.
  • The electric SUV features a two-seat cabin and a separate rear cargo area with bulkhead.
  • It is based on the Enyaq 85 or SportLine 85x trims, producing up to 282 horsepower.

Skoda is adding a practical twist to its all-electric lineup with a new commercial variant of the Enyaq. Called the Enyaq Cargo, this model transforms the familiar SUV into a light commercial vehicle (LCV), offering two seats up front and a flexible, reworked cargo area in the back. Developed specifically for the UK, the new variant is set to join commercial fleets across the country in the near future.

More: Skoda’s Race Concept Proves Fiber Makes You Go Faster

The conversion was made possible through a collaboration with Strong Plastic Products Ltd, a UK-based company. It complies fully with UK LCV regulations and builds on the recently updated Enyaq SUV rather than the Coupe version, which would limit usable space in the rear.

Purpose-Built for Practicality

Key changes include the removal of the rear bench and a new cargo area made of strong and lightweight plastic materials. A bulkhead with a tiny window separates the cabin from the modular cargo area, ensuring that the load remains secured while on the move.

From the outside, it is hard to tell that this Enyaq is not appropriate for family use. Unlike panel vans, the rear windows are still in place, but they are heavily tinted and their electric function has been disabled. Professionals can access the cargo area through the rear doors and the tailgate.

 This Electric Workhorse Looks Like A Family SUV Until You Step Inside

Powertrain Options and Range

The LCV conversion is offered with the single-motor Enyaq 85 or the dual-motor SportLine 85x model. In both cases, the power output is 282 hp (210 kW / 286 PS). Unfortunately, Skoda doesn’t offer a similar version of the performance-focused Enyaq vRS, which is good for 335 hp (250 kW / 340 PS).

Regardless of the drivetrain, both variants use a 77 kWh battery pack, offering a WLTP-rated range of up to 359 miles (578 km) for the RWD model and 332 miles (534 km) for the AWD version. That should more than cover the needs of most LCV users, with DC fast-charging available for added convenience.

More: Skoda’s Electric Wagon Prepares To Shake Up SUV-Obsessed Market

According to the automaker, the project was commissioned by UK company National Grid Energy Distribution, which ordered 70 Enyaq Cargo models for decarbonizing its fleet.

The first-ever electric LCV by Skoda will be exclusively available to fleet customers. Pricing starts at £44,310 ($59,700) for a Skoda Enyaq 85, while another £1,815 ($2,500) plus taxes are required for the Cargo conversion.

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Skoda UK

Skoda’s Electric Wagon Prepares To Shake Up SUV-Obsessed Market

  • Skoda will unveil a new wagon concept with a fully electric powertrain this September.
  • It will serve as a preview for an Octavia Combi EV, which is expected later in the decade.
  • The production model will reportedly ride on VW Group’s upcoming SSP architecture.

Wagons may no longer be the default choice for families, but they’re far from forgotten. Skoda remains one of the few manufacturers still committed to the practical, low-slung appeal of the estate format, and it’s about to offer a glimpse of what’s next. At this September’s Munich Auto Show, the company will unveil an electric concept version of the next-gen Octavia Combi.

More: Your Insane Appetite For SUVs Is Killing Skoda’s Dreams Of Fun Sports Cars, But There’s Hope

The upcoming EV was first previewed in 2023 as a “spacious” electric estate, targeting families and business users. It’s expected to measure around 4.7 meters (185 inches) in length. At the time, Skoda also released renderings of a sculpture, hinting at the styling, featuring sharp lines, large wheels, and a sporty wagon silhouette.

Originally scheduled for release in 2026, the new Combi’s launch has been pushed closer to the end of the decade. According to a report from Autocar, the electric wagon will be based on Volkswagen Group’s SSP architecture, the same platform that will underpin the next-generation Volkswagen Golf.

Despite the focus on electrification, the new model won’t directly replace the current Octavia. Skoda plans to continue offering its internal combustion engine lineup, with gasoline, diesel, mild-hybrid, and plug-in hybrid options for those not yet ready to switch to fully electric driving.

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Strong Wagon Sales Keep ICE Alive

According to Auto News, the Octavia Combi remains Skoda’s best-selling model in Europe in 2025, even outperforming its hatchback counterpart. From January through May, the wagon version sold 81,353 units, despite a 21 percent drop compared to the same period last year.

The fourth generation of the Octavia was introduced in 2019 and received a mid-lifecycle update in 2024. Skoda will soon add a plug-in hybrid version to the facelifted lineup, giving more options to buyers. Given its continued popularity, it’s likely that the MQB-based Octavia will receive a second facelift before the end of the decade, keeping it in production well past 2030.

Skoda Sells More EVs In Europe Than Tesla

May proved to be a standout month for electric Skodas across Europe. The automaker delivered 14,290 electric vehicles, marking a 181 percent year-over-year increase. This was enough to surpass Tesla, placing Skoda second only to Volkswagen in EV sales for the month. Much of this growth is credited to the addition of the Elroq SUV, which joined the Enyaq and Enyaq Coupe in the brand’s electric lineup.

More: Skoda’s €25K Crossover Could Knock BMW Out Of Europe’s Top Three

Looking forward, Skoda has several more EVs in the pipeline. In 2026, the company plans to introduce the Epiq, a compact electric SUV built on the same platform as the VW ID.2 and Cupra Raval. Targeting a starting price of €25,000, the Epiq will serve as an EV alternative to the Fabia, Scala, and Kamiq models, which will remain available with combustion engines for the foreseeable future.

Also expected in 2026 is the production version of the Vision 7S concept, a larger electric SUV positioned above the Elroq and Enyaq. Once launched, it will sit alongside the ICE-powered Kodiaq in Skoda’s SUV portfolio.

 Skoda’s Electric Wagon Prepares To Shake Up SUV-Obsessed Market

Your Insane Appetite For SUVs Is Killing Skoda’s Dreams Of Fun Sports Cars, But There’s Hope

  • Skoda’s CEO discussed plans to launch a niche, more exciting model in the near future.
  • The brand is currently focused on mainstream segments, primarily building crossovers.
  • That strategy could shift within the next decade if sales targets are successfully achieved.

Skoda has a reputation for letting loose with its student-designed concepts, but when it comes to production models, it usually plays it safe. The current lineup leans heavily on crossovers and SUVs, with a few hatchbacks, sedans, and estates filling out the rest. CEO Klaus Zellmer has acknowledged that while mainstream segments remain the brand’s focus, there’s still potential for something a little more adventurous down the line.

More: Your Grandpa’s Favorit Skoda Gets An EV Reboot

Despite the ongoing shift toward electrification, Skoda has kept its performance-focused RS badge alive, though the sportiest thing it currently sells is a coupe-style SUV. Still, the 2022 Vision GT concept, which recently made its way into the Gran Turismo game in 2024, offered a glimpse of what a more expressive, performance-minded Skoda could look like.

Concept Cars That Tease, But Rarely Translate

Speaking to Car Magazine, Zellmer reflected on the Vision GT and its nods to the classic 1957 1100 OHC: “These are little experiments – they sort of charge the brand a little bit, but the business rationale is minute, unfortunately.” That pretty much sums up the challenge. Fun ideas are easy to dream up, but justifying them to a boardroom is another story.

Zellmer went on to explain why Skoda hasn’t put a more exciting car into production, admitting that the brand is doubling down on profitable, high-riding mainstream models with powertrains to suit every buyer, including EVs, hybrids, and combustion, while sidelining niche offerings for now.

“Unfortunately, we don’t currently have either the financial luxury, nor the capacity, to do that,” he said. “I’d love to. I would love to see a car that speaks to hearts, like a convertible or something like that – but currently our full focus is on the portfolio that covers that big footprint. Those cars would only be niche models.”

Mainstream First, Passion Projects Later

 Your Insane Appetite For SUVs Is Killing Skoda’s Dreams Of Fun Sports Cars, But There’s Hope
2024 Skoda Vision Gran Turismo Concept

Skoda has become one of the VW Group’s success stories, steadily building up its brand image and boosting sales over the past two decades. In 2024, the automaker posted record-breaking numbers, with €28 billion ($32.8 billion) in revenue and 926,600 vehicles sold. With results like that, it’s only natural to wonder when Skoda might finally green-light a model that’s more about passion than volume.

More: Skoda’s Race Concept Proves Fiber Makes You Go Faster

Zellmer doesn’t rule it out, but says it won’t happen right away. For the foreseeable future, the focus remains on solidifying the brand’s EV lineup. However, he is optimistic they will be able to broaden their horizons in the next decade.

“Once we have sorted out our portfolio into a certain number of cars, where each and every bodystyle sells more than 100,000 units a year – then you can start contemplating more ideas”, he said. “We are already selling more than 200,000 Octavias every year.”

Could a Niche EV Actually Happen?

Skoda’s CEO also pointed out that developing a niche model might not be as resource-intensive as it sounds. With the right platform already in place, the brand could simply design a new body on top of an existing performance EV setup. And judging by the specs of the Enyaq RS, which delivers 335 hp (250 kW / 340 PS), an electric sports car built on that foundation wouldn’t exactly be lacking in firepower.

But it’s not just sports cars on Zellmer’s mind. He also brought up the Yeti, the boxy crossover that Skoda sold between 2009 and 2017, and which still has a loyal following. “I’d love to see a Yeti again, because I think that car is such a great character, it has such a good name and a loyal base, you know. I’m amazed so many people still talk to me about it.”

 Your Insane Appetite For SUVs Is Killing Skoda’s Dreams Of Fun Sports Cars, But There’s Hope
The original Skoda Yeti (left) from 2007 and the facelifted version (right) from 2013.
 Your Insane Appetite For SUVs Is Killing Skoda’s Dreams Of Fun Sports Cars, But There’s Hope
All 10 concepts built by students of the Skoda Academy between 2014 and 2025.

Skoda’s €25K Crossover Could Knock BMW Out Of Europe’s Top Three

  • Skoda’s upcoming Epiq crossover has been spotted testing in Europe.
  • The FWD EV shares its platform with the VW ID.2 and Cupra Raval.
  • Epiq is one of five new electric cars Skoda will launch before 2027.

While some brands’ commitment to the EV causes has wavered recently, Skoda is showing no sign of taking its foot off the electric gas pedal. The VW-owned Czech brand has five new EVs coming through in the next couple of years, including the little Epiq, which has been spied testing for the first time.

We’ve not heard much from the small electric crossover since Skoda revealed it in March of 2024, but a full production debut was always planned for this year and these images confirm we won’t have long to wait for the €25,000 ($29,000) EV to arrive in showrooms.

Related: New Skoda Epiq Is A €25Κ Small Electric SUV Arriving In 2025

Designed to slot below the larger Karoq-sized Elroq, which was also revealed in 2024 but is already on sale, the Epiq uses a different version of VW’s MEB platform. While the Elroq is related to VW’s ID.3 and nominally rear-wheel drive, the Epiq is more closely aligned with the upcoming ID.2 and gets the newer front-wheel drive MEB architecture that’ll also be used on the Cupra Raval.

Visually, the Epiq fully embraces Skoda’s Modern Solid design language, borrowing heavily from the big 7S concept unveiled in 2022. At around 4.1 m (161.4 inches) long, it only occupies the same amount of road space as the little Fabia hatch, but Skoda says that the EV will provide an “epic amount of space” for passengers and a relatively huge 490-liter (17.3 cu-ft) trunk will ensure they’ll have plenty of space for their luggage.

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Baldauf

The interior features a large tablet touchscreen, which is thankfully backed up by a row of hard buttons further down the console. Skoda hasn’t revealed much in the way of technical spec other than to say it would offer a 250-mile (400 km) driving range and bi-directional charging.

Even so, based on what we know about the new MEB Short platform, we think the Epiq will come with a choice of 38 kWh and 56 kWh batteries and higher-spec models are likely to feature a single 222 hp (226 PS / 166 kW) motor driving the front wheels that will allow it to hit 62 mph (100 km/h) in less than 7 seconds.

It looks like a compelling package, one that could help Skoda claim another famous scalp. It was the fourth-best-selling brand in Europe last year, and its 767,000 tally put it only 8,000 cars away from third-placed BMW. That’s an incredible achievement for a company that was once the butt of jokes.

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Skoda

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