NEW OCTAVIA TO 'TAKE A STEP' FOR SKODA DESIGN

Munich show concept will preview next-generation electric estate

- MARK TISSHAW

Anew Skoda concept car that previews the next-generation Octavia estate will create “a lot of buzz and controversial discussion” around the brand as it moves into a new era of design.

Skoda CEO Klaus Zellmer told Autocar that it will be a “further step” for the marque in terms of its design, but the new model will still “clearly be recognisable as a Skoda”.

The estate concept will be revealed at the Munich motor show in September. It is likely to be based on the Volkswagen Group's upcoming SSP platform, which is being designed for the next generation of electric cars and will eventually replace the current MEB architecture.

The MEB platform is not well suited to lower-slung saloon and estate models. It is designed instead for raised crossovers, while the SSP platform can be applied to lower-riding cars as well as crossovers. The next generation of automated driving features offered on the SSP platform also appeals to Skoda.