Inside the ENYAQ iV: An Interview with Norbert Weber, Head of Interior Design
The ENYAQ iV will be the first electric SUV produced by SKODA and will make its world debut on 1st September, in Prague.
But, what will the interior be like?
Signifying modern living environments, the ENYAQ iV’s interior utilises natural and recycled materials, which have all been sustainably produced to create an eco-friendly vehicle.
Norbert Weber, Head of Interior Design at SKODA, discusses the interior concept of the all-electric ENYAQ iV in an in-depth interview, exploring the key features and giving an insight into what we can expect from the ENYAQ’s interior design.
Read on for the full interview.
How does the interior design differ from a model with a combustion engine?
“The ENYAQ iV benefits from the MEB platform’s long wheelbase, which – in relation to the body dimensions – offers an exceptionally spacious interior. The flat floor, which lacks the central tunnel we find in vehicles with combustion engines, also contributes to this. We have used this conceptual feature to make the interior visually even airier and to create a feeling of even more space. This can be seen, for example, on the new dashboard, which is arranged over several levels.”
Could you describe in detail the new interior design concept?
“The new design concept of the ENYAQ iV combines spaciousness and a ‘lounge feeling’. Instead of the usual equipment lines and numerous additional options, we are offering our new Design Selections in the ENYAQ iV for the first time. These are reminiscent of modern living environments, featuring perfectly coordinating colours and materials. Additionally, we offer clearly structured option packages in various themes, with some separate options available for all models. This means we can provide customers with choices that are clear and simple yet distinctly unique.”
How would you describe the ENYAQ iV’s interior design?
“Clear, airy, innovative and sustainable. Clear thanks to how easy it is to configure the Design Selections and the theme packages, airy thanks to its roominess and excellent sense of space. Innovative thanks to features such as the 13-inch central screen and the new head-up display, including augmented reality, and sustainable thanks to the use of natural and recycled materials.”
What are the most significant changes to the interior architecture of the ENYAQ iV?
“Here, the lack of a central tunnel offers numerous possibilities. At the front, we used this space for an additional storage compartment beneath the centre console, which is arranged over several levels. Thanks to the long wheelbase, rear passengers’ benefit from the extra space in front of the centre seat as well as the exceptionally generous legroom for the seats either side. In addition to this remarkable amount of space for passengers, the ENYAQ iV also offers a boot capacity of 585 litres.”
What sustainable materials are being used?
“In one Design Selection, for example, the seat covers are made of 40 per cent new wool and bear the Woolmark Company’s seal. The remaining 60 per cent of the blend is polyester from recycled PET bottles. These covers have a unique feel and ensure a pleasant seating climate. Another example is the leather, which is produced in a particularly sustainable way, using an extract from olive tree leaves instead of chemicals for tanning.”
What do you consider to be the design highlights of the ENYAQ iV interior?
"I particularly like the decorative trim that spans the entire width of the ENYAQ iV from the dashboard to the door panels, further enhancing the sense of space. Below the central display, it references the shape of the SKODA grille and also serves as a rest for the hand operating the touch screen. It is surrounded by a particularly soft material that extends throughout the interior and creates the feeling of sitting on the sofa at home."