Skoda Enyaq: Design Sketches and Interviews

Video Interviews with the designers

Interview with Karl Neuhold, head of exterior design

The Enyaq features emotive lines and balanced and dynamic proportions combined with a layout based on the Volkswagen Group’s modular electrification toolkit (MEB).

The ENYAQ iV is the first ŠKODA based on the modular electrification toolkit. How has ŠKODA’s design language evolved with this vehicle?

Karl Neuhold: With the ENYAQ iV, we are again building on the emotive ŠKODA design language that characterises the SCALA, the KAMIQ and the new, fourth-generation OCTAVIA. The ENYAQ iV also features sculptural lines, clear surfaces and crystalline elements that draw inspiration from Bohemian crystal art. Its proportions, however, differ from those of our previous SUV models: the ENYAQ iV has a shorter front end and an elongated roofline. This creates a very dynamic look and transforms it into a proverbial ‘space shuttle’.

How would you summarise the design of the first ŠKODA developed as a purely electric vehicle?

Neuhold: The design of the ENYAQ iV is progressive, balanced and confident. The new proportions give it a special dynamic and a spacious interior, as well. Its large wheels and ground clearance give it the powerful presence of an SUV.

What do you consider to be the highlight of the ENYAQ iV’s design?

Neuhold: Definitely the front. We consciously emphasise the distinctive ŠKODA grille on our electric vehicles, as this is an instantly recognisable feature of the brand. On the ENYAQ iV, it is set further forward and is more upright, which enhances the powerful look. The full-LED matrix headlights and daytime running lights are particularly eye- catching, too.

Interview with Norbert Weber, Head of Interior Design at Škoda

The interior design features Škoda’s new individual Design Selections, which replace the previous equipment lines and feature natural, sustainably produced and recycled materials.

The ENYAQ iV is the first ŠKODA based on the modular electrification toolkit (MEB). What changes has ŠKODA made to the interior design of this entirely new vehicle compared to a model with a combustion engine?

Norbert Weber: The ENYAQ iV benefits from the MEB platform’s long wheelbase, which – in relation to the body dimensions – offers an exceptionally spacious interior. The flat floor, which lacks the central tunnel we find in vehicles with combustion engines, also contributes to this. We have used this conceptual feature to make the interior visually even airier and to create a feeling of even more space. This can be seen, for example, on the new dashboard, which is arranged over several levels.

You are talking about a new interior design concept for the ENYAQ iV. Could you describe this in greater detail?

Weber: The new design concept of the ENYAQ iV combines spaciousness and a ‘lounge feeling’. Instead of the usual equipment lines and numerous additional options, we are offering our new Design Selections in the ENYAQ iV for the first time. These are reminiscent of modern living environments, featuring perfectly coordinating colours and materials. Additionally, we offer clearly structured option packages in various themes, with some separate options available for all models. This means we can provide customers with choices that are clear and simple yet distinctly unique.

What are the most significant changes to the interior architecture of the ENYAQ iV?

Weber: Here, the lack of a central tunnel offers numerous possibilities. At the front, we used this space for an additional storage compartment beneath the centre console, which is arranged over several levels. Thanks to the long wheelbase, rear passengers benefit from the extra space in front of the centre seat as well as the exceptionally generous legroom for the seats either side. In addition to this remarkable amount of space for passengers, the ENYAQ iV also offers a boot capacity of 585 litres.

How would you describe the interior design of the ENYAQ iV?

Weber: Clear, airy, innovative and sustainable. Clear thanks to how easy it is to configure the Design Selections and the theme packages, airy thanks to its roominess and excellent sense of space. Innovative thanks to features such as the 13-inch central screen and the new head-up display, including augmented reality, and sustainable thanks to the use of natural and recycled materials.

Which new colours and what new and sustainable materials are being used in a car for the first time?

Weber: In one Design Selection, for example, the seat covers are made of 40 per cent new wool and bear the Woolmark Company’s seal. The remaining 60 per cent of the blend is polyester from recycled PET bottles. These covers have a unique feel and ensure a pleasant seating climate. Another example is the leather, which is produced in a particularly sustainable way, using an extract from olive tree leaves instead of chemicals for tanning.

What do you consider to be the design highlights of the ENYAQ iV interior?

Weber: I particularly like the decorative trim that spans the entire width of the ENYAQ iV from the dashboard to the door panels, further enhancing the sense of space. Below the central display, it references the shape of the ŠKODA grille and also serves as a rest for the hand operating the touch screen. It is surrounded by a particularly soft material that extends throughout the interior and creates the feeling of sitting on the sofa at home.

Interview with Petr Nevřela, chief designer of exterior lighting

Enyaq’s lighting design combines technically innovative full-LED matrix headlights with an emotive design language.

With the ENYAQ iV, ŠKODA is presenting its first production vehicle based on the modular electrification toolkit (MEB). Compared to previous models, how has the design of the headlights changed?

Petr Nevřela: In implementing ŠKODA’s current design language, we already consistently developed the front headlights of the SCALA and KAMIQ model series and the new generation of the OCTAVIA. In all the models we have presented over the last 18 months, the headlights are generally flatter, resulting in an even more dynamic effect. The KAMIQ also adds its own twist with daytime running lights at the top. Furthermore, additional crystalline elements have been incorporated into the headlight design. With the ENYAQ iV, we are continuing this trend and refining specific details, such as the new, finely-drawn daytime running lights with subtle lashes and the new hexagonal shape of the main LED modules. The new headlights and taillights further enhance the innovative character of the new ENYAQ iV.

How long does the development process take when designing new headlights and rear lights?

Nevřela: The development of the design is a dynamic process; we work closely with our colleagues in exterior design and with the exterior lighting development team. We discuss which ideas are feasible before making the final selection. All in all, the process can take anywhere from six to twelve months.

What inspires you when designing new headlights and taillights?

Nevřela: ŠKODA is proud to reflect the tradition of Bohemian crystal art in its vehicles and interpret it in its own way. The precise lines, geometric arrangements and the exceptionally clear glass surfaces are fascinating and, depending on the incidence of light and viewing angle, offer ever- changing facets. We can use this as a basis for experimenting with light effects, for example, with the three-dimensional rear lights that are illuminated with fine light strips.

What initial impression do the new ENYAQ iV’s headlights convey?

Nevřela: The ENYAQ iV’s lighting graphics are welcoming and friendly at first glance, while the headlights create a highly dynamic and modern look. Innovative LED technology also underlines the sustainable concept of our first all-electric SUV.

(Source: Škoda)