Skoda Vision E electric concept revealed in Shanghai

The body features a generous hatchback opening, further emphasising the Vision E’s practicality. Skoda refers to the roofline as ‘coupe-like’ and it does curve gracefully front to rear as it subsides towards the rear lamps.

To emphasise interior space, Skoda has designed ‘clamshell-style’ doors in which the back pair hinge rearwards to give access to the cabin unhindered by a central pillar. A favourite of concept designs, it is most likely that the production car will feature a central pillar to ensure adequate side-impact safety.

The production car is also likely to sprout wing mirrors in place of the concept’s cameras.

Like all electric cars, there is no need for a conventional grille capable of flowing cooling air to a radiator.

Instead, designers now have the freedom to create a new front face using shaped sheet metal and lighting which Skoda’s designers have dubbed a ‘phantom grille’ that appears as if it is present but in reality isn’t.

Trapezoidal front LED lamps are pushed to the extremities of the front face and linked by an illuminated bar fashioned from crystal glass, one of the Czech Republic’s most famous exports.

The designers have also further emphasised the distinctive ‘winged line’, the crisp styling feature that runs along the bodyside of all Skoda’s current cars. “It is more pronounced, more sensual and more sculptural,” says Jevtic.

Inside, Skoda’s designers have also penned a new look taking advantage of the flat-floor body architecture, which emphasises spaciousness.

A major change compared to an i/c engine car is no need for a gearshift, a freedom that interior designer Peter Olah describes as ‘paradise in design.’

Olah’s interior features a sweeping dashboard centred on a 12in touchscreen, centrally-mounted and arranged in conventional ‘landscape’ format, rather than Tesla and Volvo’s more contemporary ‘portrait’ orientation.

New to Skoda is a dashboard architecture designed with a prominent step to allow the driver to steady his/her hand as functions are selected on-the-move. Full-width across the dashboard is soft, mood lighting, configurable in different hues.

Publicity shots show it on-brand in green ‘Skodaline’ colour.

In front of the driver is a two-spoke, multi-function wheel and a second flat screen for basic driving functions.

Two lithium ion battery packs are being engineered for the Vision E and its VW Group platform twins – either an 80kW or 50kW – which are expected to be offered as individual models just as different engine capacities make-up a car range today.