This is Epiq! A behind-the-scenes look at the premiere

The removal process is very similar and also involves the use of a heat gun. A section of the foil is heated and can then be removed relatively easily. Using warm air also ensures that almost no adhesive residue remains on the bodywork. It soon becomes visible that the Epiq underneath the foil is finished in white paint, and moments later the entire front section of the vehicle is uncovered – including the Tech-Deck Face and the T-shaped headlights. This is followed by removing the foil from the doors and rear section of the car, where the rear lights with their characteristic Modern Solid design language are also revealed.

Once all sections of the foil have been removed, the entire vehicle still needs to be cleaned to eliminate any remaining adhesive residue. Only then is it covered again with a protective sheet, hiding it from all prying eyes until the afternoon premiere. The same operation is taking place at almost exactly the same time in Fribourg, the second host city of the championship.

Sketch, Photograph, Shoot

It is noon. Two hours left until the premiere and the first invited guests are already gathering at the venue. However, they are not being impatient and  heading straight to the reveal itself – instead, they are attending a sketching session with designer Jounggeen Kim. Around 25 journalists and content creators take part as his “students”, and many of them demonstrate considerable talent, earning praise from the designer. “Almost everyone captured the proportions of the car very well and most also managed the remaining details successfully. Some of the results were even better than mine when I first started sketching,” commented the designer responsible for the exterior appearance of the Epiq.

 Two o’clock in the afternoon – the premiere begins. “Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to this epic stage setting – reflecting the fun, colourful character of our all-new urban SUV crossover,” welcomes guests Klaus Zellmer, Chairman of the Board of Management of Škoda Auto. “The Epiq is unmistakably Škoda – compact, clever, confident,” he says while introducing the star of the programme. The stage at Zurich’s Umwelt Arena resembles a Mediterranean town filled with colourful houses. The remaining parts of the world premiere venue are designed in the same playful and vibrant spirit.

However, the world premiere by no means ends with the show itself, which culminates in the unveiling of the new Škoda Epiq. “The Epiq embodies our ambition to make electric mobility accessible to a broader audience, and we want it to appeal to entirely new customer groups. That is also why we are delighted to have welcomed almost 400 journalists and influencers from 30 countries to the premiere.” says Thomas Drechsler, Head of Communications at Škoda Auto.

To provide all invited journalists and content creators with sufficient opportunities for their own photography and filming, no fewer than nine vehicles are positioned throughout the venue. There is also a technical display featuring the platform architecture and battery system. Interest in all exhibits is exceptionally high, as everyone wants to deliver their first impressions of the Epiq to their audiences. Representatives of the car manufacturer, including members of the Board of Management, are naturally listening closely to this feedback.

The interactive panel allowed visitors to explore the car's technology in a fun way

The venue is full of murmur. Guests move continuously between the displayed vehicles, taking photographs, filming content and streaming live broadcasts for their followers. The Epiq is the star attraction. The same applies to members of the company’s management and numerous experts from various departments who contributed to the development of the newly presented vehicle. In front of cameras and microphones, as well as during less formal conversations, they answer questions from journalists.