- Skoda has released another teaser for its upcoming Vision O electric wagon concept.
- The Vision O previews an electric Octavia wagon built on a new Volkswagen EV architecture.
- The concept debuts on September 8 at IAA 2025 in Germany.
Skoda currently builds Europe’s hottest new electric vehicle, the Elroq crossover, and it’s working on something that could become even more popular. Europeans love long-roof wagons, or estate cars, as they are known in the UK, but there aren’t that many available with electric power. That’s why the arrival of an electric Octavia wagon is a big deal in Europe.
Europeans also love the Skoda Octavia, which has been a favorite on the continent for decades and across multiple generations. It’s now going to be available as an EV for its next generation and the combination of the nameplate’s success, Simply Clever touches and Europeans’ growing appetite for electric vehicles should ensure its success.
Gallery: Skoda Vision O
Skoda has started teasing the concept that previews the electric Octavia wagon. It’s called the Vision O and will be unveiled on September 8 at IAA 2025 in Germany. The older teaser showed the side profile of the vehicle, which doesn’t look too different from what we were expecting, bar maybe the more slanted fastback-style rear glass that gives it a slightly sportier look than today’s combustion model.
The new teaser reveals the lower part of the vehicle from a front three-quarter perspective, and one thing is instantly obvious: this has a raised ground clearance. This could mean one of two things: the concept is meant to preview the high-riding Scout variant of the Octavia EV, or the model will simply sit higher off the ground in the hopes of also bringing in people who would have otherwise bought a crossover.
We can also see that the car has a fairly high beltline and a comparably small-looking greenhouse. The front section also looks pretty long, making this look a bit like a big luxury car with a longitudinally mounted engine under the hood. This will make it look very distinctive and also ensure there is ample room in the front trunk.
Skoda is all about practicality, but none of its current EVs offer a front trunk. The new Octavia could and should change that since it doesn’t ride on the Volkswagen MEB platform that underpins all of the group’s compact and midsize electric cars. It will be built on MEB’s replacement, called SSP, which brings numerous improvements and helps reduce costs by around 20%.
SSP won’t just replace MEB but also PPE, VW’s premium EV platform that currently underpins models like the Porsche Macan, Audi Q6 and A6 E-Tron. VW says that this platform also allows for more differentiation and individuality for products from different brands, which is great to hear, given that equivalent cars built on MEB have virtually identical specs regardless of what badge they bear and they all kind of feel the same.
According to Oliver Stefani, Skoda’s design boss, “With Vision O, we are consistently advancing our ‘Modern Solid’ design language, boosting its emotional appeal and further refining our brand identity. New design concept also highlights our commitment to pushing boundaries and continuously bringing innovation to future automotive design. Clear lines emphasize simplicity, showcasing totally that we remain true to our brand values. Vision O is extremely practical for everyday use and brings surprising and thoughtful details.”
There is no mention of why it appears so tall, but Skoda CEO Klaus Zellmer did previously say about the Vision O that it “will highlight the future trajectory of estate models,” which could mean all of the brand’s new wagons will have this raised crossover-like stance. One design detail we’re sure won’t make it to production is the rear-hinged rear doors that you can see in the older teaser video.
We don’t know when the electric Octavia will go into production, but it will be among the first VW Group vehicles built on SSP. It should debut sometime around 2027 and be sold alongside the combustion Octavia at least until the end of the decade.
