THE FINISHING LINE...

...is in sight. Just a couple more hours until the ŠKODA KODIAQ is revealed to the world for the very first time. The night of the 1st September 2016 is inching closer.

Three trucks from Mladá Boleslav, the home of the ŠKODA brand in Czechia, will soon arrive in Berlin, Germany. Their load is top secret: this year’s most anticipated automotive.

Decades of invention, development and experience, thousands of working hours – it all comes together in this new large SUV.

Tune in to follow the final hours before the grand unveiling, see how the ŠKODA team prepares this unique event, and bear witness to the creativity of people working with passion for this world premiere.

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The official livestream will start at 18:45 CEST:
http://www.skoda-auto.com/en/models/kodiaq/premiere

The all-new ŠKODA KODIAQ is not the only special guest here this evening. In fact, someone else has travelled much further to participate (about 4,300 km further, actually). Pat Branson, mayor of Kodiak, is fresh off the stage following a pitch-perfect rehearsal. “It’s all very exciting,” she says, retreating further into a quiet corner of the main hall with a smile. “I’m delighted to be here to share the story of our city and its people – a story of resilience, independence, and a lust for the outdoors.”

There’s only hours until kick-off, so how does the team feel? “Anxious but excited,” says Werner Eichhorn, Member of the Board of Management for Sales and Marketing. “Proud of this defining moment,” says Jozef Kabaň, Head of Design. But for CEO Bernhard Maier, a more poetic approach is required. “When something new comes into the world, it is always accompanied by excitement, curiosity and joy. It’s time for us to take the next step with the ŠKODA KODIAQ. We will set the car free, and I am convinced it will find its way.”

ŠKODA Storyboard Liveticker – KODIAQ Launch Event Berlin

16:00 VIDEO – ŠKODA KODIAQ WORLD PREMIERE: THE EVENT (Part 2 of 3)

The KODIAQ is inching closer! Just a few more hours until ŠKODA unveils its all-new SUV live in Berlin, Germany.
We’d like to welcome you behind the scenes! Be part of the backstage action and soak up the atmosphere: this is how one of the year’s most anticipated cars is unveiled to the world. Meet the artists and creative minds behind the KODIAQ launch event.

Diana Miller is floating twenty feet above ground. She performs an elegant somersault, and then flies in a Superman pose across the length of the 66-metre stage. The gigantic projection screen behind her makes the scene even more impressive. As this goes on, her twin sister, Sandra, shouts instructions for choreography from the ground. These two aerial acrobats and dancers are known as the Miller Twins, and they are household names in the performance art world.

Their mesmerising show is part of tonight’s ŠKODA KODIAQ launch event. “We are always excited, for sure,” explains Diana. “But tonight’s performance is really complex – we will interact with the screen projection behind us, as well as the audience!” She grins, then looks high up at the ceiling. “It will be a spectacular show for everyone, us included.”

Security guard Dennis Jäntsch is a man of few words, and it’s clear why: you only have to look in his eyes to know he means business. “I’m the one guarding things back here, behind the scenes.” If you find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time, you better do as you’re told. “No touching the ŠKODA KODIAQ,” he might snarl, or “can I see your backstage pass?” he might ask. Dennis is not as large as a real Kodiak bear, but he is no less intimidating when stood in front of the new large SUV from ŠKODA. And no matter who you are, there is one rule you absolutely must abide by: “No photos of the car! At least not yet…”

The guests at tonight’s world premiere of the SKODA KODIAQ come from lots of different countries, and therefore speak lots of different languages. Expert translators are needed to convert the German speech of CEO Bernhard Maier, who will introduce the all-new SUV, into these different languages – simultaneously. “There will be five languages transmitted to 800 headsets,” explains Matthias. “It’s a big task to get everything running smoothly, but I promise no-one will be lost in translation tonight.”

Rule number one? Never leave fingerprints on the windows. No, Martin Skorkovský is not a master car thief full of unsavoury advice, but the person responsible for the mirror-like finish of the all-new ŠKODA SUV. “Together with my colleagues, I will polish and prepare the ŠKODA KODIAQ so it shines on stage.” Sounds like an easy job, but it’s not. There’s only hours to go until the new SUV is unveiled here at Kraftwerk Berlin, and workers are still hammering, drilling, and assembling the stage. Caterers rush through hallways and rooms, leaving delicious smells behind the them. Even cars are busy driving on and off the stage for rehearsals.

The result of all this activity? Dust in the air, which means dust on the car – even if it is still partly covered. “Yes, it’s a lot of work, but it sure is exciting,” says Martin as he checks the amount of cleaning products for the windows, bodywork and tyres. His favourite tool? “Right now it’s got to be the feather duster,” he laughs, before setting his sights on the stage in the distance. “I am confident the audience will be amazed when the KODIAQ comes out of hiding in a couple of hours.”

Aleš Kučera has waited weeks to say these words into his walkie-talkie: “You can drive it in from the truck now.” Right on cue, the tailgate of the truck creaks open. And there, waiting patiently, sits the ŠKODA KODIAQ. Although there is not much to see yet – it is carefully wrapped up in two (yes, two) protective covers. Its true form is still a mystery and can’t be seen by anyone. Slowly and cautiously, the new large SUV makes its way outside and touches ground.

Moments later, Aleš, the person responsible for car handling and cleaning, begins a delicate balancing act. Inside Kraftwerk Berlin, the special venue for tonight’s unveiling in front of more than 800 guests, the SUV is hoisted three storeys high by crane. Every move is the right move, as Aleš and his team are well accustomed to handling precious cargo, yet there is still an audible sigh of relief when the KODIAQ finally puts its wheels back on solid ground. The next step? “The car will now be prepared for the short journey onto the stage tonight," says Aleš. “I can’t wait to see the reaction of the audience when it shines in the spotlight.”

Zoltan Fordos and Jan Šmelhaus have good taste – in cars, of course, but first and foremost with food. The duo, here as Zátiší Catering, are responsible for preparing the 800 meals that will feed tonight's hungry guests. Only the best will do for the highly anticipated launch of the ŠKODA KODIAQ: food will be cooked, arranged and served by 100 specialist chefs, kitchen staff and waiters. “Our ingredients will – like the car – arrive from the Czech Republic. Each dish will be finalised here on location, and guests will enjoy a live cooking experience as the night unfolds,“ says Jan, standing proud in Kraftwerk Berlin. He turns and glances at the catering equipment behind him – hundreds of glasses, plates and pieces of cutlery still wrapped up, waiting to be unpacked. He counts silently. “We’ll serve about 800 kilograms of food, so everyone should be nice and full by the end of the evening“.

But what’s on the menu? “We have four main dishes, each representing a living environment: outdoor, utility, urban and sport,“ explains Zoltan. He smiles and adds: “But my personal highlight has got to be the ice cream – we prepare it in front of the audience. It's nearly as cool as this place, the location for the world premiere of the ŠKODA KODIAQ.

So, why Berlin? “It’s a vibrant city, a real creative hot spot that fits perfectly with ŠKODA,” says a visibly enthusiastic Pat Kalt. “Berlin has a bear as an emblem and the ŠKODA KODIAQ is named after the Kodiak bear, so you could say it was a match from the very start." Pat Kalt and his team, more commonly known as the event agency Tisch 13, are the creative minds behind the world premiere of this highly anticipated large SUV. “The venue, Kraftwerk Berlin, reflects the city’s special character. It’s the perfect stage for an unveiling."

Although Pat Kalt is a seasoned event professional, he can’t help but admire the size and dynamics of the impending launch. “We are excited to see how all the small parts will come together to create one show: artists, sounds, lights, videos, and of course the car. It will be an immersive multimedia experience for those who are watching, whether here in person or through the live stream.” And his personal highlight for the evening? “The KODIAQ will be presented in a way never before seen." How exactly? "No comment," he smiles.