vision iii
John Mahoney1 Mar 2018
NEWS

GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: Skoda Vision X to get advanced powertrain

Small SUV can be front-, rear-, or all-wheel drive and can run on petrol, compressed natural gas or pure-electric power

Skoda has announced the Vision X it will unveil at the Geneva motor show next week will come with a clever new powertrain that allows it to run in front-, rear- or all-wheel drive.

According to the Czech car-maker, the new powertrain will be centred around a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo engine that can burn either petrol or natural compressed gas.

In standard mode, the little 1.5-litre turbo produces a modest 96kW/250Nm and channels its power and torque through the front wheels.

Maximising efficiency and power, is a 48-volt mild-hybrid powertrain that feeds electricity to a small starter generator that boosts the engine and sends power to a rear-mounted electric motor that produces 22kW/70Nm.

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This means that once the battery is charged, the Vision X can travel in rear-wheel drive mode for small distances or join in to boost acceleration, providing all-wheel drive when needed.

When coasting down hills the rear motor then claws back energy to feed the batteries.

Working together, Skoda claims the Vision X can hit 100km/h in 9.3 seconds and top out at more than 200km/h while delivering CO2 emissions of less than 89g/km.

It's realistic-sounding power, torque and efficiency claims have prompted many to suggest the concept's powertrain is in fact near to production and could star under the bonnet of the small Czech SUV when the production version of the Vision X goes on sale in Europe in 2019.

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Set to rival other small SUVs like the Mazda CX-3 and Nissan JUKE, beneath the skin the little Skoda will share much with the Volkswagen T-Roc, since it sits on the same Volkswagen Group MQB A0 platform that's also used on the recently previewed Volkswagen Polo.

Measuring in at around 4250mm long, 1800mm wide and with a 2645mm wheelbase, the little Skoda is both longer and wider compared to the T-Roc and is set to bag it class honours for space and practicality.

Despite having a platform engineered for all-wheel drive, most of Skoda's baby SUVs will come with front-wheel drive and be powered by either a 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo or the standard 1.5-litre turbo four.

Skoda is expected to tease its Vision X one more time ahead of its debut next week on March 6.

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