New Skoda Octavia Electric previewed by Vision O concept
This is our first official teaser of the Vision O, which is set to be unveiled at the Munich Motor Show in September. To ensure Skoda's forthcoming electric estate car will be just as competitive as its internal combustion-engined alternatives when it goes into production, it'll also be the first Skoda to use the Volkswagen Group's new SSP architecture. Advertisement - Article continues below
The new EV estate was originally due to be built on a lengthened version of the existing MEB platform. However, since we got an official look at the car with a design sculpture in 2023, Skoda has decided to use SSP for the electric estate.
Can't wait for the electric Octavia? Our Find A Car service can help you find the latest deals on a new Skoda Octavia or top prices on used Skoda Octavia models...
Skoda says the Vision O's design will present 'a consistent evolution of the Modern Solid design language' and it'll feature 'a sleek, distinctive silhouette'. The proportions look similar to the current Octavia Estate's, although the rear window appears to be a little more raked. We can also see some of the car's light signatures: the rears in particular look similar to those on the design study for Skoda's upcoming small eletric car, the Epiq. We also expect to see some form of Skoda's Tech-Deck front end that features on the facelifted Enyaq and new Elroq. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below
The company's CEO, Klaus Zellmer, added: 'The Vision O design study will highlight the future trajectory of estate models. It will position us to remain a major player in the estate segment.' Advertisement - Article continues below
It's not yet known if the Vision O previews an electric alternative to the Skoda Octavia Estate, the Superb Estate, or both, although the new model is said to be around 4.7 metres long. That puts it more in line with the current Octavia than the larger Superb, yet by capitalising on its cab-forward design, the upcoming EV has the potential to offer more interior space than both its combustion-powered counterparts.
The interior will share the exterior's simplified and modernised aesthetic and could potentially incorporate a portrait-aspect central display, like the one seen in the 7S Concept. However, Skoda should continue with its Smart Dials layout and retain most of the physical dials and buttons – just as we've seen in the current Superb and Kodiaq.
We don't expect the production version of the Vision O to go on sale for a few years – and Skoda may yet decide to extend the lifespan of its petrol and hybrid estates. That strategy could align with parent company Volkswagen's Golf, the electric variant of which will sit on the same SSP architecture as the Skoda estate.
Come and join our WhatsApp channel for the latest car news and reviews...
Find a car with the experts Electric cars driven until they die: the truth about EV range
Electric cars driven until they die: the truth about EV range
Five EVs under £24k have joined Dacia's Spring on the UK market. How far can you go on a budget? We find out New Citroen C5 Aircross SUV undercuts the Volkswagen Tiguan by a huge £7k
New Citroen C5 Aircross SUV undercuts the Volkswagen Tiguan by a huge £7k
Citroen's revamped flagship C5 Aircross SUV is available to order now with hybrid or electric power Car Deal of the Day: Polestar 4 is a head-turning EV for a super cool price
Car Deal of the Day: Polestar 4 is a head-turning EV for a super cool price
The 'car with no rear window' is looking seriously cheap on lease right now. It's our Deal of the Day for July 28
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
It's as if Lewis Hamilton knows time has sped past him... his sad deterioration began long before he became Ferrari's £60m-a-year vanity project, writes JONATHAN McEVOY
It was one of the saddest sights I have seen at a track, mortal tragedy aside. Here was one of the gods of motor racing holding his gloves over his visor to hide his tangled emotions from scrutiny. A few minutes later, he stood before the television cameras inviting Ferrari to sack him from his £60million-a-year job, after qualifying in 12th place for Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix. At 40, it was if he knew time had sped past him on the outside. Not quite monosyllabic but brief in his answers, he told Sky: 'I'm useless, absolutely useless. 'The team have no problem. You've seen the car's on pole. 'So we probably need to change driver.' Seeing Lewis Hamilton hide his emotions on Saturday was one of the saddest sights I've seen The seven-time world champion told Ferrari to replace him after qualifying 12th in Hungary He has been consistently outqualified and outpaced by his team-mate Charles Leclerc And he walked off to do his print session, which lasted all of 59 seconds. While he was hiding his visor, Charles Leclerc was putting the identical machinery on pole position, one so unexpected that the Monegasque said he no longer understood sport. How Hamilton can compute what is happening to him is impossible to know. He has been outgunned by Leclerc in qualifying 10 times to four. Now, Leclerc is as fast as a bullet over a single lap as there is. But since when was Hamilton, aka the GOAT, excused by any comparison? Leclerc has scored 30 points more than the Englishman in 13 races, not the most damning statistic actually. But week after week, circuit after circuit, it is Leclerc with the greater speed. You look up and, lo and behold, there is three-tenths between them. And here of all places! Where Hamilton has won a record eight times and taken pole nine times. It has been a shrine of revival in dark seasons. Where he won after a previously podium-free 2009 campaign. That day he climbed out of his troublesome McLaren and asked how far he was off the championship lead. Hamilton was thinking of launching an absurdly impossible title challenge. It's how his mind works. He is hard-wired for winning. Second place kills him as badly as last. But is the flesh still willing? A slight, almost imperceptible, deterioration has set in over the last four years. Little bits fell off the old invincibility. Did his nerve wane, or were his eyes the culprits, when he was no longer threading his silver Mercedes through vanishing holes with the elan of old? His move to Ferrari was a vanity project, rustled up by president John Elkann, a scion of the Agnelli clan, with no appreciable liking of motor racing. But Hamilton's allure lay in his fame, the most recognised driver in the world in the red car of legend. What could be better? Except they failed to notice Hamilton was beaten across two of the three seasons he spent as team-mate of George Russell. He was carted into the confectionery store and back out again in qualifying last year, 19-5 to be luridly exact. Yes, Russell is a very fine driver, but whither the GOAT? He has had so much joy at the Hungaroring down the years with as many as eight race wins The season is not an absolute disaster - he sits sixth in the standings - but he wanted a title Bringing him to Ferrari was a vanity project rustled up by Ferrari president John Elkann That was the question, too, when Hamilton drove so abjectly in rain-soaked Sao Paulo last year that I could scarcely believe what I was seeing. Could this possibly be the same Hamilton who once had webbed feet? At Silverstone in 2008 he won by more than a minute in a pool of danger, building his own monument to sporting greatness. Hamilton needed a new beginning to kickstart him, or so he tried to convince himself, refusing to give in to the truth that his powers were dimming. He shocked Mercedes by terminating his contract, forgoing the status as a Mercedes man for life and the trappings that would come with such loyalty, to fulfil a boyhood dream at the Scuderia. Toto Wolff was dumbfounded at Mercedes. But Elkann and co sounded the trumpets in Maranello. I was there when the bridge over Ferrari's Fiorano test track was crammed a dozen deep and passing lorries hooted their horns in his first outing in a Ferrari. He, his father, mother and stepmother then went out for dinner with Enzo Ferrari's son, Piero, in the back room of the Montana restaurant that Michael Schumacher called his favourite, supping in the genius loci, the magic of the place. But it was typical Ferrari. What about the car? Or the fact Hamilton was three years older than Schumacher when he was pensioned off to make way for Kimi Raikkonen? And so the season started, with Hamilton overwearing the excuse, proffered early, that nothing special should be expected soon. He factored in adjustment to his new environment, to a non-Mercedes engine for the first time and to an unfamiliar car. Fine up to a point, but not knowing where the wet switch was on his steering wheel when he made his debut in Melbourne seemed a touch negligent. He conspicuously failed to hit it off with race engineer Riccardo Adami. They were constantly squabbling over the team radio. Warning signs flashed. In recent weeks, Hamilton has been jotting ideas down for improvements for the car and to the team's operation. But last night he was beyond hope. Asked if rain would be welcome today, he said: 'I don't think anything can help me right now.' Toto Wolff was dumfounded when Hamilton announced that he wantd to leave Mercedes A deterioration has set in over the last four years - his form is not just related to Ferrari It has been a Lewis trait all his career to pick himself up from sloughs of despair. 'Still I Rise,' he is apt to say, citing Maya Angelou. 'It's not how you go down, but how you get up,' is another favourite. Can he still do that? Conversely, might he even quit over the summer break? Will he get to finish his 'masterpiece' on his own terms? Stubborn, resilient, essentially talented, he might. But I fear not. His despondency here, woeful form all season, and his advancing years suggest that we may have witnessed a staging post in Hamilton's journey to the destination he cannot contemplate. Retirement.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Ingenious ways to pass on your wealth inheritance tax-free - without turning your children into lazy brats
Many families would far rather pass wealth to the next generation than have it seized by the taxman but are wary of giving children and grandchildren too easy a ride. It's a classic conundrum. How do you give away your hard-earned money without undermining the values of hard work and financial responsibility you hope to instil in your offspring?
The Independent
3 hours ago
- The Independent
How much does it cost to install a home security system in 2025?
Home security systems can be as simple as a single camera, or as complex as your vision – and budget – allows, with sensors, locks, hubs, sirens, smoke screens, a video doorbell and even 24/7 professional monitoring. How much you choose to spend on an alarm system can stretch from just £20 or £30 for the simplest indoor security cameras, all the way up to over £500 or even £1,000 for a system with multiple high-resolution cameras and other accessories. Plus, some systems require a subscription costing from around £20 to £30 a month to get the most out of them. The good news is, the cost of installing a home security and alarm system can be as flexible as your budget and requirements. The simplest system can include just a single camera or video doorbell, while mid-range systems add in accessories like door/window sensors, sirens, solar panels and motion detectors. High-end options introduce professional monitoring, where an agent responds to your alarm and can even call the emergency services on your behalf, but these services require a monthly fee. Most of today's home security systems can be installed yourself, with only basic DIY skills required. Some high-end systems, like Verisure, require professional installation, but kits from companies like Ring, Eufy, Yale and Arlo are designed to be set up with minimal effort. Often, a security system's companion smartphone app will talk you through the installation process for every component, ensuring it's fitted in the best place to protect your home. Budget home security Unlike the days of complex CCTV systems, the simplest home security products can be installed for very little money. Some home security cameras cost from just £20 or £30, depending on deals and discounts, yet still offer useful features like HD video recording, night vision, audio and a Wi-Fi connection for sending alerts to your smartphone. Install one of these cameras – such as the Blink Mini 2 or Blink Mini Indoor – set it up using the free app, and you'll be notified when nearby motion is detected. These cameras can be perfect for monitoring your driveway, garden, shed, or any other vulnerable area of your home. Buy a camera bundled with Blink's Sync Module and you don't need to pay the company's cloud storage fee, since recordings are saved locally to the module itself. Other budget home security cameras include models from Wyze, Tapo and Ezviz, with some indoor cameras even priced below £20. Spend another £15 or £20, and you can pick up a door/window contact sensor. Some of these don't require a hub to function, so all you do is stick the sensor to a door or window, set it up using the companion smartphone app, and you'll be alerted whenever the door or window is opened. Many connect to smart home platforms like Amazon Alexa and Google Home, too. Mid-range home security Boost your budget to around the £200 mark, and more home security options become available. Video doorbells from companies like Ring start around the £100 mark, and many outdoor security cameras are a similar price. With a doorbell and a camera you have a security system with two high definition cameras, night vision, two-way audio and motion detection. That's enough to monitor and secure the front and back of your home, and create a visual deterrent for would-be burglars. Just be aware that some systems, like Ring, charge a monthly fee for saving camera recordings to the cloud. If you want to avoid this ongoing cost, consider cameras that have the option to save footage locally, such as those from Eufy or Blink. Complete alarm kits are available for around £150 to £220. Eufy's five-piece home security kit includes a keypad, a motion detection and two door/window contact sensors, plus a hub that doubles as a siren and connects everything to your router. This home security system works without a monthly subscription – and, if you add security cameras later, they save footage locally, so there's no monthly cloud storage fee either. Brands like Yale and Ring also sell alarm kits in this price range, complete with motion and entry sensors, keypads and sirens. They can be expanded by purchasing cameras, video doorbells and additional sensors and sirens at a later date, if required. Ring's alarm system only works properly when paired with a subscription, which starts from £4.99 a month, but rises to £7.99 and £15.99 for extra features. Top-end home security If you have more money to spend, the systems already mentioned can be expanded almost indefinitely to include dozens of sensors and cameras. Pricier security cameras offer 4K video resolution, extra storage and integrated solar panels for unlimited power, plus artificial intelligence to control and train features like facial recognition. But, while products from Ring, Eufy or Yale can create an impressive home security system, one feature is still missing: professional monitoring. This is where a call centre is contacted the moment your alarm is triggered. An agent can then speak to you, directly through the alarm system, or even use your security cameras (with your prior permission) to assess the situation. If they spot a burglar, a fire or other serious concern, they can call the emergency services on your behalf. If they can't determine what's caused the alarm (and can't get hold of you either), they'll dispatch an agent to visit your address in person. Security companies that offer professional monitoring in the UK include Simplisafe and Verisure, with the latter also featuring a system called ZeroVision Alarm, designed to disorient burglars with a thick, non-toxic smokescreen. Verisure is a made-to-measure home security system only available with professional installation, and priced from around £300 upfront, plus an ongoing monthly fee of around £40 to £50 a month. Simplisafe's kits cost from around £250 to £700, plus a monthly fee of £27.99 a month for professional monitoring. Can I install a home security system myself? DIY vs pro installation Almost all of the systems mentioned above can be installed yourself. Many require little more than a drill and a screwdriver, since security cameras, video doorbells and other accessories all usually come with the relevant screws, brackets and wall plugs in the box. You may also need a ladder to install outdoor security cameras, and for motion sensors that work best when fitted high in the corners of each room. Some devices, like door/window contact sensors, fix into place with integrated adhesive strips. Others can simply be placed on a shelf or windowsill. Security systems often use their smartphone app to guide you through the installation process for each component, with easy-to-follow instructions and advice for putting everything in the right place. Of course, it's perfectly reasonable to pay for a professional installation if you prefer. But for keen DIYers, installing these systems shouldn't require much time or effort. This is also true for Simplisafe, although the company offers professional installation from £129 (plus the cost of the system itself). The installer will also talk you through how the system works. Lastly, Verisure alarm systems cannot be installed DIY. Instead, the company dispatches a technician to deliver and set up your system, then explain how everything works.
