The Vision X SUV concept will be on display at the Skoda stall at the upcoming Geneva motor show. The concept will showcase a compressed natural gas (CNG) hybrid electric powertrain. The car is built on VW’s MQB platform and the production version will sit below the Karoq and Kodiaq.
The CNG hybrid system has a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder, turbocharged engine that runs on CNG and drives the front axle with 131hp and 250Nm. There are two electric motors to complement the CNG motor. The car can hit 100kph in a time of 9.3sec and can go on to hit a top speed of 201kph. The electric motor is powered by a 48V, 1.5kWh lithium-ion battery and it recharges while you brake as well. There’s even a reserve petrol tank, largely to ensure the powertrain starts in very cold weather. The concept promises a range of 644km.
The system has already been tested in a converted Karoq and Martin Hrdlicka, Skoda’s head of powertrains, said the company decided to use the CNG hybrid system on the Vision X so that they could showcase a way to effectively bring four-wheel drive to smaller cars.
