If you’re a company as steeped in history as Skoda, then you need a big venue to take the wraps off an all-new flagship model and the setting just minutes from Geneva, on the French border and accessed by the Salève cable car, was the perfect location.
Sitting 1,100 metres above sea level and in the shadows of Mont Blanc with views across to sparkling Lake Geneva, Mont Salève was the mountain-top venue and home for one night only to 400 media and influencers from 30 countries, basking in glorious sunshine waiting for a first proper glimpse of the highly-anticipated Skoda Peaq.
And the unveiling of the model, inspired by the Vision S concept car, was greeted with much enthusiasm with live streams across the globe.
Introducing the car, a proud Klaus Zellmer, CEO of Skoda Auto, said: “It is the manifestation of Skoda's abilities to evolve, reach higher and play just a little more. We serve our customers to offer them even more choice and in the electric age, we created a Peaq for people who expect more from every journey.
“It has more space, more comfort, and more freedom to explore. With a sleek, timeless design with up to seven seats, it is the largest car we have ever created. The exceptional range of more than 640km is actually the longest range of all electric Skoda models. And the Peaq features our biggest interior and the most comfortable. Think of it as a lounge on wheels with premium sound by Sonos.”
The seven-seater fully electrified SUV will be sold with a single 86kWh battery in the UK – the largest fitted to any Skoda with a 90 version that is rear-wheel drive or 90X that is all-wheel drive. Customers will be able to choose from three well-equipped trims levels called SE-L, Edition and SportLine with prices ranging from £51,980 to £60,380.
The Peaq is Skoda’s biggest and most practical family SUV ever and was three-and-a-half years in the making with extensive testing in the most extreme conditions and across the toughest terrains.
The result is a stylish model that’s very easy on the eye with a number of aerodynamic styling cues to improve performance and maximise the driving range between charges. Speaking of which, the Peaq can deliver a WLTP-tested combined range of up to 290 miles, increasing further in urban settings.
Design-wise, the Peaq features an ultra-modern look with attractive curves, a streamlined profile with flush door handles (another Skoda first) and bold front end featuring the illuminated glossy black Tech-Deck face as seen on sibling EVs the Epiq, Elroq and Enyaq. This incorporates fine vertical slats into the grille and LED backlighting. The car is available with full LED Matrix headlights featuring 18 individual light segments and there are aerodynamically optimised alloy wheels available in sizes ranging from 19 to 21 inches.
Additionally, there are five interior Design Selections on offer meaning owners can customise the car to their taste. But the headline feature is the massive panoramic electrochromic glass roof that is divided into nine sections and this allows occupants to select from three predefined settings or adjust the roof manually via the infotainment screen. It’s the largest panoramic glass roof ever fitted to a Skoda.
The cabin is beautifully designed with a 13.6-inch vertical infotainment screen offering access to the latest Android-based services with a variety of personalisation options and a wide range of applications, including third-party services such as Spotify, YouTube and Google Maps. A new digital key also makes its debut with the Peaq allowing a conventional key to be replaced by a smartphone or smartwatch app, which is really convenient if the vehicle is shared between a number of drivers.
The main driving numbers, such as speed, range and battery charge levels are shown on a 10-inch driver display and there will be the opportunity to add a head-up display as an optional extra from 2027.
Customers opting for entry-level Peaq SE L, priced from £51,980, can expect to find Android navigation, a Virtual Cockpit, and Qi 2 wireless charging. This is complemented by LED headlights, an electric tailgate with virtual pedal, heated front and rear seats, a heated windscreen and 19-inch alloys.
Step up to Edition, from £55,130, and it gains an upgraded interior Suite Design package with black leather and artificial leather upholstery, Matrix LED headlights, a horizontal light band and Area View Camera, remote Park Assist and Trained Parking.
Finally, the SportLine grade, costing from £58,280, introduces distinctive black exterior styling with Skoda etched on the D-pillar. It features the interior Design Selection with sports seats and a three-spoked heated steering wheel, along with Dynamic Chassis Control and 20-inch Okapi alloy wheels.
A Relax Package may be worth adding as an optional extra and this introduces massage seats, footrests and a superb Sonos sound system. There is also a folding table in the pack that is integrated into the front centre armrest.
Although we are yet to drive the Peaq, we have been informed that the 90 RWD car delivers 286PS, while the 90X has 299PS with the latter able to complete the 0-62mph dash in a rapid 6.8 seconds – that’s not bad for a family SUV with room for seven.
Another feature that makes this 4.9-metre-long model stand out when compared to some rivals is its versatility and practicality. It’s a ‘proper’ seven-seater and by that we mean it can actually accommodate seven adults on a longer journey without too many complaints.
Additionally, there will be very little limitation on luggage with storage space ranging from 299 to 2,075 litres, along with a 37-litre frunk, which is ideal for storing the charging cables.
It wouldn’t be a Skoda without a number of Simply Clever features and this car boasts some new solutions. It is the first Skoda to have wiper blades with integrated washers and other practical features include a foldable table, display cleaner, USB socket integrated into the interior mirror, a USB port in the third row, plus a QR code in the luggage compartment that offers access to a short video demonstrating the boot’s practical storage features.
With a rapid charging capacity of up to 199kW, the 86kWh battery can be boosted from 10 to 80 per cent in 28 minutes and, with Vehicle-to-Load capabilities, the Peaq can power up external appliances such as e-bikes, camping lights, laptops and much, much more.
Skoda has certainly come a long way since it was founded as a bicycle repair shop in 1895 by Václav Laurin and Václav Klement, and it has become one of the world’s oldest automakers.
It has long had an affinity to the cycling world so it seemed fitting that Chris Froome OBE marked his first venture as Skoda Brand Cycling Ambassador, by leading a peloton of cyclists up the mountain side in temperatures soaring into the mid-30s.
What made it even more exceptional was that despite the hour-long climb, he arrived as fresh-faced as when he left. A few of his fellow cyclists were looking a tad more exhausted!
All in all, the showcase surrounding the global unveiling of the mighty Skoda Peaq was full of glitz, glamour, celebrity appearances and, perhaps most important of all, plenty of time to explore the vehicle both inside and out. Now, we simply can’t wait to put it through its paces at launch.