This slightly strange-looking Volkswagen Tiguan is actually a test mule for the Skoda iV electric crossover. It was spied for the first time today both at the Nurburgring and on the road.
We find the decision to start with a Tiguan slightly puzzling, since Volkswagen has already built a working ID.4 prototype, which it will probably launch next year. Our understanding is that the vehicles based on the MEB platform will share many things, including the wheelbase, which carries the all-important battery pack.
A concept called Vision iV has previewed the design of Skoda's EV. Along with the ID.4, this will also be related to the Audi Q4 e-tron and the production version of the Cupra Tavascar, or a SEAT version of that.
We've actually seen this kind of prototype before, the "ID Crozz" which was spotted in January near the Arctic Circle. It too was a Tiguan with slightly bigger chins and a big of extra metal between the doors.
Our understanding is that Volkswagen Group wants to sell not one million, but about three million EVs globally each year, and the affordable MEB-based models are going to be a big part of that. It will be interesting to see how Skoda sets its models apart. More interior space, lower prices or Simply Clever features?
It seems silly asking these questions while looking at a Tiguan, but we assure you it's not a normal car. The prop shafts reveal that this is a rear-wheel-drive machine, while almost all Skodas are front-drive or front-biased. This means the production Vision iV will have a 204 horsepower base version while the concept had a dual-motor 306 HP configuration.
That's plenty for a 4.6-meter EV that still weighs less than 2 tons. Batteries will range between 58 and 77 kWh of usable storage, with the biggest potentially giving you a total range of 500 kilometers.
A concept called Vision iV has previewed the design of Skoda's EV. Along with the ID.4, this will also be related to the Audi Q4 e-tron and the production version of the Cupra Tavascar, or a SEAT version of that.
We've actually seen this kind of prototype before, the "ID Crozz" which was spotted in January near the Arctic Circle. It too was a Tiguan with slightly bigger chins and a big of extra metal between the doors.
Our understanding is that Volkswagen Group wants to sell not one million, but about three million EVs globally each year, and the affordable MEB-based models are going to be a big part of that. It will be interesting to see how Skoda sets its models apart. More interior space, lower prices or Simply Clever features?
It seems silly asking these questions while looking at a Tiguan, but we assure you it's not a normal car. The prop shafts reveal that this is a rear-wheel-drive machine, while almost all Skodas are front-drive or front-biased. This means the production Vision iV will have a 204 horsepower base version while the concept had a dual-motor 306 HP configuration.
That's plenty for a 4.6-meter EV that still weighs less than 2 tons. Batteries will range between 58 and 77 kWh of usable storage, with the biggest potentially giving you a total range of 500 kilometers.