Skoda previews all-new Peaq seven-seater EV in official design sketches

Skoda wants the global automotive world to look closely at its electric future, even though nobody can see the actual physical vehicle just yet. The Czech automaker shared official exterior design drawings of its upcoming flagship model, a large family cruiser named Peaq. This fresh seven-seater EV will celebrate its official global premiere on June 23 at a dedicated media event in France. For now, the design sketches provide the clearest look at the model before assembly lines roll out the final metal version.

The name Peaq breaks away from the recent naming architecture for electric cars across the company's lineup. Previous battery-powered entries used names that began with the letter E, such as the Enyaq, the Elroq, and the compact Epiq crossover. Apparently, the automaker decided that starting every single zero-emission vehicle name with the same letter was getting a bit too predictable for global car buyers.

The official design lines reveal a big evolutionary step for the brand's signature aesthetic, which company designers label "Modern Solid." This design school prioritizes flat body surfaces, minimalist character lines, and an overall chiseled shape. The outline stays quite close to the profile of the Vision 7S concept car from 2022, but the mass-market version leaves behind the concept's less realistic styling - like the rear-hinged coach doors that opened from the vehicle center.

Up front, the vehicle has a tall clamshell hood and remarkably thin LED headlights that create a distinctive T-shaped light signature. These slim headlamps frame a glossy black front panel that the company calls Tech-Deck Face. At the back end, matching razor-thin taillights wrap deep into the rear tailgate to echo the front-end styling language. A unique twin-fin roof spoiler sits high above the rear window glass to help guide traveling airflow. The short hood line and tiny body overhangs create highly functional, square proportions that look almost like a passenger van.

Generous physical dimensions completely define this new family vehicle. The zero-emissions model stretches roughly 16.1 ft in length, making it the absolute largest passenger vehicle in the corporate catalog. This massive layout makes the vehicle longer than its main European rival, the Peugeot E-5008. However, it still occupies a slightly smaller footprint than truly giant EVs like the Kia EV9 or its sibling, the Hyundai Ioniq 9.

Under the fresh sheet metal, the SUV rides on a highly updated version of the Volkswagen Group MEB platform. Interestingly, Volkswagen Group previously reserved this specific mechanical configuration exclusively for passenger vehicles manufactured and sold in China. The new seven-seater vehicle will officially introduce the upgraded platform variation to European customers.

When the new Peaq officially goes on sale later this year, customers will have two distinct battery and motor configurations to choose from. The entry-level variant, known as the 60, gets a 63 kWh battery pack paired with a rear-mounted 201-horsepower electric motor. This baseline setup delivers a decent driving range of approximately 267 miles on a full charge.

The top-shelf version, badged as the 90, has a much larger 91 kWh battery pack. Customers can order this high-end specification with either a standard single-motor rear-wheel-drive layout or a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system. The dual-motor configuration delivers a healthy maximum output of 295 horsepower. This heavy-duty battery package rewards drivers with an impressive maximum driving range of around 379 miles before demanding a charging station.

DC charging speeds differ based on the specific battery variant a buyer chooses. The large 91 kWh pack accepts high-speed rates up to 195 kW, but the smaller 63 kWh battery pack tops out at 160 kW. Because of the capacity differences between the two storage units, both versions take nearly the identical amount of time to recharge - Skoda claims that drivers can expect a standard 10 to 80 percent charge to take 27 minutes for the smaller pack and 28 minutes for the larger version.

Even though the vehicle delivers large-scale premium dimensions, the company wants to maintain its long-standing reputation for strong value. Marketing managers plan to position the entry price point well below the large premium contenders in the seven-seat space. The Kia EV9 starts around $90,600, and the Hyundai Ioniq 9 costs roughly $89,300 in the British market, but Skoda's new EV will likely align much closer to the smaller Peugeot E-5008, which has a starting price just under $55,000.

This aggressive retail pricing strategy does not mean that the cabin will feel cheap or unfinished. Interior development managers claim that the company worked tirelessly to elevate the premium feel of the dashboard and seating areas. Instead of using extremely expensive, traditional luxury materials, the design team selected affordable, highly durable, and recyclable components. The production cabin will offer five-seat and seven-seat variations with a long list of highly practical, everyday helper features.

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